Discussion Questions

1. (a) In Microserfs, Karla wonders about the pace of technological change. In Close to the Machine Ullman begins to feel oppressed by the weight of new software tools and updates accumulating every month. Why do computer technologies change so rapidly?

(b) How do you feel personally about being trained in a field where skills go obsolete so fast? What, if anything, of your Informatics training do you think will be relevant and useful in 20 years time.

2 (a) How were the engineers recruited for the Eagle project in The Soul of a New Machine and how were they motivated.

(b) Would you "sign up" for a project of this kind? Why (or why not)?

(c) Would you want to do any of the jobs described in these readings? Does Microsoft appeal in big way?

3 (a) How did the work of programmers in a corporate (Microsoft) or consulting environment (Ullman) differ from the enthusiast programming work of the MIT Hackers and other hobbysists?

(b) In what ways does it remain similar?

(c) Ullman describes having developed an interest in programming from observing canning lines. The engineers in Soul of a New Machine mostly approached their field from childhoods spent tinkering with machines. How did you personally become interested in information technology?

Links and Further Reading

•  Another interesting piece by Ullman taken from the book was published by online magazine Salon here. They also published an interview with her, and a separate article on her experiences with Linux.

•  Wired Magazine published a very interesting "where are they now" article on the characters from The Soul of a New Machine. Read it here. The Amazon page on the book includes some interesting insights in the reader reviews.

Page copyright Thomas Haigh -- email thaigh@acm.org.    Home: www.tomandmaria.com/tom. Updated 08/31/2003.