This document details a custom OCR program designed for recovering old computer programs from line-printer listings. It focuses on accuracy for mono-spaced fonts, even at the cost of speed, and outlines the algorithm, implementation details, and necessary preparation steps.
PDF of the second edition of Information Processing Language V Manual (1964).
This GitHub repository contains a re-implementation of the IPL-V programming language and the Logic Theorist (LT) program. It includes the original code transcribed into a TSV format and converted to Lisp, along with documentation and debugging tools.
The article details the history of the TRS-80 Model I computer, highlighting its cost-cutting design, limitations, and impact on the early home computer market. It discusses its hardware, software (Level I & II BASIC, CP/M compatibility), and eventual replacement by the Model II and Model III. It also touches on the community's nickname 'Trash-80' and its lasting legacy.
ITS (Incompatible Timesharing System) was a timesharing system developed at MIT in 1967, initially for the PDP-6 and later primarily on PDP-10 computers, notable for its lack of security features like passwords. The SDF ITS is currently accessible at https://hactrn.org/ via a KA10 emulator and offers tutorials for basic use and exploration of classic programs. Users are encouraged to log in, create a directory, and explore programs like Zork, Emacs, Maclisp, and C through provided hints and documentation.
SDF User Contributed Tutorials - A collection of tutorials for existing and potential SDF users interested in the INTERNET, the UNIX operating system, and programming languages.
Information about joining the Interim Computer Museum through various membership levels (BOOTSTRAP, JFCL, JRST, JSYS, EXEC, UUO, MONITR) offering benefits like access to vintage computing environments, volunteer opportunities, and sponsor recognition.
The Wikipedia article details the Logic Theorist, created in 1956 by Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon, and Cliff Shaw. Widely considered the first AI program, it successfully proved 38 of the first 52 theorems in Principia Mathematica, even discovering more elegant proofs than those originally crafted by Russell and Whitehead.
Jeff Shrager has reanimated LT in IPL-V with a new implementation.
This 2003 New York Times article details the emergence of "Hiptop Nation" (hiptop.bedope.com), an early example of mobile blogging and social networking centered around the T-Mobile Sidekick (also known as the Hiptop). The site, founded by Mike Popovic, allowed Sidekick users to share real-time experiences – often with accompanying photos – creating a uniquely immediate and visual online community. Unlike traditional blogs focused on reflection, Hiptop Nation emphasized present experiences, like commutes or current events (a turkey deal before Thanksgiving!). The article highlights the site’s surprising civility, attributed to users sharing photos alongside their posts, and details a successful Halloween scavenger hunt organized via the Sidekick's capabilities. Ultimately, the article frames Hiptop Nation as a demonstration of how empowering technology can lead to unexpected and "amazing stuff," foreshadowing the broader social media landscape to come – and offering a nostalgic glimpse into the early days of mobile connectedness. It also briefly touches on the challenges of content moderation, referencing a quickly-addressed instance of inappropriate content.
