ACM announces FREE downloads from Digital Library

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the announcement from the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) regarding free access to their Digital Library until June 30, 2020. Participants share their experiences with the library and suggest exploring its contents, while reminiscing about early computing technology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the ACM's initiative to provide free access to their Digital Library as a means to support research and learning during a crisis.
  • Another participant expresses interest in recommendations for what to download first from the library.
  • A participant shares nostalgic memories of their early experiences with ACM and computing technology, mentioning the value of the library's content.
  • Another participant recalls their own early computing experiences with the Altair 6800 and other early computers, discussing the challenges and learning involved.
  • One participant reflects on their regret for not choosing a different early computer model, the KIM-1, and shares anecdotes about their experiences with various hardware.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of the ACM Digital Library and share a sense of nostalgia for early computing experiences. However, there are no explicit recommendations or consensus on specific downloads or content to explore.

Contextual Notes

Participants' discussions include personal anecdotes and reflections on early computing technology, which may not directly relate to the current offerings of the ACM Digital Library.

Tom.G
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I received an email notice a few days ago from ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) that their Digital Library will be free thru June 30, 2020.
We believe that ACM can help support research, discovery and learning during this time of crisis by opening the ACM Digital Library (ACM DL, https://dl.acm.org) to all. For the next three months, there will be no fees assessed for accessing or downloading work published by ACM.
Sounds like a deal to me!

Cheers,
Tom
 
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Thanks for sharing!

Any recommendations to download first?
 
jedishrfu said:
Any recommendations to download first?

When I first joined ACM, around the time I got an Altair computer (1975-76), I got the first two hardcopy volumes of their library. What a treasure of algorithms and languages that was for an early adopter of the technology!

Since I deviated from ACM's later concentration on high-level scientific computing, to things like FAX machine hardware/firmware and Industrial Control, I have rarely investigated the library since. They do cover a wide range of interests though, so spend some time exploring what's there for you.

Have Fun!
Tom
 
I too had an Altair, the 6800 model, and the associated tech manuals. I'll have to check your tip out. I still have the 6800 and it seems that it still works.

At the time, I got it, I realized the investment was getting a bit out of hand as the cheapest terminal was the Televideo and it was in the range of $600 to $800 and so I decided to instead get a Radio Shack Model 1 (aka the Trash 80). I did program the 6800 using the switch front but that got tedious real fast especially when debugging through the front panel was insane.
 
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jedishrfu said:
I did program the 6800 using the switch front but that got tedious real fast especially when debugging through the front panel was insane.
Wow that brings back some memories. My first NMR was a JEOL FX90Q and I booted it up using a series of switches on a panel. Set switches, toggle “LOAD”, wait for a particular light to come on, set switches again, toggle “LOAD”, wait for a particular light to come on, set switches again, toggle “LOAD”, Voila! The oscilloscope display came on and I moved through the operating system with a light pen.
I used to think, “I must be a scientist if I can make this thing work!”
1586268422731.jpeg
 
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After I got the SWTP Altair 6800, I regretted not getting the KIM-1 board computer with hex input and some simple games on the digit LED display.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KIM-1

It was cheaper and required less extra equipment. I was happy with the Radio Shack and its cassette tape input and learned a lot. I had gotten a line printer that was terrible at printing. It had a wavy column 1 because it couldn't return back faster enough on longer lines. I applied a custom software fix to pad all lines with spaces at the cost of slowing the printer down.

Maybe the ACM has some KIM-1 or Raspberry-PI stuff too.
 

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