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ALOHANET
Episode 59
ALOHANET was a wireless networking project started at the University of Hawaii in 1968. Initially, it had relatively little to do with ARPANET. But that relative isolation didn't last for long. As th…
Published on 4 years, 6 months ago
Mercury Memories
Episode 58
This episode we take a look at the earliest days of computing, and one of the earliest forms of computer memory. Mercury delay lines, originally developed in the early 40s for use in radar, are perha…
Published on 4 years, 6 months ago
Simulated Sumeria
Episode 57
Where did educational games come from? According to some, the practice of using games in classrooms started in the early 60s with the appearance of the Sumerian Game. However, the story is more compl…
Published on 4 years, 6 months ago
TMS9900, an Alternate Future
Episode 56
The TI TMS9900 is a fascinating microprocessor. It was the first 16-bit microprocessor on the market, it has a unique architecture that makes it well suited to multitasking, and it was on IBM's shor…
Published on 4 years, 7 months ago
Project Xanadu
Episode 55
Project Xanadu, started in 1960, is perhaps the oldest hypertext system. It's creator, Ted Nelson, coined the term hypertext just to describe Xanadu. But it's not just a tool for linking data. Nelson…
Published on 4 years, 7 months ago
C Level, Part II
Episode 54
Even after nearly 50 years C remains a force in the programming world. Anytime you brows the web, or even log into a computer, C is somewhere in the background. This episode I wrap up my series on C…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
C Level, Part I
Episode 53
C is easily one of the most influential programming languages in the world, and it's also one of the most popular languages in the world. Even after close to 50 years it remains in widespread and sus…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
THE SOURCE
Episode 52
One of the great things about the modern Internet is the wide range of services and content available on it. You have news, email, games, even podcasts. And in each category you have a wide range of …
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
The IBM PC
Episode 51
Released in August 1981, the IBM PC is perhaps one of the most important computers in history. It originated the basic architecture computers still use today, it flung the doors open to a thriving c…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
8086: The Unexpected Future
Episode 50
The Intel 8086 may be the most important processor ever made. It's descendants are central to modern computing, while retaining an absurd level of backwards compatibility. For such an important chip …
Published on 4 years, 10 months ago