Chapter 37

PLANNING TO OUTFITYOUR OFFICE OR YOUR HOMEWITH COMPUTERS?Or are you just interested in the factsand fancies surrounding the technologicalrevolution of the 20th century?Now, with the help of one of America’s mostreadable computer experts, you’ll cut throughthe Silicon Jungle and find the machine that’s rightfor you. You’ll marvel at the history and folklore of themodern computer. You’ll explore the intricaciesof the electronic superbrains that can:● lower your costs and increaseyour efficiency● instantaneously zip messagesacross continents● act as word processors, doublingwriters’ production● keep records in complete depthand detail● help whip up jazzy charts to whetcolleagues’ interest● increase your earnings withinyour chosen field

PLANNING TO OUTFITYOUR OFFICE OR YOUR HOMEWITH COMPUTERS?Or are you just interested in the factsand fancies surrounding the technologicalrevolution of the 20th century?Now, with the help of one of America’s mostreadable computer experts, you’ll cut throughthe Silicon Jungle and find the machine that’s rightfor you. You’ll marvel at the history and folklore of themodern computer. You’ll explore the intricaciesof the electronic superbrains that can:● lower your costs and increaseyour efficiency● instantaneously zip messagesacross continents● act as word processors, doublingwriters’ production● keep records in complete depthand detail● help whip up jazzy charts to whetcolleagues’ interest● increase your earnings withinyour chosen field

PLANNING TO OUTFIT

YOUR OFFICE OR YOUR HOME

WITH COMPUTERS?

Or are you just interested in the facts

and fancies surrounding the technological

revolution of the 20th century?

Now, with the help of one of America’s most

readable computer experts, you’ll cut through

the Silicon Jungle and find the machine that’s right

for you. You’ll marvel at the history and folklore of the

modern computer. You’ll explore the intricacies

of the electronic superbrains that can:

● lower your costs and increase

your efficiency

● instantaneously zip messages

across continents

● act as word processors, doubling

writers’ production

● keep records in complete depth

and detail

● help whip up jazzy charts to whet

colleagues’ interest

● increase your earnings within

your chosen field

Cover printed in USA

Cover printed in USA

Cover printed in USA

Footnotes

Footnotes

Footnotes

1.Computerworld, July 23, 1984, is the source of the reports on criminals’ use of computers.

1.Computerworld, July 23, 1984, is the source of the reports on criminals’ use of computers.

2. The Michigan quote comes from a magazine article by Washington writer Joel Makower.

2. The Michigan quote comes from a magazine article by Washington writer Joel Makower.

3. Chris Christiansen, with the Yankee Group, a Boston-based marketing research firm, offered the estimate on the number of programs.

3. Chris Christiansen, with the Yankee Group, a Boston-based marketing research firm, offered the estimate on the number of programs.

4. Kaypro, too, junked Select. Select Information Systems claims that’s because Kaypro wanted a cheaper word processor. Kaypro says it was unhappy with Select because it didn’t work right with some printers.

4. Kaypro, too, junked Select. Select Information Systems claims that’s because Kaypro wanted a cheaper word processor. Kaypro says it was unhappy with Select because it didn’t work right with some printers.

5. The examples of the investment adviser and cotton trader come fromNew Yorkmagazine.

5. The examples of the investment adviser and cotton trader come fromNew Yorkmagazine.

6. The estimates of the number of business computer buyers come from the Yankee Group’s Chris Christiansen.

6. The estimates of the number of business computer buyers come from the Yankee Group’s Chris Christiansen.

7. “Gonna die” is fromPopular Computing. The Osborne statements come from oft-repeated statements to newspapers or from magazines. “Mr. Osborne,” an aide said when I revealed that this chapter was on Brand X, “does not want to discuss the Kaypro.”Andy Kay himself did not speak to me in a normal interview. His literary agent-friend, William Gladstone, feared that it might conflict with a project of their own, and Gladstone sought to deny me ownership of quoted material. Normally I would have told him to stuff it, but I needed the right quotes to tell the full story ofmycomputer. So Gladstone and I worked out a compromise. After I sent thousands of words of questions via my Kaypro over the phone lines, he obtained Kay’s replies on tape. I submitted follow-up queries when Kay’s answers did not satisfy me. Gladstone insisted on reading this chapter for accuracy but never tried to censor me; in fact, he was helpful and pleasant to deal with. He even brought this manuscript to the attention of a publisher he knew (although I placed it through my agents). Gladstone’s help, incidentally, didn’t influence my perception of the Kaypro II as better than the archrival Osborne. I bought a Kaypro at a time when “William Gladstone” was nothing more to me than the name of a nineteenth-century English statesman; Ialreadyloved the company’s product. Just the same, determined not to write an extended press release, I’ve consulted with the corporation’s critics, and I have run this chapter past aSan Diego Unionreporter named Dan Berger, who exposed some of Kaypro’s less admirable management practices. I’m as grateful to Dan as to Bill.

7. “Gonna die” is fromPopular Computing. The Osborne statements come from oft-repeated statements to newspapers or from magazines. “Mr. Osborne,” an aide said when I revealed that this chapter was on Brand X, “does not want to discuss the Kaypro.”

Andy Kay himself did not speak to me in a normal interview. His literary agent-friend, William Gladstone, feared that it might conflict with a project of their own, and Gladstone sought to deny me ownership of quoted material. Normally I would have told him to stuff it, but I needed the right quotes to tell the full story ofmycomputer. So Gladstone and I worked out a compromise. After I sent thousands of words of questions via my Kaypro over the phone lines, he obtained Kay’s replies on tape. I submitted follow-up queries when Kay’s answers did not satisfy me. Gladstone insisted on reading this chapter for accuracy but never tried to censor me; in fact, he was helpful and pleasant to deal with. He even brought this manuscript to the attention of a publisher he knew (although I placed it through my agents). Gladstone’s help, incidentally, didn’t influence my perception of the Kaypro II as better than the archrival Osborne. I bought a Kaypro at a time when “William Gladstone” was nothing more to me than the name of a nineteenth-century English statesman; Ialreadyloved the company’s product. Just the same, determined not to write an extended press release, I’ve consulted with the corporation’s critics, and I have run this chapter past aSan Diego Unionreporter named Dan Berger, who exposed some of Kaypro’s less admirable management practices. I’m as grateful to Dan as to Bill.

