Data-ism | Updates from the Computer Committee: Research into more advanced graphics computers continues. Now, as I have been promising, some detailed info on the computer hunt. Earlier this month, Michael Agrios (A.V.) and myself were able to get demonstrations of two very powerful computer graphics systems: The AT & T Targa system, and the Mac Il. Acquisition of the AT & T system was originally proposed by 2-D’s Bill Featherston, to provide his students with a greater range of colours than was available on our existing machines. (This is the graphics card that lives inside an IBM PC, remember?). The AT & T system Michael and I had demonstrated for us used the Targa 16 board, with one mega- byte of RAM, which really isn’t very much space for the board to work in. However, the system was still fairly impressive. Listed below are some specs for the TARGA 32 board, which has the greatest screen resolution, palette, and image- processing abilities of all the AT & T boards. The next day after seeing the IBM stuff, Mike and I rushed down to an APPLE trade show at the Westin Bayshore. This is where we got a real good look at the new Macintosh II computer. (Specs. are also below.) The main advantage that the Mac has over the IBM (for the schools’ purposes, anyway) is that it’s much easier to use, and it’s compatible with practically all MacIntosh software, whereas the IBW/AT & T system isn’t as refined. | don’t mean to burden you with techno- babble, but the following is a sample of our research for the computer committee. Anyway, the research continues, so be patient. IBM: (Targa 32 board) Total Palette: 16 million + color palette (246,000 displayable at one time) Max. screen resolution: 512 x 482 pixels Software/Hardware compatibility: runs from an IBM PC, or compatible, using special software packages. Standard features: 1 megabyte RAM standard Other standard features depend on the host PC. Optional equipment requested: co-processor chip, 40 Meg. hard-drive, digitizing hardware, etc. MAC Il: Total Palette: 16 million + color palette (768,000 displayable at one time) Max. screen resolution: 640 x 480 (13" screen) 1024 x 768 (16" screen) Software/Hardware compatibility: runs all Mac software/hardware. Software being released for it will accept files from many other Mac programs. Standard features: 2 megabytes RAM. One 3.5 inch disk drive. Optional equipment requested: “Spectrum 24” display card, 20 meg. hard-drive. Other things to mention are: Anew security system will be tested on the Macs in April, to help prevent unauthorized use by the public. This has been a problem in the past, due to the Mac’s popularity with “amateur pub- lishers”. The Media dept. is now testing an Amiga 1000 and a Commodore Genlock for use with their existing Audio and Video resources. The Amiga will probably become a permanent part of their equipment. Discussion is underway between John Wertschek and the Computer Committee regard- ing computer use in Foundation, and the possibil- ity of having Commodore 64’s or Atari 800’s installed in the Foundation area. Nothing has been confirmed. A new college club was formed officially on March 17. The organization, called “G.E.E.K.!” (Graphic Expressions and Experimental Kom- puting) was formed to initiate special group computer projects, and to exploit the work of ECCAD computer art students. The club meeting times are: THURSDAYS, 12:00 - 1:00, ROOM #229. E. John Love Planet of the Arts vol. 3 no. 6 April 1988 ti gett Ot capa Tg ne en Ce NC Column as | See’em Lsit as I write this at a MacIntosh computer located in Room 275 in the Graphic Design area. These computers are wonders. Besides using Macs to help typeset the Planet, | use computer images in my lithographs and etchings. The ceramicists are starting to use these computers regularly. The point I’m making here is that these are general purpose machines, useful to any student in the College with a bare minimum of computer literacy. On March 28, keys were installed on all of the Macintoshes. Students who formerly had access by just finding an unused machine and turning it on now have to go and sign a key out of the AV crib. Sign-up sheets have also been introduced to enable people to reserve blocks of time if they need it. The week before, when I had first heard of the plan, there were going to be only 8 keys (one for each machine), and this seemed to me to involve a considerable restriction of access. On Monday morning | was somewhat relieved to find that the number of keys had been increased to 30, which I guess would be sufficient, assuming that we are all conscientious about returning keys on time. Whether keys restrict access or not, they are a nuisance to students. In terms of time, the nuisance can be major. A student who has to spend 10 minutes a day getting keys over 3 school years would spend more than 80 hours (!) standing in line at the AV crib. This is not a joke. This is especially not a joke if you view the installation of locks as part of an expanding trend. It’s a nuisance to have to remember to get a key. I’m forgetful sometimes and if I’m zooming around doing things then I might forget to get to the AV crib before it closes. If that happens on a Friday, then I’ve lost access to the Macs for the whole weekend. Unsympathetic readers will think to themselves that my forgetfulness is my prob- lem. I say that my problem is caused by locks that don’t need to be there. I’ve asked people in the computer committee, “Why put on locks?”