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\ctrline{Something about Computers}
\ctrline{by}
\ctrline{Arthur L. Samuel}

\vskip 12pt

This will be a short series of talks about computers for the typical
Rotterdam passenger who is not a computer expert and who never intends to
become one but who, never-the-less, feels that he or she should know
something about computers and that, heaven forbid, he or she might even
find it fun to own a personal computer someday.

The entire approach will be that of one passenger talking to a few
other passengers and sharing his own enthusiasm with them for
some of the interesting new ideas and new devices that are just now
becoming available to the general public.

The series will begin with a brief history of computing.  The last 40
years of this history will be enlivened by some personal recollections of
the people that contributed to this history and of some of the more
dramatic events that have occurred.  People usually like to hear about the
short-sightedness of some of the individuals most responsible for the
advances as contrasted with the public over-optimism that has colored
these years. I will plan to limit the time devoted to this history to a
single talk although I could easily return to it later in the series
should this aspect of the subject elicit a lot of interest.

The second session will be devoted to the logical workings of the modern
computer, hopefully without ``computereeze gobblegook'' and freed from the
``computers-are-magic'' mentality that colors much that appears in the
public press. It is here that I must tread lightly. The all too common
reaction is for many people to not even try to understand. Being an older
person, myself, does help psychologically, making it a bit hard for my
audience to hide behind the excuse that this is a young person's field.
For the women in the audience, I will point out that Lady Lovelace, the
daughter of Lord Byron, actually wrote the best available explanation of
Charles Babbage's Analytic engine.  I will then ask if
they are willing to admit that they are unable to understand as much
about the modern digital computer as this young Victorian woman could and
did understand.

I will not go into too much detail with respect to the hardware aspects of
the modern computer. It will be interesting, however, to compare the
modern personal computer with the first million-dollar computers of the
early 1950's. Many people use an automobile without
much of an understanding of how it really works and they should be
willing to use a computer in much the same way. They will need to know
the names of the major parts, the steering wheel and the brake pedal, as
it were, but little more.

The next subject will be that of programming.  My first task will be to
dispell the feeling that programming is a black art.  Actually, a person
does not need to be a programmer in order to make intelligent use of a
personal computer, but then programming is fun. Most people find it
interesting to know just a little bit about programming so that they can
decide if they want to know enough more to get in on the fun.

Finally some hands-on experience with a typical small personal computer
will be offered as bait for those who persevere to the end.  Many people
are genuinely surprised when they find how easy it is to learn how to do
certain things with a small computer, but then they are also frustrated
when they take the next step and try to program some task all on their
own. Trying is fun never-the-less.

\vfill
\eject

The write-up on the previous page is probably too long and written from
the wrong point of view to serve as an advanced note on the series of
talks.  Perhaps the following might be so used.

\vskip 12pt

\ctrline{ Something about Computers}

\vskip 12pt

If you are not a computer expert and never intend to be one but if you
still feel that you should know something about computers then just maybe
you might be interested in something unusual among the many things offered
for your enjoyment during our Silver Jubilee Cruise.  A series of talks on
Computers is rather heady stuff for a vacation cruise but our speaker has
promised that the talks will be informatory, and he hopes interesting,
without in any way being over anyone's head.

\vskip 10pt 

This series of talks will be given by Arthur L.\ Samuel who is a fellow
passengers and a second-timer on a Rotterdam Around the World Cruise.
Professor Samuel knows from personal experience what it means to lecture
to Rotterdam passengers with all the distractions that a well planned
World Cruise has to offer.  We are fortunate in having Professor Samuel
with us as he is one of the few people still active in the computer field
who worked on analogue computers in the 1920's and who was present during
the birth pangs of the very first commercial digital computers.  He can
tell some very interesting tales about those early days.