8. The $200-million and $5-billion estimates came to me from Chris Christiansen of the Yankee Group, who said the latter figure might be very conservative.InfoWorldquoted another research firm, InfoCorp, as saying that 527,000 portable computers were sold in 1982—and that 5.1 million would be sold by 1987.

8. The $200-million and $5-billion estimates came to me from Chris Christiansen of the Yankee Group, who said the latter figure might be very conservative.InfoWorldquoted another research firm, InfoCorp, as saying that 527,000 portable computers were sold in 1982—and that 5.1 million would be sold by 1987.

9. TheSan Diego Magazinearticle appeared in May 1983.

9. TheSan Diego Magazinearticle appeared in May 1983.

10.San Diegois the source of the “After we’d been at it eight or nine months” quote.

10.San Diegois the source of the “After we’d been at it eight or nine months” quote.

11.San Diegocontains the quote on software purchases and royalties.

11.San Diegocontains the quote on software purchases and royalties.

12.Business Weekis the source of the facts on Kaypro’s disk-drive problems.

12.Business Weekis the source of the facts on Kaypro’s disk-drive problems.

13. Kaypro later dropped the Kaypro II and replaced it with the $1,595 Kaypro 2X. It’s still a II, though, except for some improvements such as more disk space. The 2X’s disks store almost 400K each.

13. Kaypro later dropped the Kaypro II and replaced it with the $1,595 Kaypro 2X. It’s still a II, though, except for some improvements such as more disk space. The 2X’s disks store almost 400K each.

14. “XT” stands for “extended.”

14. “XT” stands for “extended.”

15. Kenneth Lim of Dataquest, Inc., the San Jose, California marketing research firm, is the source of the 2.5 percent estimate quoted in theWall Street Journal, November 14, 1984.

15. Kenneth Lim of Dataquest, Inc., the San Jose, California marketing research firm, is the source of the 2.5 percent estimate quoted in theWall Street Journal, November 14, 1984.

16. Clarke responded by phone in early 1983 to questions I’d mailed about his use of WordStar.

16. Clarke responded by phone in early 1983 to questions I’d mailed about his use of WordStar.

17.InfoWorld, April 5, 1982.

17.InfoWorld, April 5, 1982.

18.InfoWorld, April 5, 1982.

18.InfoWorld, April 5, 1982.

19. H. Edward Roberts, president of MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems), a New Mexico company later overwhelmed by the competition, came as close as anyone to being the father of the first successful personal computer. His Altair 8080 made the cover ofPopular Electronicsin January 1975.

19. H. Edward Roberts, president of MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems), a New Mexico company later overwhelmed by the competition, came as close as anyone to being the father of the first successful personal computer. His Altair 8080 made the cover ofPopular Electronicsin January 1975.

20. The November 1982PC Magazineis the source of the quotes on Rubinstein’s business plans after IMSAI.

20. The November 1982PC Magazineis the source of the quotes on Rubinstein’s business plans after IMSAI.

21. “AT” stood for “Advanced Technology.”

21. “AT” stood for “Advanced Technology.”

22.InfoWorld, May 14, 1984, is the source of Rubinstein’s quotes about the heart attack, not going “on some wild spending spree,” and his life not changing.

22.InfoWorld, May 14, 1984, is the source of Rubinstein’s quotes about the heart attack, not going “on some wild spending spree,” and his life not changing.

23.InfoWorld, May 14, 1984, is the source of Rubinstein’s “bullshit” quote.

23.InfoWorld, May 14, 1984, is the source of Rubinstein’s “bullshit” quote.

24. The $1.5 billion estimate is from Chris Christiansen of the Yankee Group.

24. The $1.5 billion estimate is from Chris Christiansen of the Yankee Group.

25. The account ofSelect’sSelect’scapital shortage and the metamorphosis into Quadsoft comes fromInfoWorld, August 13, 1984. The merger information is fromInfoWorld, October 8, 1984.

25. The account ofSelect’sSelect’scapital shortage and the metamorphosis into Quadsoft comes fromInfoWorld, August 13, 1984. The merger information is fromInfoWorld, October 8, 1984.

26. Dean’sBytearticle appeared December 1983, p. 161.

26. Dean’sBytearticle appeared December 1983, p. 161.

27. Jerry Pournelle’s rebuttal to Dean and others of the “user friendly” school appeared inPopular Computing, May 1984, p. 81.

27. Jerry Pournelle’s rebuttal to Dean and others of the “user friendly” school appeared inPopular Computing, May 1984, p. 81.

28. The Bricklin quote comes from Steve Ditlea’s excellent article inPopular Computing, September 1982, page 48, which helped me appreciate VisiCalc’s many uses.

28. The Bricklin quote comes from Steve Ditlea’s excellent article inPopular Computing, September 1982, page 48, which helped me appreciate VisiCalc’s many uses.

29. The car wash, orchard, Yellow Pages, and painting examples come fromUSA Today, May 3, 1984.

29. The car wash, orchard, Yellow Pages, and painting examples come fromUSA Today, May 3, 1984.

30. Ripskis is not the hard-core bureaucrat I mentioned earlier in the chapter. He in fact puts out an underground newsletter regularly exposing his agency.

