Core Memory | Mark Richards & John Alderman | Talks at Google

TL;DR

A photographer explores the intersection of art and technology in a book about the beauty of old computers.

Transcript

this is john alderman i'm mark richards uh the author and the writer i mean the photographer and uh we're gonna have a little conversational style yeah because rather than um a little bit of feedback to go yeah exactly um so first of all mark was uh really the driver behind the whole project uh he he's been at it for four years trying to uh to get ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥶 Old computers can be seen as more than just engineering tools; they have an artistic essence.
• 🛟 A book can serve as a portable piece of history and make the subject accessible to a wider audience.
• 🥶 The beauty of old computers is often found in their design and the stories behind them.
• 🥰 The photographer's background in photojournalism and love for storytelling influenced the approach to the project.
• 👯 The project highlights the passion and dedication of the people behind the development of these machines.
• 🪛 There is a divergence between large military and corporate-driven computing and personal computing driven by hobbyists, but they occasionally intersect.
• 👾 The rapid pace of technological advancement makes it challenging to identify what will be historically significant in the future.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired the photographer to create a book about old computers?

The photographer was struck by the beauty of old computers at the computer history museum and saw them as more than just engineering tools. He wanted to capture their artistic essence in a book.

Q: Why did the photographer choose to create a book instead of an exhibit or magazine article?

The photographer believed that a book would be the best way to encapsulate the history of computing and make it accessible to a wider audience. He saw it as a portable piece of history that could be appreciated in a different context.

Q: How did the photographer approach photographing the old computers?

The photographer used digital photography techniques and shot directly into a computer connected to a laptop. This allowed him to refine the images and capture the beauty of the machines in a way that translated well from three-dimensional objects to two-dimensional photographs.

Q: Did the photographer receive any feedback from the computer history museum?

Yes, the photographer received positive feedback from the museum, which appreciated his unique perspective on the machines. The museum saw the artistic value in the photographs and supported the project.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The photographer was inspired by the art and beauty found in old computers at the computer history museum.

• He saw these machines as more than just engineering tools and wanted to capture their artistic essence.

• The decision to create a book was driven by the desire to encapsulate the history of computing in a portable format.