That is all very interesting, but how did you get images in the subject line?
Cody Smith On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 10:28 AM, Tom Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > More on the history of computing. > TJ > > =================================== > Tom Johnson - Inst. for Analytic Journalism > Santa Fe, NM > SPJ Region 9 Director > [email protected] 505-473-9646 > =================================== > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: "Allan at MuckRock" <[email protected]> > Date: May 26, 2016 6:00 AM > Subject: 💻 📊 Old Computers at the U.S. Census Bureau > To: <[email protected]> > Cc: > > <https://www.muckrock.com> > MuckRock > > Oldest Computer Project > The oldest computer at the U.S. Census Bureau > > A few weeks ago the U.S. Census Bureau completed my request. Believe it or > not, simply requesting “the oldest computer in active use by this agency” > actually gets real results from agencies. It worked with MassPort > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=9012254df9&e=c8356bc8ae> > and it worked again with the U.S. Census Bureau > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=7cce74535e&e=c8356bc8ae>. > I’m surprised that such a generic request can get results, but at the same > time it’s very encouraging that some agencies are willing to meet me more > than halfway (we’ll see if this request language works with more uptight > agencies…). > > Unfortunately, there were no earth-shattering discoveries in the Census’ > response. A simple enterprise server from 2000. Frankly, the most > interesting part of their response was the way that they redacted it > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=80a6a7c4fb&e=c8356bc8ae>. > Instead, I used this as an opportunity to learn about the *much more > interesting* history of computing at the Census from the late 19th > century and into the 20th. > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=14ed5bfe10&e=c8356bc8ae> > Did you know that the Census purchased the *first* commercial computer, > the UNIVAC I, in 1951? Or that a Census employee founded the company that > would go on to become IBM? You can read the history of computing at the > census here. > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=63458f12f7&e=c8356bc8ae> > > GAO releases report on “aging legacy systems” > > Just yesterday the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report > commissioned by Congress that I’ve been waiting to read, “Federal > Agencies Need to Address Aging Legacy Systems” > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=d04793a31f&e=c8356bc8ae> > (check the second and third pages for highlights): > > Federal legacy IT investments are becoming increasingly obsolete: many use > outdated software languages and hardware parts that are unsupported. > Agencies reported using several systems that have components that are, in > some cases, at least 50 years old. For example, the Department of Defense > uses 8-inch floppy disks in a legacy system that coordinates the > operational functions of the nation’s nuclear forces. In addition, the > Department of the Treasury uses assembly language code—a computer language > initially used in the 1950s and typically tied to the hardware for which it > was developed. > > I’m planning on sitting down with the full report soon, as well as filing > FOIA requests regarding its creation and any correspondence between the GAO > and Congress. In the meantime, if you find anything interesting or file any > requests, please let me know and I can add them to the project. > Historic computers, restored and retouched > > > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=118982ba06&e=c8356bc8ae> > > > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=51886d3c83&e=c8356bc8ae> > > A really cool and beautiful collaboration between Docubyte > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=2ede5676d4&e=c8356bc8ae> > and INK > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=ffda68b43d&e=c8356bc8ae> > has produced high-quality photos of vintage computers as they would have > appeared when new. From INK: > > The ageing historical objects as photographed by Docubyte have been > ‘digitally restored’ and returned to their original form. As a number of > these computers pre-date modern colour photography, Guide to Computing > therefore showcases them in a never before seen context. > > For more information on the project and specific identification of each > machine, check out Eliza Williams’ article in Creative Review > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=c88d827f08&e=c8356bc8ae>. > For a deeper dive on the industrial design of older computers, I strongly > suggest checking out The Interface: IBM and the Transformation of > Corporate Design, 1945–1976 > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=8ad7f91756&e=c8356bc8ae> > from your local library. > ------------------------------ > > It’s been a little while, hasn’t it? At least I have a good reason for > that, and some exciting news to boot. I needed to take time off my own > project to push our projects feature > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=65835d140e&e=c8356bc8ae> > open to *everyone*. If you have an idea for a FOIA-based project, I > really encourage you to try creating it with us > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=358a26252b&e=c8356bc8ae>. > And when you do create your project, I’d love to hear about it. 🙂 > > If you know someone who might enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to > them. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please send them to > me—just reply to this email. > > Thanks for reading! > > Copyright (C) 2016 MuckRock All rights reserved. > > You are receiving this email because you were interested in following the > progress of the "Hunting for Government's Oldest Computer" project on > MuckRock. > > Unsubscribe > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=56df7ccb2a&e=c8356bc8ae&c=97fa2e394f> > [email protected] from this list. > > Forward > <http://us2.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=97fa2e394f&e=c8356bc8ae> > this email to a friend > > Update your profile > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage1.com/profile?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=56df7ccb2a&e=c8356bc8ae> > > Our mailing address is: > MuckRock > 411A Highland Avenue > Somerville, MA 02144 > > Add us to your address book > <http://muckrock.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=74862d74361490eca930f4384&id=56df7ccb2a> > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >
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