Comments on: Requiem for the Computer Lab http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/ Driving Innovation Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:34:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6464 Jake Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:26:02 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6464 I love it. Excellent point. I love it. Excellent point.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6460 Jake Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:17:37 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6460 Aside from a CS lab, which still does have a place as a nerd sanctum (and a place for specialized software), all the other labs could be switched into co-working study spaces. Or other useful stuff.<br><br>From what I've heard, colleges are going to need the space, since the next generation is even bigger than the Baby Boom. Aside from a CS lab, which still does have a place as a nerd sanctum (and a place for specialized software), all the other labs could be switched into co-working study spaces. Or other useful stuff.

From what I've heard, colleges are going to need the space, since the next generation is even bigger than the Baby Boom.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6459 Jake Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:14:21 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6459 Ah yes, spoken like a true B&S man. I had forgotten your background in athletics. I do find it hard to believe you didn't spend any time in a lab. <br><br>We're not gonna protest. We're not gonna protest. Gutter is a tool. Ah yes, spoken like a true B&S man. I had forgotten your background in athletics. I do find it hard to believe you didn't spend any time in a lab.

We're not gonna protest. We're not gonna protest. Gutter is a tool.

]]> By: Joonas http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6457 Joonas Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:12:46 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6457 Remember debugging Scheme in a lab in my freshman year, and watching trains collide while trying to comprehend semaphores in parallel programming... <br><br>I think CS students still use labs at least to some extent, as there are course environments and custom software to be used, and e.g. tunneling X windows over the network is still not as robust as using a local *nix box (or has there been some radical improvements in this area?). <br><br>Then again, laptop usage *has* definitely increased so maybe labs will gradually fade away? Remember debugging Scheme in a lab in my freshman year, and watching trains collide while trying to comprehend semaphores in parallel programming…

I think CS students still use labs at least to some extent, as there are course environments and custom software to be used, and e.g. tunneling X windows over the network is still not as robust as using a local *nix box (or has there been some radical improvements in this area?).

Then again, laptop usage *has* definitely increased so maybe labs will gradually fade away?

]]> By: chet http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6454 chet Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:35:06 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6454 Nerds!<br><br>All you are nerds I say.<br><br>What was a computer lab? Oh wait, that's where the smart people went. I didn't visit...until my second go at college.<br><br>Better yet, a PCU discussion.<br><br>I used to watch that every time it came on Comedy Central in the late nineties (I think). Piven was hilarious. Gutter (Favreau)?<br><br>Old Woman: Excuse me, but can you blow me where the pampers is?<br>Gutter: What?<br>Old Woman: Can you blow me where the pampers is?<br>Gutter: What?<br>Old Woman: Can you *show* me where the *campus* is? <br><br>I've head days like that (wait, I still do).<br><br><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110759/quotes" rel="nofollow">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110759/quotes</a><br><br>At first viewing I most related to Gutter. As I matured, Droz was the man. Nerds!

All you are nerds I say.

What was a computer lab? Oh wait, that's where the smart people went. I didn't visit…until my second go at college.

Better yet, a PCU discussion.

I used to watch that every time it came on Comedy Central in the late nineties (I think). Piven was hilarious. Gutter (Favreau)?

Old Woman: Excuse me, but can you blow me where the pampers is?
Gutter: What?
Old Woman: Can you blow me where the pampers is?
Gutter: What?
Old Woman: Can you *show* me where the *campus* is?

I've head days like that (wait, I still do).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110759/quotes

At first viewing I most related to Gutter. As I matured, Droz was the man.

]]> By: John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6450 John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:48:25 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6450 Things have come full circle. Punch cards were limited to 80 characters. Now microblogging is limited to 140 characters. Short is good. Things have come full circle. Punch cards were limited to 80 characters. Now microblogging is limited to 140 characters. Short is good.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6449 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:33:46 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6449 You can't be blamed for poor workspace design. Were those extra hours billable :)<br><br>Sounds a bit depressing. I worked in a metal-sided construction office for months in urban Detroit. Consultants get some crappy workspaces. You can't be blamed for poor workspace design. Were those extra hours billable :)

Sounds a bit depressing. I worked in a metal-sided construction office for months in urban Detroit. Consultants get some crappy workspaces.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6448 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:31:15 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6448 We're the same vintage. Some friends and I found an character mode chat room world freshman year. We then proceeded to get booted over and over just for fun. We were the ex-Presidents.<br><br>It was freaky odd when Mosaic/Netscape exposed a whole world of other people out there on the information superhighway. <br><br>I've been waiting to drop that for weeks :) We're the same vintage. Some friends and I found an character mode chat room world freshman year. We then proceeded to get booted over and over just for fun. We were the ex-Presidents.

It was freaky odd when Mosaic/Netscape exposed a whole world of other people out there on the information superhighway.

I've been waiting to drop that for weeks :)

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6447 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:28:34 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6447 It's funny how fast technology moves. My freshman year, a couple people had those clunky word processors. By senior year, they had traded them in for desktops. A couple years after that, most freshmen were arriving with computers.<br><br>Punch cards sound fun. I think someone should recreate that experience at a geek museum. I'd pay for that. It's funny how fast technology moves. My freshman year, a couple people had those clunky word processors. By senior year, they had traded them in for desktops. A couple years after that, most freshmen were arriving with computers.

