Home Computer, 1954 Preview
Kathleen just sent me this. Here's the caption:
Scientists from the RAND Corporation have created this model to illustrate how a "home computer" could look like in the year 2004. However the needed technology will not be economically feasible for the average home. Also the scientists readily admit that the computer will require not yet invented technology to actually work, but 50 years from now scientific progress is expected to solve those problems. With teletype interface and the Fortran language, the computer will be easy to use.
From Popular Mechanics in 1954. Love the steering wheel!
Update: Well, no wonder! This is a hoax! Thanks a lot, dearest. (And thanks to V X Sterne.)
Comments
This is hilarious! I love it! Just what IS that steering wheel for anyway? And those zillions of dials and gauges? Perhaps one had to keep a close eye on temperature lest it explode? And most absurd of all - FORTRAN? Easy to use? Bwahahahahahaha!!!
- LTG
Posted by: LTG![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 7, 2006 09:53 AM
Whoops - I had a feeling this might be too good to be true - too bad!!
Does Not Compute
Oh well, it was fun anyway!
- LTG
Posted by: LTG![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 7, 2006 09:59 AM
Even if it is a hoax, it's a damn fine one. The Fortran is a very nice touch.
Posted by: slimbolala![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 7, 2006 11:51 AM
Heh, that is very, very funny. Actually, by the standards of the day, FORTRAN would have been extremely easy to use.
Fortunately, the Kitchen Computer is not a hoax.
Posted by: Max N![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 7, 2006 03:40 PM
On closer examination, that teletype strongly would appear to be something akin to the 1980s-era DEC teletypes (like this) that I did high-school and college computer assignments on.
Posted by: Max N![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 7, 2006 03:55 PM