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The network nation
BOOK
The Network
Nation,
REVIEWS
STAR ROXANNE HILTZ and MURRAY TUROFF. Addison-Wesley,
New York.
Human communication via computer, computer conferencing, social and individual processes conferencing, applications and impacts, human-machine interface, policies, politics and the future.. How should we view them?
in
..
Computing is, of course, ultimately about helping humans (well, some humans at least) and the network nation is about helping with human communication. The factors governing the use of computers up to now have not been conducive to this development. In particular, human communication cannot easily be evaluated in financial terms. The relatively high cost of the technology has therefore restricted the use of computers to a relatively small community of researchers in computer science and related topics. Within that community there is now extensive experience in the uses of computers for human communication. Several thousand people in the United States and a few hundred in Europe have had access to national and international networks with a variety of systems for electronic mail, formal and informal conferencing. Few of us would now wish to be without such facilities. This book falls into the chasm between human factors and high technology; the book itself says many useful things but unfortunately in such a way as, we think, would not appeal much to those who should read them most: though this is not entirely the fault of the authors so much as the prejudices of those who will probably ignore the book and carry on making the same dehumanising mistakes as before. The book would not appeal to the over technical mind, it is too ‘soft’-yet it also assumes quite a sophisticated knowledge of computers and computer communications in places. Perhaps it would be a good book for use in the second year of a computer science degree. It is certainly time that the design of interactive systems has priority. We recommend the book, especially to people who may not want to read it! The book is an excellent introduction to the issues of computers within societyaided with scenarios and newspaper clippings from the future--and has an impressive (if a little incestuous) bibliography. The scale (and cost) of the book is not fully commensurate with the amount of information conveyed. Queen Mary College Mile End Road London El 4NS U.K.
Introduction
Hardback
to Computers 4th edn:
GEORGECOULOURIS and HAROLD THIMBLEBY
KEITH LONDON.Faber,
London,
1979, 266 pp. Paperback
f3.95,
f 8.25.
The book is composed of seven chapters and a useful l5-page glossary of computing terminology. Intended as an introductory text both for schools and the businessman it gives the reader an overview of machine principles and how computers might be used in industry and commerce. The first chapter, with the use of examples, patiently leads the reader from mechanical calculators to the digital computer and the stored program concept. Fundamentals of machine code programming are introduced using a three-address ‘decimal computer’ with 100 words of memory; a significant by-product of this lively exposition is a relaxed introduction to algorithms and flowcharting. Based upon the observations made in the examples the structure and numerical potential of the digital computer is presented to the reader. Chapter 2 deals with binary data. instruction and character representations and how the hardware copes with their storage both in core memory and magnetic media. The reader is then given a glimpse of the arithmetic and control units with examples of their intended function. Basic logical elements are introduced at this stage but their relevance and application is not conveyed to the reader. The third chapter is devoted to peripheral units. There is a clear and precise account of a large number of devices, how they work, motivation for their use, and their relative merits. Magnetic 255
The Network
Nation,
REVIEWS
STAR ROXANNE HILTZ and MURRAY TUROFF. Addison-Wesley,
New York.
Human communication via computer, computer conferencing, social and individual processes conferencing, applications and impacts, human-machine interface, policies, politics and the future.. How should we view them?
in
..
Computing is, of course, ultimately about helping humans (well, some humans at least) and the network nation is about helping with human communication. The factors governing the use of computers up to now have not been conducive to this development. In particular, human communication cannot easily be evaluated in financial terms. The relatively high cost of the technology has therefore restricted the use of computers to a relatively small community of researchers in computer science and related topics. Within that community there is now extensive experience in the uses of computers for human communication. Several thousand people in the United States and a few hundred in Europe have had access to national and international networks with a variety of systems for electronic mail, formal and informal conferencing. Few of us would now wish to be without such facilities. This book falls into the chasm between human factors and high technology; the book itself says many useful things but unfortunately in such a way as, we think, would not appeal much to those who should read them most: though this is not entirely the fault of the authors so much as the prejudices of those who will probably ignore the book and carry on making the same dehumanising mistakes as before. The book would not appeal to the over technical mind, it is too ‘soft’-yet it also assumes quite a sophisticated knowledge of computers and computer communications in places. Perhaps it would be a good book for use in the second year of a computer science degree. It is certainly time that the design of interactive systems has priority. We recommend the book, especially to people who may not want to read it! The book is an excellent introduction to the issues of computers within societyaided with scenarios and newspaper clippings from the future--and has an impressive (if a little incestuous) bibliography. The scale (and cost) of the book is not fully commensurate with the amount of information conveyed. Queen Mary College Mile End Road London El 4NS U.K.
Introduction
Hardback
to Computers 4th edn:
GEORGECOULOURIS and HAROLD THIMBLEBY
KEITH LONDON.Faber,
London,
1979, 266 pp. Paperback
f3.95,
f 8.25.
The book is composed of seven chapters and a useful l5-page glossary of computing terminology. Intended as an introductory text both for schools and the businessman it gives the reader an overview of machine principles and how computers might be used in industry and commerce. The first chapter, with the use of examples, patiently leads the reader from mechanical calculators to the digital computer and the stored program concept. Fundamentals of machine code programming are introduced using a three-address ‘decimal computer’ with 100 words of memory; a significant by-product of this lively exposition is a relaxed introduction to algorithms and flowcharting. Based upon the observations made in the examples the structure and numerical potential of the digital computer is presented to the reader. Chapter 2 deals with binary data. instruction and character representations and how the hardware copes with their storage both in core memory and magnetic media. The reader is then given a glimpse of the arithmetic and control units with examples of their intended function. Basic logical elements are introduced at this stage but their relevance and application is not conveyed to the reader. The third chapter is devoted to peripheral units. There is a clear and precise account of a large number of devices, how they work, motivation for their use, and their relative merits. Magnetic 255