3.1005 humans and computers, cont. (68)
Willard McCarty (MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca)
Mon, 5 Feb 90 20:52:55 EST
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 3, No. 1005. Monday, 5 Feb 1990.
(1) Date: Fri, 2 Feb 90 15:32:00 EST (15 lines)
From: KESSLER <IME9JFK@OAC.UCLA.EDU>
Subject: Re: 3.992 being human with computers, cont. (30)
(2) Date: Sat, 3 Feb 90 10:00:00 EST (12 lines)
From: EIEB360@UTXVM
Subject: 3.997 humans and computers, cont
(3) Date: Mon, 05 Feb 90 11:58:00 GMT (16 lines)
From: Donald Spaeth 041 339-8855 x6336 <GKHA13@CMS.GLASGOW.AC.UK>
Subject: De-humanizing computers
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 90 15:32:00 EST
From: KESSLER <IME9JFK@OAC.UCLA.EDU>
Subject: Re: 3.992 being human with computers, cont. (30)
Well professor S., they now have spelling checkers, which should heop
them learn to spell abit, but they dont seem to think that precision
is demanded in language and its mechanics, whereas in this culture, as
I tell them, it seems much to matter how the foot is placed in the
starting block, how the pole is held, the bat is held, the racquet is
held, the stroke is made. They are experts in being coached for the
right moves in sports, but have contempt for the eye hand and ear, and
the history of our strange orthography, which is no harder to learn than
long division if it is taught from childhood on. I pity them only if
they are dyslectical, and then is lexical? and then there is a reason,
the hard wiring is crossed. Kessler
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------23----
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 90 10:00:00 EST
From: EIEB360@UTXVM
Subject: 3.997 humans and computers, cont
I just wanted to thank Ed Harris for his note about disabled students and
computers at Southern Connecticut; Ed, would you mind tell ing us a bit
more about the setup you've got up there-- or, if you don't wnat to
broadcast to Humanist at large, I'd very much appreciate a note. I'm
acutely aware that my own lab and classroom aren't nearly as accessible
as they should be-- and I'm visually impaired myself. What equipment
have you got, and how is it (gulp) funded?
John Slatin
(3) --------------------------------------------------------------29----
Date: Mon, 05 Feb 90 11:58:00 GMT
From: Donald Spaeth 041 339-8855 x6336 <GKHA13@CMS.GLASGOW.AC.UK>
Subject: De-humanizing computers
Many people were introduced to the concept of computers through
either mailing lists (which kept spelling their name wrong after
numerous attempts at correction), billing systems (which kept
charging them erroneously for items they hadn't purchased despite
numerous attempts at correction) or "hole-in-the-wall" bank
machines (which replaced tellers)--events which were indeed
de-humanizing. The initial impressions often still remain,
even in people who use computers. Of course,
the computers were not at fault and humans were.
Donald Spaeth
University of Glasgow