\vskip 10pt

Professor Samuel has lectured extensively in the United States, Canada,
most of the countries in Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. When
he isn't traveling, he is an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science
Emeritus (recalled to active duty) at Stanford University.  He is bringing
a small personal computer on board with him and it will be available for
some hands-on experience for those so inclined.


\vfill
\eject
\ctrline{Possible Problem Areas Relating to Bringing a Computer on Board}

\vskip 10pt

1) Which of the several possible computers should I bring along?  The more
likely choices would be: the IBM Personal Computer, the APPLE III, the
APPLE II, the Radio Shack Computer, the Commodore, or the Osborne.

I favor the IBM for several reasons.  It is the most expensive of the lot
and would be apt to be the one chosen by most of the Rotterdam's
passengers were they to buy one.  To choose the cheapest would be a bit
demeaning for the Rotterdam while a choice between the several
intermediate priced models would imply too much of a commercial
indorsement for the particular one chosen.  Both IBM and APPLE have been
rather lavish in making their computers available to educators at little
or no cost. IBM has concentrated at the University level while Apple has
been dealing with the public schools.

2) Will the shipboard power supply be adequite in terms of the
nominal voltage, nominal frequency, overall stability, and the absence of bad
transients?  It might be necessary or desirable to install a surge arrestor.
Fortunately there are devices designed for this express purpose.

3) Will the computer emit any appreciable radiation that might interfere
with any of the ship's communication or navigation equipment?  This
interference could possibly be of two sorts, one transmitted vis the power
lines and the other by radiation.

The surge arrestor, mentioned above would take care of the first of these
channels, but the second might be more insidious. Ship board is not the
only place where computing equipment is operated in the neighborhood of
sensitive communication equipment and I would trust IBM, at least, to have
introduced adequate safeguards in the design of their equipment. At worst, this
might make it desirable to relocate the computer to some place within the ship
that would be remote from the sensitive equipment. The steel structure of the
ship does provide a lot of shielding.

4) Does the Rotterdam already use a small on-board computer for any of the
present regular operating functions?  If it does,then the staff may
already have answers to some of the above questions.  

If there is no on-board computer then the ship's personnel may be
interested in exploring the possibilities of using a computer in the
normal performance of their duties.

5) Will there be room in my cabin for a computer?  It might be necessary or
at least desirable to install the computer in some other location.

I can envision moving the computer to one of the public rooms for
demonstration purposes during some of the lecture sessions, but much of
the value of having it along would be lost if it were only operable when
so moved.  If there are any unused cabins at the time of sailing the
Holland American Lines might be willing to switch me to a larger cabin or
perhaps there may be some other secured location where the equipment might
be installed.

6) Will the Holland American Lines be criticized for any commercial bias
implied by the use of one particular computer over another?  I think
not and in any case the blame can be directed to me.  
I will do everything that I can to be impartial in what I have to say and
I have absolutely no commercial interest in promoting one computer over
another.

\vfill
\end

(203)255-3425

\to {Ms. Barbara Boyd\cr
Shailer, Davidoff and Hogers Inc.\cr
Heritage Square\cr
Fairfield, Conn. 06430\cr}
{\noindent Dear Ms. Boyd:}

When you told me your address during our phone conversation, I
understood it to be Sairfield with an S, which was new to me. I decided to
looked up the ZIP code and found it to be for Fairfield, which I know very
well.

As we discussed on Monday, I am enclosing three pages of material with
reference to my suggested series of talks on computers for the Rotterdam
World Cruise.

The first page of the attached material contains a summary of the possible
contents of such a series of talks.  This is, of course, only the first
pass and I will want to spend some time in thinking the matter through in
some detail between now and next January.

The second page contains a first draft of a possible notice that might be
sent to the passengers, if you send out advanced information on the
shipboard activities, or given to them on embarkation.

Finally, I have listed some of the possible problem areas that should be
thought through with reference to my idea of bringing a small
personal computer with me on the cruise.  I believe that none of these
should be serious but it is better to raise them now than to discover
later that a wrong decision had been made.