Registration ends 07.4.2026 at 23:59 h

This seminar will delve into the fascinating history of personal computing, examining how computers have evolved and impacted society over time. Through a combination of historical analysis, technical instruction, and hands-on experimentation, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complex narratives surrounding the development of computers.
We will explore the competing stories of computer invention, from the role of the military and business in the development of the mainframe to the counterculture's influence on the personal computer. Students will learn to think critically about the histories they are taught and the role technology plays in shaping society.

Students will develop their writing and historical thinking skills, while also gaining a greater awareness of the historical materiality of computer technology. The course will alternate between seminars offering historical analysis and discussion, and labs providing technical instruction and hands-on experimentation with vintage computer systems and technologies.

By exploring the history of personal computing from the mid-1970s to the late-1980s, students will gain a richer understanding of the cultural and technological forces that have shaped our modern digital world. This seminar is ideal for students interested in the intersection of technology, history, and culture, and will provide a unique opportunity to engage with the inner workings of computers and their outermost cultural forms.

Students will develop a working knowledge of a computer’s internal operations

Students will review and reflect on the political and cultural contexts that spurred computer production and consumption within the United States

Students will analyze primary documents for the purpose of making historical claims

Students will deconstruct and critique notions of technological progress and advancement
(both contemporary and historical), otherwise known as technological determinism

Students will work with the fundamental building blocks of computation like electronic
circuits, binary logic and microcontrollers

Students will conceptualize, design and prototype a speculative historical artefact

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