. | would like to know what benefit is being served to put me, (and all of us) through such hassle. It was felt that installing locks was a better alternative than removing all of the keyboards to the AV crib and making students check them out. Well that one took my breath away, and I| had to agree. It was felt that the locks would ensure access for people with course-work on the Macs. First, | would say that design students with course-work are physically closest to the Mac room, and therefore it would be easiest for them to watch the room to see when a machine is free. They would have the most benefit from unrestricted access. Second, priority of access has been established wanna go for a ride ? by the sign-up sheets over each machine, not by the keys. I’ve been assured by AV that anyone who is competent to use the Macs will be able to sign out keys. So if we all can have access, why put us through the hassle of getting and keeping track of and returning keys? There is concern about people from outside the school coming in and using our equipment. Very recently, an outsider came and reprogram- med one of the machines so that no-one else could use it. | agree that this is a serious concern, but feel that the keys are a very weak defense because I would bet that outsiders are invited to use the machines by ECCAD students, who could easily get thema key. Furthermore, once the temptation of free Laserprinter printouts is removed (they cost 60¢ each and we will soon have to pay), people from outside will be even less inclined to come in. A further defense against the malicious outsider is our own vig- ilance, and more careful checking of users by the guards. . | think that if a security system is needed it would be a far better idea to install software log- on routines on all of the machines so that users would have to type in an access code in order to be able to use the system. Outsiders would be as unable to use the machines as they are with keys, but legitimate student users wouldn’t be faced __ with the constant hassle of running to the AV crib. — Not only that, such a system could provide a detailed record of the use of each machine, something that a key does not. When | first heard of the idea of installing keys | was angry, thinking that this thing was being rushed through without proper considera- tion. When I talked to the people involved and found out that it had been discussed for weeks, I was even more dismayed. The fact that people that we all know and love can dump such a major hassle on us for such small reasons is a wonder to me. Are these things done to toughen our character, or just to make us laugh at the absurd- ‘ity of it all? A final concern | have about the locks on the computers is the way they were introduced. We, as users, were not consulted in any way about the installation of the system. My view is that it is the business of the committees in the College to inform the students about pending controversial decisions and set aside a time to recieve briefs and oral presentations before the decisions are made and implemented. Sometimes we think of ourselves as a community of artists and struggle to transcend the roles of student/staff/faculty/administration. Our high points come when we approach that ideal. Recently the Open House and Parade were good examples of this. Our low points come when we fall back on our roles. The installation of locks on the Macs was a recent low. Martin Hunt Test #5 Let's havea look. Any ee Beg. Ae Do atl $cnooilgs vane } 2. Control high blood pressure. Tive Seenawite enouan. > Heres your iploma . aN, a te Fie Gn } Grelead 5 teawredseucme vr idk th Data-ism Updates from the Computer Committee: Rosearch into more advanced graphics ‘computers continues. Now, as | have been ‘promising, some detailed info on the computer hunt. Earilor this month, Michael Agrios (A.V. computer graphics systems: The AT&T Targa system, and the Mac Il. Acquisition of the AT & T systom was originally proposed by 2.D's Bill Featherston, to provide his students with a greater range of colours than was available ‘on our existing machines. (This is the Gard that vas Insdoan IBM PO, remember?) The ‘AT&T system Michael and | had demonstrs for Uiei tietargan/e beardtwnivonersopa byte of RAM, which really isn't forthe Board to work in. However the system ‘was stil fairly impressive Space lor he TARGA 82 board, which has the greatest screen resolution, palette, and ima processing abilities of all the AT & T boards. ‘The next day after seeing the IBM stuff, Mike ‘and | rushed down to an APPLE trade show at the Westin Bayshore. This Is where we got areal {good look at the new Macintosh Il computer. (Specs are also below.) The main advantag the Mac has over the iBM (for the schools’ ‘purposes, anyway) is that i's much easier to use, fa with practically all Macintosh’ 5 the IBWWAT & T system isn't as refined. i don't mean to burden you with techno- babble, but the following is a sample of our research for the computer committee. Anyway, the research continues, so be patient. IBM: (Targa 92 board) Total Ps 16 million + color p (246,000 displayable at one time) Max. screen resolution: 12x 482 pixels Software/Hardware compatibility: runs from ‘an IBM PC, or compatible, using special software packages. Standard features: 1 megabyte RAM standard Other standard features depend on the host PC. Optional equipment requested: ‘chip, 40 Mo that tte Software/Hardware compatibility: runs all Mac softwarethardware. Software being .sed for it will accept files from many F Mac programs. Standard features: 2 megabytes RAM. One ‘35 Inch disk drive, ‘Optional equipment requested: “Spectrum 24” display card, 20 meg. hard-drive ‘Other things to mention ar Anew security system will be tested on the. ‘Macs in April, to help prevent unauthorized use by the public. This has been a problem in the past, ddue to the Mac’s popularity with “amateur put 4000 ‘and a Commodore Genlock for use with thelr isting Audio