Due: Sunday, May 14, 2017
Goals
- Explore and interact with computing in various forms.
- Experience some history of computers.
Setup
This information is also available as a PDF and a Word document.
CSE120: Living Computers Museum Report
Museum Info
| Website: | http://www.livingcomputers.org/ |
| Hours: | Mondays & Tuesdays : Closed
Wednesday - Sundays : 10am - 5pm FIRST THURSDAYS : 10am - 8pm (FREE 5pm - 8pm) |
| Cost: | FREE!!! We have paid your admission for you.
Make sure to let the receptionist know that you are with CSE120 and show your student ID. |
| Travel: | https://goo.gl/maps/McUM1ZWMqVn
15 min walk from SODO Link station. The primary bus routes nearby are 21, 594, 132, 106, 50, 102, 590, and 116. |
Instructions
Please read through this document carefully before you visit the museum so that you have a good idea of what to do and look out for while you are there. This assignment is mostly meant to be done as a reflection of your visit, so just enjoy yourself while you are there and try to soak in the experience!
Submission
Afterward, type up your responses to the following prompts in your text editor of choice and submit your responses as a PDF to the Canvas assignments page.
- Make sure to include your name and the date and time of your visit.
- Include the requested photos as part of your submission document, not as separate uploads.
- Make sure to copy the question prompts into your report.
Favorite Exhibit
- Take a photo of yourself (can be in a group of students) with your favorite exhibit.
- What was interesting about that particular exhibit and what about it appealed to you?
Computer History
Pick a vintage computer on the upper floor and take a photo of it while you are at the museum. Try using the computer while you are there! Feel free to ask a staff member to help you out.
Look up the hardware specs for both the vintage computer and your current phone (use your personal computer or a lab computer if you do not own a smartphone) and fill out the comparison chart below:
| Vintage Computer | My Device | |
| Product Name | ||
| Year Released | ||
| Processor Speed | ||
| Maximum Graphics Resolution | ||
| Cost (when initially released) | ||
| Dimensions (roughly) |
- Does your vintage computer have a graphical user interface (GUI) or text-based interface?
- How would you get external data onto the vintage computer?
- What type of disks does it accept?
- Can it connect to the Internet? If so, how?
- What surprised you about using the vintage computer? What was most frustrating?
- If you had to use the vintage computer for a day instead of your device, what do you think you would miss the most and why?
Card Prompts
CHOOSE ONE of the questions below (which can be found in the museum!) and respond in a paragraph or two. Make sure to address the follow-up question(s) as well:
- If the price of a service is your data, is it really free?
- Give an example of data you are comfortable making public and an example of data that you would be uncomfortable making public. Where do you personally draw the line between the two?
- What didn't you see today that you thought you might?
- Why do you think it should have been included in the Living Computer Museum? Which exhibit would you replace and why?
- Do you think VR speed-dating will ever become popular?
- What constitutes "reality" and how does/should it affect your emotions?
- Hackers: good or evil?
- What does the word "hacker" make you think about or feel?
- If you are sitting on an airplane next to someone working on a laptop, do you sneak a peek?
- Would you want a neighbor looking at your screen? Should you have an expectation of privacy on an airplane? How might we solve this problem?
- If you could take home any object in the museum, what would it be?
- Explain your choice and what purpose that object would fulfill for you (useful? fun? novelty factor? aesthetically pleasing?).