30. Ripskis is not the hard-core bureaucrat I mentioned earlier in the chapter. He in fact puts out an underground newsletter regularly exposing his agency.

31. The ex-Bain man’s quote is fromHarper’s, November 1982.

31. The ex-Bain man’s quote is fromHarper’s, November 1982.

32.Computerworld, March 28, 1983.

32.Computerworld, March 28, 1983.

33.Computerworld, March 28, 1983.

33.Computerworld, March 28, 1983.

34. The Colligan quotes are from Joel Makower’s useful bookOffice Hazards: How Your Job Can Make You Sick, published 1981 by Tilden Press, Washington, D.C.

34. The Colligan quotes are from Joel Makower’s useful bookOffice Hazards: How Your Job Can Make You Sick, published 1981 by Tilden Press, Washington, D.C.

35. The material on the Manhattan word processor comes from Barbara Garson’s article inMother Jones magazine, July 1981, p. 32.

35. The material on the Manhattan word processor comes from Barbara Garson’s article inMother Jones magazine, July 1981, p. 32.

36. See “Job Decision Latitude, Job Design, and Coronary Heart Disease,” by R. A. Karasek, who participated in a 1981 Purdue University conference on job stress. The Karasek findings appeared on pages 48-55 ofMachine Pacing and Occupation Stress, a book published in 1981 by Taylor & Francis Limited, London. In Karasek’s words, “Job-design strategies advocating limited skill usage and decision authority for the majority of the workforce appear to be associated with a host of undesirable, unintended consequences ranging from skill under-utilization (and consequent productivity loss) to increased risk of coronary heart disease.”

36. See “Job Decision Latitude, Job Design, and Coronary Heart Disease,” by R. A. Karasek, who participated in a 1981 Purdue University conference on job stress. The Karasek findings appeared on pages 48-55 ofMachine Pacing and Occupation Stress, a book published in 1981 by Taylor & Francis Limited, London. In Karasek’s words, “Job-design strategies advocating limited skill usage and decision authority for the majority of the workforce appear to be associated with a host of undesirable, unintended consequences ranging from skill under-utilization (and consequent productivity loss) to increased risk of coronary heart disease.”

37. Before Bell adopted the standard touch-phone numbers pad, it did a study showing the superiority of the 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 arrangement. The study had strong financial motivations. After all, the more wrong numbers people dialed, the greater would be the cost to the phone company, since Bell at the time probably wasn’t charging anyone for wrong numbers.

37. Before Bell adopted the standard touch-phone numbers pad, it did a study showing the superiority of the 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 arrangement. The study had strong financial motivations. After all, the more wrong numbers people dialed, the greater would be the cost to the phone company, since Bell at the time probably wasn’t charging anyone for wrong numbers.

38. For observations on the merits of various colors, seeErgonomic Aspects of Visual Display Terminals, edited by Etienne Grandjean and E. Vigliani and published by Taylor & Francis Limited, London, 1982.

38. For observations on the merits of various colors, seeErgonomic Aspects of Visual Display Terminals, edited by Etienne Grandjean and E. Vigliani and published by Taylor & Francis Limited, London, 1982.

39. If you don’t want lines on a CRT to seem to be rolling into each other when you‘re using a bright background, you should worry about something called arefresh rate. That’s the number of times the picture “repaints” itself on the screen. Etienne Grandjean, the prominent Swiss expert on VDTs, recommends a rate of at least 80 cycles a second; others say it needn’t be so high. The Xerox 860’s rate is 70 cycles, according to David Eisen, and that’s better than average. Still, I noticed the roll, anyway. In a letter to me in January 1983 Grandjean also recommended a slow phosphor for use with the white background. That means the images would take longer to vanish from the screen than they would otherwise—reducing the perceived flicker.

39. If you don’t want lines on a CRT to seem to be rolling into each other when you‘re using a bright background, you should worry about something called arefresh rate. That’s the number of times the picture “repaints” itself on the screen. Etienne Grandjean, the prominent Swiss expert on VDTs, recommends a rate of at least 80 cycles a second; others say it needn’t be so high. The Xerox 860’s rate is 70 cycles, according to David Eisen, and that’s better than average. Still, I noticed the roll, anyway. In a letter to me in January 1983 Grandjean also recommended a slow phosphor for use with the white background. That means the images would take longer to vanish from the screen than they would otherwise—reducing the perceived flicker.

40. Eisen’s advice on VDTs can be found in the bookletHumanizing the VDT Workplace: A Health Manual for Local Officers and Stewards, published jointly by the Newspaper Guild and the International Typographical Union (the price is $1.50 from the Guild, at 1125 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005).

40. Eisen’s advice on VDTs can be found in the bookletHumanizing the VDT Workplace: A Health Manual for Local Officers and Stewards, published jointly by the Newspaper Guild and the International Typographical Union (the price is $1.50 from the Guild, at 1125 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005).

41. The German requirement for detachable keyboards appears in paragraph 4.3.1 of Standard ZH1/618 of “Safety Regulations for Display Workplaces in the Office Sector,” as released by the Trade Cooperative Association, Central Office for Accident Prevention and Industrial Medicine.

41. The German requirement for detachable keyboards appears in paragraph 4.3.1 of Standard ZH1/618 of “Safety Regulations for Display Workplaces in the Office Sector,” as released by the Trade Cooperative Association, Central Office for Accident Prevention and Industrial Medicine.

42. The McIlvain example comes fromPC Magazine, May 29, 1984.

42. The McIlvain example comes fromPC Magazine, May 29, 1984.

43. The advice on keyboard height is from Military Standard 1472C,Human Engineering Design Criteria for Military Systems Equipment and Facilities, published by the army in May 1981 and summarized in the July 1982Popular Computing.

43. The advice on keyboard height is from Military Standard 1472C,Human Engineering Design Criteria for Military Systems Equipment and Facilities, published by the army in May 1981 and summarized in the July 1982Popular Computing.