and Video resources. The Amiga will probably become a permanent part of thelr equipment. Discussion is underway between John Wertschok and the Computer Committee regard- ing computer use in Foundation, and the possibil- ity of having Commodore 64's of Atari 800's installed in the Foundation area. Nothing has ‘been confirmed. ‘Anew college club was formed offically on March 17. The organization, called “G.E. (Graphic Expressions and Experimental Kom- puting) was formed to Initiate special group ‘computer projects, and to exploit the work of ECCAD computer art students. The club meeting times aro: THURSDAYS, 12:00 - 1:00, ROOM #223, E. John Love Planetofthe Arts vol.3.no.6 April 1988 Column as | See’em Lit as | write this at a Macintosh computor located in Room 275 In the Graphic Design aroa. ‘These computers are wonders. Besides using Macs to help typeset the Planet, |use computer Images In my iithographs and etchings. The ‘coramicsts are starting to use these computers Tho point 'm making here Is that these eral purpose machines, useful to any student inthe College with a bare minimum of ‘computer literacy. ‘On March 28, keys were installed on all ofthe Macintoshes. Students who formerly had access by just finding an unused machine and turning it on now have to go and sign a key out of the AV crib, Sign-up sheets have also been introduced to enable people to reserve blocks of time if they need it The fore, whon I had frst heard oft plan, there wore going to be only 8 keys (one for ach machine), and this seemed to mo to involve 8 considerable restriction of access. On Monday morning |was somewhat relieved to find thatthe number of keys had been increased to 30, which | guess would be sufficient, assuming that we are all conscientious about returning keys on tim Whether keys restrict access or not, thay are a nuisance to students. In terms of tims, the huisance can be major. A student who has to spend 10 minutes a day getting keys over 3 school years would spend more than 60 hours (}) standing inline atthe AV cr. This fs not Joke, This I especially not a joke if you view the installation of locks as part of an expanding trend. Ws anuisance to have to remember to go key. I'm forgettul sometimes and itm zooming around doing things then | might forget to get fo the AV crib before it closes. if hat happens on @ Friday, then I've lost accoss to the Macs for the whole weekend. Unsympathetic wll think {o themselves that my forgettuiness Is my prob- tom. say that my problem is caused by locks that don't need to be there. 1'vo asked people in the computer committes, “Why put on focks?". I would lke to know what benefit is being served to put me, through such hassle. itwas felt that installing locks was a better alternative than removing all of the Keyboards to the AV crib and making students check them out. Well that one took my breath ava agree. Iwas fet that the locks would ensure for people with course-work on the Macs. First, | would say that design students with course-work are physically closest to the Mac room, and therefore it would ad {and all of us) ‘Second, priority of access has been established by the sign-up sheets over each machine, not by the keys. 'vo been assured by AV that anyone who Is ‘competent to use the Macs will be able to sign out keys. So if wo all can havo access, why put us rough the hassle of getting and Keeping track of ‘and returning keys? ‘There Is concern about people from outside the school coming in and using our equipment. Very recently, an outsider came and reprogram- ‘med one of the machines so that no-one else could use it. | agree that this is a serious concern, but feel that the keys are a very weak defense because I would bet that outsiders are invited to tse the machines by ECCAD students, who could ‘once the removed (they cost 60¢ have to pay), people from outside will be even less inclined to come in. A further defense ‘against the malicious outsider is our own vig- llance, and more careful checking of users by the guards. | think that ifa security system Is needed it access code In order to system. Outsiders would be as tunable to use the machines as they are with keys, but legitimate student users wouldn't be faced ‘with the constant hassle of running to the AV crib. Not only that, such a system could provide dotalled record of the use of each machine, something that a key does not, When I first heard of the idea of installing keys Iwas angry, thinking that this thing was. being rushed through without proper considera- tion. When | talked to the people involved and found out that it had been discussed for weoks, | was even more dismayed. The fact that people’ that we all know and love can dump such a major hassle on us for such small reasons Is a wonder to me, Are these things done to toughen our character, or Just to make us laugh at the absurd- ty of tall? ‘Afinal concern | have about the locks on the computers Is the way they were introduced. We, {as users, were not consulted in any way about th installation of the system. My view is that itis the ‘business of the committees in the College to Inform the students about pending controversial decisions and set aside a time to recieve briefs and oral presentations before the decisions are ‘made and implemented. ‘Sometimes wo think of ourselves as a ‘community of artists and struggle to transcend the roles of student/stafi/facully/administration. ur high points come when we approach t Ideal, Recently the Open House and Parade wer good examples of this. Our low points come. ‘When we fall back on our roles. The Installation of locks on the Macs was a recent low. Martin Hunt wanna ge For aide? regres Let's havealbok. EE HE enoagh diploma 2. Contra high blood pressure.