The Computer Labs That Created the Digital World 48
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samzenpus
from the in-the-beginning dept.
from the in-the-beginning dept.
MrSeb writes "In the time of Socrates, Plato and Cicero, great minds came together in local forums or sophist schools. The Enlightenment of the 18th century was triggered by homely gatherings at salons and fueled by the steaming hotpot of coffeehouses and caffeine. Today we still use forums, of course, and plenty of inventions and insight still originate from coffeehouses, but most innovation occurs in laboratories. ExtremeTech takes a look at the six computer labs that gave birth to the digital world — from Bletchley Park in Blighty, to PARC labs in Palo Alto, and everything in between."
Re:would love to visit (Score:4, Informative)
There are two ways anyone can visit PARC:
1. PARC Forum every Thursday http://www.parc.com/events/forum.html [parc.com]
Not a guided tour, but you get to ask questions. And the talks are available for viewing afterward.
I've asked questions of Guido van Rossum (a famous Dutchman no doubt you know) and Jill Tarter (SETI), and dozens of others.
2. Art exhibits
There are art exhibits occasionally and they have guided tours of the art on specified days.
You don't get to ask any questions; it's just an art exhibit space.
Intel has a small museum you can visit, and the Computer History Museum in Mountain View is a must-see.
The Tech computer museum in San Jose is iffy even if you have kids (exhibits aren't well maintained) though the imax theatre there is nice.
Now, what can I see in Amsterdam ;-)