The Multiple Times of the Digital: An Archeology of a Microcomputer
Channel: UCIBrenICS
Date: 2018-06-04

The Department of Informatics is proud to present Paul Dourish, Chancellor's Professor, Associate Dean for Research, Informatics, Donald Bren School of ICS, UC Irvine.

"The Multiple Times of the Digital: An Archeology of a Microcomputer"

Abstract: 
In 1977, three classic microcomputers were launched — the Commodore PET, the Apple II, and the TRS-80. Between them, these systems collectively kick-started the home computer industry. The Commodore and Apple machines were both built around the MOS 6502 processor.

Over 40 years later, 6502 processors are still being manufactured. As a hobby project and an exercise is nerdy nostalgia, I’ve been designing and building a small computer based on that processor. In this talk, I’ll explore this platform with from the perspective of media archeology and science studies. In particular, I’ll show how it challenges traditional narratives of technological progress and temporalities. 

This talk is also something of a cautionary tale about the way that research interests tend to expand into all aspects of one’s life.

Bio:
Paul Dourish is Chancellor's Professor of Informatics and Associate Dean for Research in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at UC Irvine, with courtesy appointments in Computer Science and Anthropology. He also holds the position of Honorary Senior Fellow in Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne. His research focuses primarily on understanding information technology as a site of social and cultural production; his work combines topics in human-computer interaction, social informatics, and science and technology studies. He is the author of several books, most recently "The Stuff of Bits: An Essay on the Materialities of Information" (MIT Press, 2017). He is a Fellow of the ACM, a Fellow of the BCS, a member of the SIGCHI Academy, and a recipient of the AMIA Diana Forsythe Award and the CSCW Lasting Impact Award.