44. The facts of the Renton, Washington case come from Laurie Garrett’s National Public Radio interview with Laura Moore, which aired August 12, 1982.

44. The facts of the Renton, Washington case come from Laurie Garrett’s National Public Radio interview with Laura Moore, which aired August 12, 1982.

45. The Slesin quotes come from his article inColumbia Journalism Review, November 1984. TheReviewcorrectly says Slesin’s newsletter “has taken no sides in the VDT story while keeping up with all relevant developments.” It appears monthly. TheMicrowave News’s address is P.O. Box 1799, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163. Subscriptions are $200 a year.VDT News, a bimonthly, costs $42 a year.

45. The Slesin quotes come from his article inColumbia Journalism Review, November 1984. TheReviewcorrectly says Slesin’s newsletter “has taken no sides in the VDT story while keeping up with all relevant developments.” It appears monthly. TheMicrowave News’s address is P.O. Box 1799, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163. Subscriptions are $200 a year.VDT News, a bimonthly, costs $42 a year.

46. The quote from the Cleveland office worker and from the two examples immediately after it come fromWarning: Health Hazards for Office Workers, published in 1981 by the Working Women Education Fund, 1224 Huron Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

46. The quote from the Cleveland office worker and from the two examples immediately after it come fromWarning: Health Hazards for Office Workers, published in 1981 by the Working Women Education Fund, 1224 Huron Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

47. Information on flat-screen displays comes fromInfoWorld, May 7, 1984, and other micro magazine articles; theWashington Postof April 29, 1984; George Weiss, director of computer systems studies with Quantum Science Corp., New York; and Kenneth Bosomworth, president of International Resource Development, Inc., a market-research firm in Norwalk, Conn.

47. Information on flat-screen displays comes fromInfoWorld, May 7, 1984, and other micro magazine articles; theWashington Postof April 29, 1984; George Weiss, director of computer systems studies with Quantum Science Corp., New York; and Kenneth Bosomworth, president of International Resource Development, Inc., a market-research firm in Norwalk, Conn.

48. The “people will begin using” quote is from a Weiss interview withUSA Today.

48. The “people will begin using” quote is from a Weiss interview withUSA Today.

49. For a reminder of the advantages of LCDs in avoiding a dark office, I’m grateful to Bert Vorchheimer, a corporate communications specialist, who, as a sideline, wrote some farsighted articles on office ergonomics.

49. For a reminder of the advantages of LCDs in avoiding a dark office, I’m grateful to Bert Vorchheimer, a corporate communications specialist, who, as a sideline, wrote some farsighted articles on office ergonomics.

50. The categories of computer-crime offenses, together with many examples, come from Donn Parker’sComputer Security Management, published in 1981 by Reston Publishing Company, Reston, Virginia. Another book for more information is Parker’sFighting Computer Crime, published in 1983 by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, N.Y.

50. The categories of computer-crime offenses, together with many examples, come from Donn Parker’sComputer Security Management, published in 1981 by Reston Publishing Company, Reston, Virginia. Another book for more information is Parker’sFighting Computer Crime, published in 1983 by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, N.Y.

51. The example of the railroad clerk is from a report Parker coauthored for the Justice Department, “Computer Crime: Criminal Justice Resource Manual.”

51. The example of the railroad clerk is from a report Parker coauthored for the Justice Department, “Computer Crime: Criminal Justice Resource Manual.”

52. All the Ball quotes and paraphrases in this chapter are fromTechnology Review.

52. All the Ball quotes and paraphrases in this chapter are fromTechnology Review.

53. The H. Michael Snell quotes are from an article he published inComputerworld.

53. The H. Michael Snell quotes are from an article he published inComputerworld.

54. Presumably VAX-man chose his name with both the VAX minicomputer series and the Pac-Man game in mind.

54. Presumably VAX-man chose his name with both the VAX minicomputer series and the Pac-Man game in mind.

55. The 414 invaders fortunately didn’t alter radiotherapy information. But they reportedly did zap a file used to bill customers a total of $1,500 for computer use.

55. The 414 invaders fortunately didn’t alter radiotherapy information. But they reportedly did zap a file used to bill customers a total of $1,500 for computer use.

56. After writing a draft of this chapter, I helped Nye prepare a section of his black box guide.I find it to be useful, but overly technical for some lay people.Nye may be reached at Marketing Consultants International, Suite #214, 100 West Washington St., Hagerstown, Md. 21740. Call 301/791-0290 for the latest information about the guide’s price and other details.

56. After writing a draft of this chapter, I helped Nye prepare a section of his black box guide.

I find it to be useful, but overly technical for some lay people.

Nye may be reached at Marketing Consultants International, Suite #214, 100 West Washington St., Hagerstown, Md. 21740. Call 301/791-0290 for the latest information about the guide’s price and other details.

57. My thanks to J. Michael Nye, for calling my attention to the problems of incomplete erasures. Ed Bigelow, of Adevco, a Pennsylvania company selling networks to link computers in the same office, also was helpful.

57. My thanks to J. Michael Nye, for calling my attention to the problems of incomplete erasures. Ed Bigelow, of Adevco, a Pennsylvania company selling networks to link computers in the same office, also was helpful.

