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K. K. Subramaniam

Software computer

Hi,

When trying to explain the Squeak 'image' file to young learners and non-tech
friends, the term 'software computer' popped into my mind. Squeak allows one
to create a 'software computer' that holds text, sounds and pictures. It is a
computer that you can carry along on a floppy, hard-disk or USB flash memory.

Just as we use microscope to look into minute stuff, we use a physical
computer (and squeak vm) to look into our software computer and make changes
to it. The computer can be used to record sounds, make drawings, access
web-sites or chat with others and so on. This computer can even hang or crash
like a physical computer :-). But unlike physical machines, perfect copies
(images) are easy to make and share with friends. If the computer breaks
down, you can send it for 'repairs' over email while continuing to work on a
older copy. One can create potentially infinite varieties of copies without
worrying about hazardous waste or recycling. Each copy will be a 'perfect
image' and we dont have to worry about loose nuts or bolts :-).

I tried this metaphor on some (unsuspecting) folks and they could get it
faster than when I used the book or toy metaphor. One can't crash a book by
coloring it, for instance, so they dont see a need to snapshot an image
often. For most people, "toys" are not for serious work, while Squeak can be
used to produce serious essays or music too.

Is the metaphor appropriate?
Subbu
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Offray Vladimir Luna Cárdenas

Re: Software computer

Hi Subbukk,

The idea of software computer reminds me a lot of the history of Squeak
and the idea to manage complexity by the creation of virtual computers
that can work together. Also remind me the idea of giving computer
support to the creative spirit inside everyone of us, so Squeak is some
kind of metamedium (text, music, graphics, animation, video) and needs
to do everything that you can do with a computers.

Sound nice to me :),

Cheers,

Offray

subbukk escribió:

> Hi,
>
> When trying to explain the Squeak 'image' file to young learners and non-tech
> friends, the term 'software computer' popped into my mind. Squeak allows one
> to create a 'software computer' that holds text, sounds and pictures. It is a
> computer that you can carry along on a floppy, hard-disk or USB flash memory.
>
> Just as we use microscope to look into minute stuff, we use a physical
> computer (and squeak vm) to look into our software computer and make changes
> to it. The computer can be used to record sounds, make drawings, access
> web-sites or chat with others and so on. This computer can even hang or crash
> like a physical computer :-). But unlike physical machines, perfect copies
> (images) are easy to make and share with friends. If the computer breaks
> down, you can send it for 'repairs' over email while continuing to work on a
> older copy. One can create potentially infinite varieties of copies without
> worrying about hazardous waste or recycling. Each copy will be a 'perfect
> image' and we dont have to worry about loose nuts or bolts :-).
>
> I tried this metaphor on some (unsuspecting) folks and they could get it
> faster than when I used the book or toy metaphor. One can't crash a book by
> coloring it, for instance, so they dont see a need to snapshot an image
> often. For most people, "toys" are not for serious work, while Squeak can be
> used to produce serious essays or music too.
>
> Is the metaphor appropriate?
> Subbu
> _______________________________________________
> Beginners mailing list
> [hidden email]
> http://lists.squeakfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/beginners
>
>

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Jens Lincke

Re: Software computer

In reply to this post by K. K. Subramaniam

Hi,

the Idea behind this went even further, Alan used the Computer metaphor
for every Object:

In computer terms, Smalltalk is a recursion on the notion of
computer itself. Instead of dividing "computer stuff" into things
each less strong than the whole--like data structures, procedures,
and functions which are the usual paraphernalia of programming
languages--each Smalltalk object is a recursion on the entire
possibilities of the computer. Thus its semantics are a bit like
having thousands and thousands of computer all hooked together by a
very fast network. Questions of concrete representation can thus be
postponed almost indefinitely because we are mainly concerned that
the computers behave appropriately, and are interested in particular
strategies only if the results are off or come back too slowly.

(Alan C. Kay: The Early History of Smalltalk)
/
/

So if every squeak / smalltalk object is like a computer, the whole
image is one too ;-)

But besides this theory and history I like your metapher because it is a
realy strong

- Jens -

subbukk schrieb:

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