Decoding the Past: Conversations with PC Innovators

The Paul Gray PC Museum's Decoding the Past: Conversations with PC Innovators is a conversational series with key players in the personal computer revolution. The first engagement, held on September 30 via Zoom Webinar, featured Jack Nilles, internationally known as the father of telecommuting and teleworking, Len Jessup, President of CGU, and Lorne Olfman, Professor and Director of CISAT.

Dr. Nilles opened the event with a keynote address describing the historical narrative of telecommuting. He began with his early inspiration in the late 1960's and discussed the subsequent decades of social, cultural, and technological  challenges and advancements that led to the realization of his vision today. Dr. Jessup and Dr. Olfman then joined the conversation, reflecting on telework, telecommuting, and distance learning in the context of the global pandemic. We dedicated the final portion of the event to audience questions and answers, and were left with some lingering questions and insights:

    What do you miss most in telework and distance learning?

    How can we address issues of access and equity in telework?

    What will the "new normal" look like when the pandemic subsides?

You can watch the recording of our webinar event HERE. 

12 Month Plan

My 12 Month Plan for the museum is organized into five main initiatives: organization, outreach, public programming, education, and exhibition development. 

Throughout my tenure, I will organize, catalogue, and conserve the collection as it continues to grow with new donations. My plan for outreach begins with the museum's immediate community and expands outward, utilizing our digital resources and increasing our online presence. So far I have updated the museum's website, created a virtual tour of the current exhibitions, and created this blog to document my work as director. The cornerstone of my public programming initiative is Decoding the Past: Conversations with PC Innovators, a conversational speaker series with key players in the personal computer revolution. I hosted the first engagement last week, and we're preparing for the next event later this Fall. For my education initiative, I will develop resources for students and educators engage with the museum, starting with an upper elementary investigation-based curriculum guide to use as a model for future expansion, using digital resources to lay the groundwork for in-person engagement. Finally, I am in the very early stages of planning a new exhibition, drawing upon the permanent collection for inspiration. 

Overall, my plan is guided by the museum's mission to "inspire creativity and innovation for all ages through engagement with technology."