58. The Lutus story is fromPopular Computing.

58. The Lutus story is fromPopular Computing.

59. Nilles is in a position to keep track of statistics associated with telecommuting. He has done numerous telecommuting studies as a senior research associate with the Center for Futures Research at the University of Southern California. Nilles has written an important pioneering work in the field—The Telecommunications/Transportation Tradeoff: Options for Tomorrow.In this chapter I am indebted not only to Nilles but also to work that the Stanford Research Institute did. SRI’s three-part study, completed in May 1977 for the National Science Foundation, appeared under the main titleTechnology Assessment of Telecommunications/Transportation Interaction. The first part isVolume I: Introduction, Scenario Development, and Policy Analysis, by Richard C. Harkness, available for $17.50 in paper and $4.50 on microfiche as PB-272-694, from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, Virginia 22161. The second isVolume II: Detailed Impact Analysisby Harkness; $70 in paper and $4.50 on microfiche, PB-272-695. The third isVolume III: Contributions of Telecommunications to Improved Transportation System Efficiencyby A. E. Moon and J. M. Johnson, E. P. Meko, H. S. Proctor, and C. D. Feinstein; $14.50 in paper and $4.50 on microfiche, PB-272-696. Needless to say, Alvin Toffler’sThird Wave(New York: William Morrow, 1980) contributed greatly to popular interest in the subject of telecommuting.

59. Nilles is in a position to keep track of statistics associated with telecommuting. He has done numerous telecommuting studies as a senior research associate with the Center for Futures Research at the University of Southern California. Nilles has written an important pioneering work in the field—The Telecommunications/Transportation Tradeoff: Options for Tomorrow.

In this chapter I am indebted not only to Nilles but also to work that the Stanford Research Institute did. SRI’s three-part study, completed in May 1977 for the National Science Foundation, appeared under the main titleTechnology Assessment of Telecommunications/Transportation Interaction. The first part isVolume I: Introduction, Scenario Development, and Policy Analysis, by Richard C. Harkness, available for $17.50 in paper and $4.50 on microfiche as PB-272-694, from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, Virginia 22161. The second isVolume II: Detailed Impact Analysisby Harkness; $70 in paper and $4.50 on microfiche, PB-272-695. The third isVolume III: Contributions of Telecommunications to Improved Transportation System Efficiencyby A. E. Moon and J. M. Johnson, E. P. Meko, H. S. Proctor, and C. D. Feinstein; $14.50 in paper and $4.50 on microfiche, PB-272-696. Needless to say, Alvin Toffler’sThird Wave(New York: William Morrow, 1980) contributed greatly to popular interest in the subject of telecommuting.

60. The example of the Florida-based telecommuter is from “Rising Trend of Computer Age: Employees Who Work atHome;”Home;”New York Times, March 12, 1981, p. 1.

60. The example of the Florida-based telecommuter is from “Rising Trend of Computer Age: Employees Who Work atHome;”Home;”New York Times, March 12, 1981, p. 1.

61. The South Carolina facts come from “Rising Trend of Computer Age: Employees Who Work at Home,” theNew York Times, March 12, 1981, p. 1; “Computers Turn Dens into Offices,”USA Today, May 9, 1983, p. 1; and “Home Computer Sweatshops.”The Nation, April 2, 1983, p. 390. In addition, I talked to Ann Blackwell and her husband, Tim, assistant vice-president of basic and major medical claims at Blue Cross-Blue Shield, in South Carolina.

61. The South Carolina facts come from “Rising Trend of Computer Age: Employees Who Work at Home,” theNew York Times, March 12, 1981, p. 1; “Computers Turn Dens into Offices,”USA Today, May 9, 1983, p. 1; and “Home Computer Sweatshops.”The Nation, April 2, 1983, p. 390. In addition, I talked to Ann Blackwell and her husband, Tim, assistant vice-president of basic and major medical claims at Blue Cross-Blue Shield, in South Carolina.

62. The Nussbaum quotes are from “9 to 5 President Raps Office Automation, Says It Deskills, Devalues Office Jobs,”Computerworld, May 3, 1982, p. 53.

62. The Nussbaum quotes are from “9 to 5 President Raps Office Automation, Says It Deskills, Devalues Office Jobs,”Computerworld, May 3, 1982, p. 53.

63. The Seattle example is fromBusiness Week, May 3, 1982, p. 66.

63. The Seattle example is fromBusiness Week, May 3, 1982, p. 66.

64.USA Today, March 28, 1984, p. 3B, reported Management Recruiters’ telecommuting survey.

64.USA Today, March 28, 1984, p. 3B, reported Management Recruiters’ telecommuting survey.

65. William Renfro’s comments appeared inThe Futurist, June 1982.

65. William Renfro’s comments appeared inThe Futurist, June 1982.

66. The Xerox example comes from correspondence, interviews, and theFinancial Times, London, July 20, 1982.

66. The Xerox example comes from correspondence, interviews, and theFinancial Times, London, July 20, 1982.

67. Thanks to Mike Bell for helping me obtain figures comparing telecommuting costs to alternatives. And the editor has simplified the numbers presented.

67. Thanks to Mike Bell for helping me obtain figures comparing telecommuting costs to alternatives. And the editor has simplified the numbers presented.

68. Nilles may have been the first to envision neighborhood centers for telecommuters.

68. Nilles may have been the first to envision neighborhood centers for telecommuters.

69. The 1977 Stanford study discusses the neighborhood-center concept in depth and describes a number of possibilities, many of them overlapping with my “munytel” idea. The term “munytel” is mine.

69. The 1977 Stanford study discusses the neighborhood-center concept in depth and describes a number of possibilities, many of them overlapping with my “munytel” idea. The term “munytel” is mine.

70. Elizabeth Carlson of Continental Illinois said the community college had ended the experiment after buying its own equipment. But the bank feels the arrangement was successful. In fact, it set up a satellite word-processing center in a shopping center near the college.

70. Elizabeth Carlson of Continental Illinois said the community college had ended the experiment after buying its own equipment. But the bank feels the arrangement was successful. In fact, it set up a satellite word-processing center in a shopping center near the college.

71. In November 1984 the Labor Department released a rule that allowed people to knit sweaters and hats at home for sale to manufacturers.

71. In November 1984 the Labor Department released a rule that allowed people to knit sweaters and hats at home for sale to manufacturers.