Punch cards sound fun. I think someone should recreate that experience at a geek museum. I'd pay for that.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6446 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:24:49 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6446 Assembler tweaking was too advanced for me. I wrote games instead, but yeah, it did seem like a big deal. Not so much anymore I think. Assembler tweaking was too advanced for me. I wrote games instead, but yeah, it did seem like a big deal. Not so much anymore I think.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6445 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:22:50 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6445 I always wanted to try doggie biscuits in the luggage. I always wanted to try doggie biscuits in the luggage.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6444 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:22:37 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6444 Nice. I don't recall anything that big iron. We had boatloads of Macs, everywhere you went. I did some support on Win 3.11 in my senior year and remember wondering who used these things. Nice. I don't recall anything that big iron. We had boatloads of Macs, everywhere you went. I did some support on Win 3.11 in my senior year and remember wondering who used these things.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6443 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:20:33 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6443 I assume you mean now vs. back in the day. Does anyone use lab computers anymore? I assume you mean now vs. back in the day. Does anyone use lab computers anymore?

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6442 Jake Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:17:33 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6442 We used to eat out on the patio right outside the lab in question. It was very close to a food court area and a parking lot, which made it more desirable for late night hacking (and junk food consumption). The other labs were too far inside the campus. We used to eat out on the patio right outside the lab in question. It was very close to a food court area and a parking lot, which made it more desirable for late night hacking (and junk food consumption). The other labs were too far inside the campus.

]]> By: Matt Rasmussen http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6441 Matt Rasmussen Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:05:13 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6441 I remember thinking how cool my resume would be if I could get a work-study job in a lab. What perspective...<br><br>Speaking of tripping over a cord and unplugging computers, I was a consultant at a place that stuck 10 of us in a small conference room with rows of folding tables as desks. We had to shimmy between chairs and tables to get to our workstation and you guessed it, I tripped on one guy's power strip, it came unplugged, he lost everything he had worked on for a couple of hours. Still feel bad about that incident. I remember thinking how cool my resume would be if I could get a work-study job in a lab. What perspective…

Speaking of tripping over a cord and unplugging computers, I was a consultant at a place that stuck 10 of us in a small conference room with rows of folding tables as desks. We had to shimmy between chairs and tables to get to our workstation and you guessed it, I tripped on one guy's power strip, it came unplugged, he lost everything he had worked on for a couple of hours. Still feel bad about that incident.

]]> By: Jim http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6440 Jim Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:49:43 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6440 He he. I remember having to do a C programming assignment, and sitting in the computer lab, feeling completely thick and stupid. Or doing SQL in the same lab, and feeling the same, and feeling the same when doing JavaScript. Hey, I spot a theme here.<br><br>I remember in 1994, finding that you could use "newsgroups" on the PCs, using Nestcape, or something like that, and being very excited to find lots of people talking about the Beastie Boys and Doom2 cheats. What a cultured person I am. There were labs everywhere, when I was at Uni from 1992 - 1995, and again in 2000. Not sure what it'd be like now. He he. I remember having to do a C programming assignment, and sitting in the computer lab, feeling completely thick and stupid. Or doing SQL in the same lab, and feeling the same, and feeling the same when doing JavaScript. Hey, I spot a theme here.

I remember in 1994, finding that you could use “newsgroups” on the PCs, using Nestcape, or something like that, and being very excited to find lots of people talking about the Beastie Boys and Doom2 cheats. What a cultured person I am. There were labs everywhere, when I was at Uni from 1992 – 1995, and again in 2000. Not sure what it'd be like now.

]]> By: John Flack http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6439 John Flack Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:47:16 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6439 I was at UVA in the early 70's. The computer lab (only one for the College of Arts and Sciences, probably one or two more in the School of Engineering) was filled with keypunch machines, and you would hand a pack of punch cards through a window to be run. Results in one or two hours - guaranteed, except at the end of the semester. Only people taking a programming class ever went there. Papers were written on a portable typewriter. I was at UVA in the early 70's. The computer lab (only one for the College of Arts and Sciences, probably one or two more in the School of Engineering) was filled with keypunch machines, and you would hand a pack of punch cards through a window to be run. Results in one or two hours – guaranteed, except at the end of the semester. Only people taking a programming class ever went there. Papers were written on a portable typewriter.

]]> By: Lawrence Woodman http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6438 Lawrence Woodman Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:29:47 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6438 The thing I remember particularly fondly is coming in after coding all night and showing each other new tricks you had managed. This was especially true when tweaking assembler. The thing I remember particularly fondly is coming in after coding all night and showing each other new tricks you had managed. This was especially true when tweaking assembler.

]]> By: Medela http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6437 Medela Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:13:59 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6437 So is that the only thing you use the computer, it's quite surprising! So is that the only thing you use the computer, it's quite surprising!

]]> By: Dan Norris http://theappslab.com/2009/03/30/requiem-for-the-computer-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-6435 Dan Norris Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:28:46 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=2661#comment-6435 I distinctly remember downloading slackware linux onto something like 15 3.5" floppies using a 28.8kbps modem over the course of a day or two (partly due to dropped connections). Before starting the download, I had to make room for the downloads on my hard drive (it might have been 200Mb or so...maybe less). <br><br>I also remember using "talk" and "ntalk" to chat with friends online. <br><br>Ahh...the good ol' days. Sad that my kids don't know what cassette tapes or VHS tapes are, let alone a world before computers when having an Apple IIgs with 1Mb of RAM meant you were *rich*. I distinctly remember downloading slackware linux onto something like 15 3.5″ floppies using a 28.8kbps modem over the course of a day or two (partly due to dropped connections). Before starting the download, I had to make room for the downloads on my hard drive (it might have been 200Mb or so…maybe less).

I also remember using “talk” and “ntalk” to chat with friends online.

Ahh…the good ol' days. Sad that my kids don't know what cassette tapes or VHS tapes are, let alone a world before computers when having an Apple IIgs with 1Mb of RAM meant you were *rich*.

]]>