Ever since my first visit to the Computer History Museum, I’ve been fascinated by the DEC PDP-11. The PDP-11 was a series of 16-bit minicomputers which were programmed with toggles. Their design was strangely attractive. I saw plenty of PDP-11 parts for sale on eBay and wondered what it would take to build one. I figured there had to be an emulator out there, but I didn’t take much time to look around.

Well, it turns out there is. And there are instructions! Inspired by DePauw University’s (slightly cheesy, but fun) videos on programming the PDP-11, lab[oratory] is posting detailed instructions on using the SIMH simulator to program a simulated PDP-11! So join along in the play and experimentation, and program your very own PDP-11. It may not be as cool as handling those purple toggles, but it’s still fun.

Watch as a young(er) David Letterman is upstaged by Grace Hopper, not long after her retirement in 1986. My favorite part? Dave asks, “How did you know so much about computers then?” and Grace replies, “I didn’t. It was the first one!”

I must thank and commend Scott Schaut, director of the museum, for putting together a world-class exhibit and for doing so much to preserve both Westinghouse history and robotic history. Scott, a palentologist, has done an excellent job of educating himself on these topics, and he’s now doing an incredible job educating the public and advocating for Elektro.

Why would Elektro need advocating, you ask? Apparently, there are robotics experts that dismiss Elektro and say he’s not a true robot. I can’t understand this. The word robot was coined long before digital computers existed, and the term was applied to Elektro at the time of his creation and popularity. Certainly, when you compare Elektro to modern robots, you’re looking at apples and oranges — however, that doesn’t dismiss the aim that Elektro’s creators had in mind when they constructed him. It also cannot dismiss the fact that hundreds of thousands of people saw a fully-functional robot in the 1930’s, and that it changed people’s perceptions of the future and of technology.

While he may have been touted as the “ultimate appliance” at the time of his creation, he was a true scientific (or engineering) marvel that inspired many notions in science fiction. (Or did science fiction inspire his creation? Does art imitate life or life imitate art? In any case…) My great aunt, at the age of 85, can recall seeing Elektro at the 1939 and 1940 World’s Fairs and thinking of what it would be like to have a robot in the house. Sixty-some years later, we have robots that can do specific tasks on command and autonomously, but none has ever reached the level of robotic maid or butler. (Take that Rosie the Robot and C3P0!)

Elektro, and his creators, deserve to be celebrated — not ignored. If you agree with me, please help! Nominate Elektro for the Robot Hall of Fame! And be sure to make the trip to Mansfield to see Elektro for yourself.

PS: Keep an eye out for his book on the Westinghouse mechanical men, due later this year — he tells me there’s a secret about Elektro in there, which currently only three people in the world are privy to!

I started celebrating early, and had a Franklin-themed Christmas. A statue of Ben, given to me by Kevin, sat by the piano and watched over our holiday cards and decorations. While out holiday shopping, Kevin bought me Benjamin Franklin : In Search of a Better World. And on Christmas, I received four books on the man — plus one additional book compiled from his writings:

• Benjamin Franklin by Edmund S. Morgan
• Atlantic Cousins: Benjamin Franklin and His Visionary Friends by Jack Fruchtman Jr.
• Franklin: The Essential Founding Father by James Srodes
• Stealing God’s Thunder : Benjamin Franklin’s Lightning Rod and the Invention of America by Philip Dray
• Poor Richards Almanack

As if that weren’t enough, I’ll be returning home to Philadelphia for New Years… and once all of the mummery is over, I’ll visit the many Franklin-themed exhibits and attend some Franklin-themed lectures, such as:

• Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World (Exhibit)
• Franklin, Freemason (Lecture)
• Ben’s Birthday Salon on First Friday
• Franklin Biographers: A Reunion (Panel discussion)

Of course, I’ll also be visiting the Franklin Institute and Independence National Historic Park. Unfortunately I’m only in town through January 8th… what will I do on Ben’s birthday (January 17)? What will you be doing to celebrate this great man?