72.Nilles’sNilles’sthree-quarters of a billion estimate is reported inInfoWorld, April 23, 1984.

72.Nilles’sNilles’sthree-quarters of a billion estimate is reported inInfoWorld, April 23, 1984.

73. Harkness’s remarks are from his speech to the Seminar on Communications, Brasilia, Brazil, June 1982.

73. Harkness’s remarks are from his speech to the Seminar on Communications, Brasilia, Brazil, June 1982.

74. Frank Schiff,Washington Post, Outlook Section, September 2, 1979, p. C1.

74. Frank Schiff,Washington Post, Outlook Section, September 2, 1979, p. C1.

75. Some of the material in this chapter originally appeared in an article I did forUSA Today. I’ve also made use of facts from theWall Street Journal, March 16, 1984, p. 29.

75. Some of the material in this chapter originally appeared in an article I did forUSA Today. I’ve also made use of facts from theWall Street Journal, March 16, 1984, p. 29.

76. The example of computerized conferencing comes from Participation Systems, Inc., a Winchester, Massachusetts, firm that provided the software for computer conferencing on The Source.

76. The example of computerized conferencing comes from Participation Systems, Inc., a Winchester, Massachusetts, firm that provided the software for computer conferencing on The Source.

77. Bigelow’s company, Adevco, Inc., 2145 Market St., Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, manufactures The WEB equipment under a license from The WEB’s designers. That’s Centram Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 511, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, which also sells to manufacturers to add to their computers. A California company, Trantor Systems, likewise makes a network called WEB: this may or may not mean a name change for the Centram technology. At any rate, Adevco itself may abandon the WEB name for other reasons. “We may drop the name and market the product with the same technology in a different version under a number of names,” said Bigelow. “If we enhance the product enough, I may want more Adevco identification.”

77. Bigelow’s company, Adevco, Inc., 2145 Market St., Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, manufactures The WEB equipment under a license from The WEB’s designers. That’s Centram Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 511, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, which also sells to manufacturers to add to their computers. A California company, Trantor Systems, likewise makes a network called WEB: this may or may not mean a name change for the Centram technology. At any rate, Adevco itself may abandon the WEB name for other reasons. “We may drop the name and market the product with the same technology in a different version under a number of names,” said Bigelow. “If we enhance the product enough, I may want more Adevco identification.”

78. Telephone tag occurs when person A returns B’s call, but nowBisn’t available. With an E-Mail arrangement, A and B could exchange messages without the other being available at the same time.

78. Telephone tag occurs when person A returns B’s call, but nowBisn’t available. With an E-Mail arrangement, A and B could exchange messages without the other being available at the same time.

79. Bigelow plans a more rugged version of The WEB transmission line in the future to make installation less tricky.

79. Bigelow plans a more rugged version of The WEB transmission line in the future to make installation less tricky.

80. Thanks to Ed Bigelow for the children’s game metaphor for the ring network. The kids try not to be.

80. Thanks to Ed Bigelow for the children’s game metaphor for the ring network. The kids try not to be.

81. PBX stands for private branch exchange.

81. PBX stands for private branch exchange.

82. For some of Clarke’s own writing on the future, readers might turn to1984: Spring—A Choice of Futures, published by Ballantine Books, New York, 1984.

82. For some of Clarke’s own writing on the future, readers might turn to1984: Spring—A Choice of Futures, published by Ballantine Books, New York, 1984.

83. Eric later decided to change the name of his company to EMCo. Computer Consulting.

83. Eric later decided to change the name of his company to EMCo. Computer Consulting.

84. The actual beginnings of the micro age, less romantically, go back to the invention of the microprocessor—a central processing unit on one chip—in 1970. It happened at Intel, an electronics company in Santa Clara, California, and was the idea of a young Stanford University grad named Ted Hoff.

84. The actual beginnings of the micro age, less romantically, go back to the invention of the microprocessor—a central processing unit on one chip—in 1970. It happened at Intel, an electronics company in Santa Clara, California, and was the idea of a young Stanford University grad named Ted Hoff.

85. Gene’s book should appear under the titleMaryland Lost and Found: People and Places from Chesapeake to Appalachia. The publisher is Johns Hopkins University Press.

85. Gene’s book should appear under the titleMaryland Lost and Found: People and Places from Chesapeake to Appalachia. The publisher is Johns Hopkins University Press.

86. Clarke’s forgetting to insert the disk in the B drive should underscore a truism:all computer users can commit idiocies. Once I owned a printer that I couldn’t use without unplugging my modem. Things worked the other way around, too—as some people discovered when they tried to communicate with me over the phone but couldn’t because I’d forgotten to yank out the printer cable and put in the modem’s.

86. Clarke’s forgetting to insert the disk in the B drive should underscore a truism:all computer users can commit idiocies. Once I owned a printer that I couldn’t use without unplugging my modem. Things worked the other way around, too—as some people discovered when they tried to communicate with me over the phone but couldn’t because I’d forgotten to yank out the printer cable and put in the modem’s.

87. MITE’s auto-answer feature won’t work without an appropriate modem. My own modem was manually activated, meaning that I couldn’t take advantage of this wrinkle. I could, however, switch on the modem when Peter called. And for him, that would realistically duplicate the experience of reaching Clarke’s computer.

87. MITE’s auto-answer feature won’t work without an appropriate modem. My own modem was manually activated, meaning that I couldn’t take advantage of this wrinkle. I could, however, switch on the modem when Peter called. And for him, that would realistically duplicate the experience of reaching Clarke’s computer.

88. A Ballantine paperback titledThe Odyssey File, records much of the computer dialogue between Clarke and Hyams. Very briefly Clarke also writes of the link inAscent to Orbit: The Technical Writings of Arthur C. Clarke, released by John Wiley & Sons, New York, in 1984.

