[GreenKeys] Retrocomputing exhibit

[Jones, Douglas W]

On June 6, 2019, with the help of a truck with a lift gate, I moved the University of Iowa's PDP-8 computer, ASR 33, and a variety of other stuff to the main lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union (a distance of 3 blocks).  The event was the U of Iowa Tech Forum, bringing together tech staff from the campus and hospital for talk by the University's Chief Information Officer, a series of sometimes interesting 10-minute talks on varied subjects, and lunch.  One corner of the room was used as a temporary museum.  Photos here:
-- http://homepage.divms.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/UI-8/log.shtml#2019-06-06

During breaks, I powered up the computer with lights blinking but no I/O devices.  And, I powered up the TTY in local mode with the tape punch on so people could punch tape to their heart's content.  Most had never seen a Teletype and were surprised to learn that the Model 33 was the first ASCII product to hit the market.

The exhibit was, I am told by the organizers of the Tech Forum, a big hit.  Afterward, we trucked the machines one block to their new home (the building I have been using for the retrocomputer lab is slated for demolition next fall), and also the remainder of the equipment, from the lab.  The new home is a step up, in the sense that it is closer to my office and with air conditioning that works.

                 Doug Jones
                 jones at cs.uiowa.edu