Histories of Digital Culture

Week 2
Computers and computing cultures

1. From computers to programmers
2. (Sharing) source code
3. Computing identities

From computers to programmers
Computing is a word, is a part of history, indicates human action because they’re operated by
humans.

Harvard Mark 1: Giant calculator. Mega calculator. Automatic. You’ll have to program your
calculator.

Machine language was cryptic ​then​.
Computor ​→ Coder → Programmer
Programming languages: Fortran, algol and cobol.

Computor: ...1940
Coder: 1940-1950
Programmer: 1960-

Computer product (1940-1960) Software + Hardware
Computer product (1960-) Software and hardware sold separately. Divided up to applications,
OS, compilers and hardware.

Compiler became the coder. It was automatic, the computer translated the language.

Operation system: The application of the hardware.
● Timesharing

(Sharing) source code
Unix*
Forks → Unixes
Unix → BSD → NeXTStep → iOS
Unix → MINIX → LINUX → Android

, Continuum/Stability Recursive public
Pedagogy (university) = continuum/stability recursive public

Computing identities
Computer bum/nerd/hacker (Generation)
Who are they? Student or subcontractor (amateur)
● Alan Turing
● Chistopher Strachey
● Max Mathews
● Ivan Sutherland