88. A Ballantine paperback titledThe Odyssey File, records much of the computer dialogue between Clarke and Hyams. Very briefly Clarke also writes of the link inAscent to Orbit: The Technical Writings of Arthur C. Clarke, released by John Wiley & Sons, New York, in 1984.

89. President Reagan’s campaign schedule and trip to China forced him to cancel his April 1984 meeting with Clarke.

89. President Reagan’s campaign schedule and trip to China forced him to cancel his April 1984 meeting with Clarke.

90. In the postscript ofAscent to Orbit, Clarke described himself and Hyams as “lousy typists.” They may be in terms of accuracy but not speed—and, of course, with a computer, you can correct mistakes so easily that accuracy becomes secondary to speed.

90. In the postscript ofAscent to Orbit, Clarke described himself and Hyams as “lousy typists.” They may be in terms of accuracy but not speed—and, of course, with a computer, you can correct mistakes so easily that accuracy becomes secondary to speed.

91. In the early 1960s Clarke himself wrote inProfiles of the Futurethat “the first genuine thinking machines may begrownrather than constructed; already some crude but very stimulating experiments have been carried out along these lines. Several artificial organisms have been built that are capable of rewiring themselves to adapt to changing circumstances.”

91. In the early 1960s Clarke himself wrote inProfiles of the Futurethat “the first genuine thinking machines may begrownrather than constructed; already some crude but very stimulating experiments have been carried out along these lines. Several artificial organisms have been built that are capable of rewiring themselves to adapt to changing circumstances.”

92.Clarke’sClarke’sconjecture about the business lunch of the future appears inProfiles of the Future, Harper & Row, New York, 1962, p. 194.

92.Clarke’sClarke’sconjecture about the business lunch of the future appears inProfiles of the Future, Harper & Row, New York, 1962, p. 194.

93. The “Bureau of Poultry” description of Clarke comes from Curt Suplee’sWashington Postarticle of November 16, 1982. Suplee also saw Clarke in nonbureaucratic attire—the sarong.

93. The “Bureau of Poultry” description of Clarke comes from Curt Suplee’sWashington Postarticle of November 16, 1982. Suplee also saw Clarke in nonbureaucratic attire—the sarong.

94. Clarke’s prediction of a business having “only the equivalent of a telephone number” is fromProfiles of the Future, p. 194.

94. Clarke’s prediction of a business having “only the equivalent of a telephone number” is fromProfiles of the Future, p. 194.

95. Discussing WordStar, Clarke was careful to point out that he had “never used or even seen any other word-processing system” and had “no frame of reference,” but found “only a few small nits to pick with my version. (Release 3 of 1981, WU644275C).” Among other things he repeated a complaint I myself have against WordStar 3.0. “I do wish one could see the printed instructions actually operating on the screen text,” Clarke said, “so it wasn’t messed up by those ugly control characters. That would also have the enormous benefit of preventing the sort of boob I made for the first few weeks—not closing the print instruction, with horrid results, e.g.,underliningunderliningto the end of the manuscript!!”

95. Discussing WordStar, Clarke was careful to point out that he had “never used or even seen any other word-processing system” and had “no frame of reference,” but found “only a few small nits to pick with my version. (Release 3 of 1981, WU644275C).” Among other things he repeated a complaint I myself have against WordStar 3.0. “I do wish one could see the printed instructions actually operating on the screen text,” Clarke said, “so it wasn’t messed up by those ugly control characters. That would also have the enormous benefit of preventing the sort of boob I made for the first few weeks—not closing the print instruction, with horrid results, e.g.,underliningunderliningto the end of the manuscript!!”

96. Alas, Lynn tried but did not successfully make radio contact with the space shuttle.

96. Alas, Lynn tried but did not successfully make radio contact with the space shuttle.

97. A former Victor employee tells me that charging dealers for promotional material isn’t that uncommon a practice. I realize that some dealers may waste literature, but I still think the practice is dumb.

97. A former Victor employee tells me that charging dealers for promotional material isn’t that uncommon a practice. I realize that some dealers may waste literature, but I still think the practice is dumb.

98. Kaypro has donated five machines for the project and expects to send five more. Special thanks here to David Kay and Tom Peifer, a Kaypro staffer in charge of the company’s Third World donations program.

98. Kaypro has donated five machines for the project and expects to send five more. Special thanks here to David Kay and Tom Peifer, a Kaypro staffer in charge of the company’s Third World donations program.

99. The salesman joke is fromInfoWorld, October 22, 1984, p. 27.

99. The salesman joke is fromInfoWorld, October 22, 1984, p. 27.

100.InfoWorld, June 20, 1983, p. 1, reported the shooting incident.

100.InfoWorld, June 20, 1983, p. 1, reported the shooting incident.

101. Ironically, Naiman wroteIntroduction to WordStarwith another program, WRITE, the creation of a friend of his, and WordStar itself is far from his favorite word processor. He compares it to a big Cadillac or camper loaded with too many features. My thinking is different; Iwantto have many to choose from; I’ll gladly ignore the others.

101. Ironically, Naiman wroteIntroduction to WordStarwith another program, WRITE, the creation of a friend of his, and WordStar itself is far from his favorite word processor. He compares it to a big Cadillac or camper loaded with too many features. My thinking is different; Iwantto have many to choose from; I’ll gladly ignore the others.

102. Since writing this section, I’ve learned that Park has left 800 Software for another company.

102. Since writing this section, I’ve learned that Park has left 800 Software for another company.

103. Carl Herrman is communications director at MITRE Corporation, a nonprofit research and consulting firm in McLean, Virginia. His address there is W 160, 1820 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, Virginia 22102.

103. Carl Herrman is communications director at MITRE Corporation, a nonprofit research and consulting firm in McLean, Virginia. His address there is W 160, 1820 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, Virginia 22102.

