Podcast Episodes

Going Rogue

Episode 22

Many video games today make use of randomized content, some more than others. It may seem like an obvious feature, but it turns out that procedural generation didn't really catch on in video games un…

Published on 5 years, 11 months ago

8008: Intel's Second Shot

Episode 21

It's time to continue our deep dive into the legacy of Intel's processors. This episode we will be looking at the 8008, the second microprocessor produced by Intel and the progenitor of the x86 famil…

Published on 5 years, 11 months ago

Cooking in Y2K

In this mini episode we will look at the Y2K bug, and some of the recipes it spawned. That's right, we are talking about Y2K cookbooks!

You can find all more Y2K compliant food here: https://web.arc…

Published on 5 years, 11 months ago

PLATO Part 2: An Online Revolution

Episode 20

In the conclusion to our discussion of PLATO we look at the final incarnation of the system: PLATO IV. How did an educational machine turn into one of the earliest online communities? What was it lik…

Published on 6 years ago

PLATO Part 1: A Revolution in Teaching

Episode 19

In  the 1960s a small project started at the University of Illinois. This project, called PLATO, would go on to pioneer a truly impressive amount of new technology, including the first plasma screen,…

Published on 6 years ago

Evolution of the Mouse

Episode 18

The computer mouse is a ubiquitous device, it's also one of the least changed devices we use with a computer. The mice we use today have only seen small incremental improvements since the first mouse…

Published on 6 years ago

Bill's Problem with Piracy

In this mini-episode we look at a strange event in Microsoft's early history and their first case of piracy. Along the way you will learn about the best advetrizing campaign in history: the MITS MOBI…

Published on 6 years, 1 month ago

The BBC Domesday Project

Episode 17

In 1086 William the Conqueror commissioned a survey of England that would come to be known as the Domesday Book. 900 years later the BBC would create a similar survey, called the Domesday Project. Th…

Published on 6 years, 1 month ago

4004: The First Microprocessor

Episode 16

Intel is one of the dominant forces in the computer industry today, they may be most well known for their line of microprocessors. These chips have powered computers going back to the early days of m…

Published on 6 years, 1 month ago

Lost in the Colossal Cave

Episode 15

Colossal Cave Adventure is one of the most influential video games of all time. Originally written for the DEC PDP-10 mainframe in 1975 the game has not only spread to just about any computer out the…

Published on 6 years, 2 months ago