104. I asked John Butler, a Microsoft products manager, why windows would hit the market months late. “We don’t like to announce products too far ahead of time when they’re not fully developed” he said, “but with Windows we had to tell other software companies about its existence early on—so they could write programs taking full advantage of ours.”

104. I asked John Butler, a Microsoft products manager, why windows would hit the market months late. “We don’t like to announce products too far ahead of time when they’re not fully developed” he said, “but with Windows we had to tell other software companies about its existence early on—so they could write programs taking full advantage of ours.”

105. I’m basing the “windows-shopping” questions on points raised by various micro publications, especiallyPopular Computing, May 1984, p. 96.

105. I’m basing the “windows-shopping” questions on points raised by various micro publications, especiallyPopular Computing, May 1984, p. 96.

106. For background in researching this appendix—but not for the opinions, strictly mine—I’m grateful to Forrest M. Mims’s excellent article “A Few Quick Pointers.” It appeared in May 1984Computers and Electronics.

106. For background in researching this appendix—but not for the opinions, strictly mine—I’m grateful to Forrest M. Mims’s excellent article “A Few Quick Pointers.” It appeared in May 1984Computers and Electronics.

107. Rubinstein’s “cheese” quote is fromInfoWorld, May 14, 1984, p. 57.

107. Rubinstein’s “cheese” quote is fromInfoWorld, May 14, 1984, p. 57.

Transcriber’s NoteErrors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. Where the intent of the author is ambiguous, a suggested re-reading is provided here, and the text itself is merely annotated. The references are to the page and line in the original. Entries with three numbers refer to the page, the footnote (as resequenced), and the line within the footnote. The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions.ii.3Published in the Uni[t]ed StatesAdded,12.24Two San Francis[c]o-area authors,Added.24.8[“]The “B” drive is mydata diskRemoved.24.24floppy disk[s] drivesRemoved.30.35the very same writer who had le[a]d the cheeringRemoved.31.2was no match for some more expensive machines[’].Removed.50.20wanted to do.[”]Added.50.21and others unfamiliar with computer arcan[i]a.Removed.52.13Then again, your boss may ba[l/w]l you outReplaced.52.27m[e/o]re programmers are writingReplaced.53.44WordStar as a programming aid[e] to write WordStar.Removed.56.31to have a manual.[”]Added.70.42[“]The user needs to knowAdded.71.25.1account of Sele[k/c]t’s capital shortageReplaced.88.31have to go through unwield[l]y computer rigamaroleRemoved.89.33Symphony, for instance[,] lets you flush out formulasAdded.90.12and it did [“]all the basic search and sortingRemoved.94.1Turn onto Cary Avenue. Follow [M/C]aryReplaced.101.39the data base grew too unwield[l]yRemoved.104.9was as badly botched as its hardware[.]Added.117.8said Bill Scrivo[,] an ex-managing editor.Added.120.24have microprocessors in them.[”]Added.136.36How much more can they push them[./?]Replaced.138.20and the same breaks [e]very hour for workersAdded.148.40Angle between upper and low[er] arms:Added.150.8particularly effective on a num[b]er of newspapers.Added.161.22A second failing of electroluminescent screen[s]Added.166.16mainframes are sending electronic copies to [a ]microsRemoved.170.13why not zap [a]way the barriersAdded.176.4but it helps.[”]Added.177.12Steve Wozniak, the Apple cofounde[e]rRemoved.188.20Your dial-up computer [should] send its name untilsic: should not194.38You can’t afford to have your material stored just [in on] your chip.sic204.60.2“Rising Trend of Computer Age: Employees Who Work at Home;[”]New York TimesAdded.206.36articles sent over the phone lines[?/.]Replaced.210.16the regular workers cost a[t] least $50.52 a dayAdded.215.1A COMPARIS[I]ON OF OFFICE EXPENSES PER WORKERRemoved.217.25establish munytels in poorer neighbor[hood]s>.Added.220.72.1Nilles’s[;] three-quarters of a billionRemoved.222.6a vivid contrast to be[ ]suited, tied scientists222.38The Source and a rival network, CompuServe[,] each boastAdded.223.12“You may even want to type ‘Chuckle,’[”] Trudy says,Added.225.32packet-switching techniques[,] can also increaseRemoved.233.25electronic mail can go from [person] to anothersic: one person241.10instead of saying you[r] wanted to reachRemoved.245.31the computers don’t[’] mind being “it”Removed.253.9“Hey, don’t worry[,/.] You’ll learn it much faster than I did,”Replaced.257.15to work together via[ by] computerRedundant.266.92.1Clarke[’s] conjecture aboutAdded.267.95.8with horrid results, e.g., underlin[in]g to the end of the manuscript!!Added.272.9from an AC ex[t]ension cord.Added.283.2Are you pre[p]ared to do your homework?Added.259.24I hoped that benefic[i]ent HALsRemoved.267.22thatwill be in an attaché case.[’]”Removed.290.27will pro[b]ably quit thenAdded.292.29are damaged by [a sloppy drive in machine]sic: a floppy drive in the machine (?)295.19so thermal printers were also out of the run[n]ing for me.Added.347.5the mouse-equipped Macintosh for “na[i/ï]ve users.”Replaced.348.6is found most often in arcade-style [styles].sic350.20transmitted information at 300 baud[s]Removed.353.14An issue more basic than control characters i[n/s] whetherReplaced.353.19You can send at 4,800 baud[s]Removed.379.1Perfect Fil[l]er, 324-27Added.

Transcriber’s Note

Transcriber’s Note

Transcriber’s Note

Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. Where the intent of the author is ambiguous, a suggested re-reading is provided here, and the text itself is merely annotated. The references are to the page and line in the original. Entries with three numbers refer to the page, the footnote (as resequenced), and the line within the footnote. The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions.


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