CS378W, History of Computing
Week 15, Final Topic Report
Due 2004 Dec 2
The History of Mobile Computing
Bryant Tang
2004 Dec 2
Mobile Computing: An introduction and overview
The history of computing is full of big and powerful number-crunching machines that were able of performing incredible feats of mathematical computation during their eras. From the ENIAC of the 1940s to the Earth-Simulator of today, these room-sized titans have stolen the headlines with their impressive capability. However, the modern world is not run by these behemoths; instead, one would have to look at the opposite end of the spectrum to find the machines that drive today's information-driven world forward. Indeed, mobile computing has left an indelible mark on our lives. From the college student typing notes on her laptop in class to the businessman shooting off emails on his personal digital assistant on the bus, these portable masterpieces of miniaturization have helped to improve our level of productivity, so that even the average Joe is capable of doing things that would have been unimaginable just two decades ago.
So, how exactly is it that we've managed to reach such levels of technological wizardry, compressing so much into so little space? All that can be attributed to the amazing pace at which computer technology has advanced over the years. The portable computers of yesteryear were portable in name only and proved to be a pain to lug around from place to place. However, remarkable advances in electrical engineering has resulted in developments that have made it possible to shrink components while simulataneously boosting processing power.
As such, we will take a look at some of the computers that have helped mark this pivotal moment in history. First up, there is the Dynabook, a mere concept, but one that would prove to be a sign of things to come. Then there's the Osborne 1, the first commercially successful portable computer in the world. Lastly, we take a look at the Apple Newton, the device that would singlehandedly create the PDA genre. All three devices have played fundamental roles in the history of mobile computing.
The Dynabook: The concept that launched it all?
The whole idea of portable computers as we know them today was kickstarted in 1973 with the visionary Alan Kay's Dynabook concept. In it, he talks about creating "a portable interactive personal computer, as accessible as a book" (7). Interestingly enough, the original application the Dynabook was intended to serve was as a computing platform for children. Kay was inspired when he visited Seymour Papert at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab in 1968, where kids were learning mathematics via the LOGO program. From this came the idea of the computer as a learning aid (7).
The ideas behind the Dynabook eventually led to the design of a prototype tablet-style device, quite possibly the first prototype portable computer, at Xerox PARC in the early 1970s (8). Interestingly enough, Kay himself did not focus on any aspect of the actual hardware implementation during the development of the Dynabook concept, as he was more concerned with the purpose of the computer as a "medium through which [one] could communicate important things", and that "just as the book was an extension to the oral medium... so is the computer an extension of the print medium" (7). As the primary users of this device were supposed to be children, he wanted it to employ the learning theories of Jerome Bruner and his acquaintance Papert (8).
Thus, we can see how Kay's spark of imagination proved to be a herald of things to come in later times. While it may not have set the ball rolling, it was a portent of the steps computing would take to set itself free of the wires that grounded desktop machines. In fact, one can see the Dynabook as the ancient predecessor of today's popular Tablet PCs.
The Osborne 1: The first successful portable computer
Despite Kay's vision in 1973, it wouldn't be until 1981 that the first successful portable computer was released to the world in the form of the Osborne Computer Corporation's Osborne 1. Sure, there were other machines that came before it such as the IBM 5100, but those were portable only in name as they weighed between 50 to 70 pounds apiece! The Osborne 1 was the first true portable computer as it was designed from scratch to be carried around, instead of a self-contained microcomputer that was basically a desktop with all its components crammed into a single case.
It all started in early 1981, when the Osborne Computer Corporation obtained its initial injection of venture capital in January (4). The company began a rapid spell of product development to push prototype units out of the door in order to be showcased at the National Computer Conference in May that year (4). The resulting introduction was a resounding success and sales boomed, causing an order backlog to form due to the overwhelming demand shown by consumers (4).
The Osborne 1 may seem heavy by modern standards, weighing in at a hefty 24.5 pounds. However, one must remember that it was a reasonable weight, given that the machine had all sorts of features integrated into a neat white shell with a carrying handle on top (3). The form factor allowed the exposed components such as the keyboard, display and disk drives to be covered up when the computer was to be moved about. It packed a Zilog Z80 processor that ran at 4.0 MHz, an integrated 5" monitor that was capable of displaying up to 53 x 24 lines of text, 64K of RAM and two 5-1/4 disk drives (3). While the 5" screen may have hampered usability due to the small amount of text that could be displayed on the screen at any one point in time, its reduced size meant that it would be less prone to damage than a larger display (3).
The software aspect of the operation was handled easily and succintly by the Osborne Computer Corporation, for it simply offered equity to the software companies in exchange for software licences (3). With OCC shares selling like hotcakes, it was an easy decision for said software firms to offer their wares at prices far below the market rate (3).
While all may have seemed rosy at first glance, further inspection showed that things were beginning to take a turn for the worse in late 1982. Despite the IBM PC's initial low-key entry into the computing industry, support for it slowly began to grow with the snowball effect resulting in a massive surge in the demand for hardware and software compatible with the IBM specifications (3). However, the OCC did not jump on the bandwagon, choosing to continue production of the Osborne 1, which when combined with the presence of the ever-growing number of backorders caused the Corporation to report more and more losses as time went on (3).
What subsequently happened was an inevitable downward spiral as orders remained unfulfilled and investors began to grow disgruntled with the lack of returns from the money they had pumped into the company (3). In an effort to keep interest alive, the Osborne Computer Corporation began to slash prices on the Osborne 1, causing a cloud of desperation to loom over the company's future (3). As with situations like that, the company began to lay off employees in droves in an attempt to keep afloat, which ultimately had little effect apart from prolonging the Corporation's eventual demise (3). Finally, in September 1983, the OCC filed for bankruptcy in an Oakland court, which marked the end of a proud company whose failure to produce a strong business strategy led to the failure of an otherwise noteworthy product (3).
The Apple Newton: Great grandfather of the PDA
The Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) has been an ever-present part of today's high-tech society. They fulfil a whole multitude of functions, ranging from simple information management to personal entertaiment and even wireless internet connectivity. It is interesting to note that the whole concept of a pocket-sized computing device started with the Apple Newton, a little device that created a brand new market in the computing industry.
What may surprise some people is the fact that the Newton wasn't designed to be a PDA in the first place! The original vision of its designers was to come up with a portable computing device that had functions comparable to that of a desktop machine (9). However, things took a twist when project slippage led to it being reinvented as a complement to Apple's Macintosh desktops as opposed to being a potential threat to Macintosh sales (9). Reborn with a smaller screen and a lesser set of features, the Apple Newton was released to the general public in 1993 (9).
Despite the revolutionary aspects of the Newton, it turned out to be a commercial failure due to numerous factors. Firstly, there was its relatively high ticket price - $1000 for a single unit (10)! There were also complaints that its handwriting recognition was not up to scratch, which turns out to be a major buzzkill given that stylus-based input was its primary method of input (9). Lastly, it was too large to serve as a device that was meant to be taken with you everywhere; it failed the "pocket test", meaning that it didn't fit into the average pocket (9).
With the lackluster showing of the Newton, Apple slowly began to withdraw support for the product line, discontinuing the Newton in 1998 (9). This paved the way for the Palm Computing Corporation to make an impact on the market scant years later with a refined version of the PDA. While the Newton may have died a premature death, it will always be remembered as the forefather of the modern PDA.
Looking back: How far we've come since 1973
Certainly, we have come a long way since the Dynabook concept. With each passing day, the mobile computing devices around us continue to shrink in size while expanding their capability. Astounding leaps in innovation has allowed for unprecedented advancements in the mobile computing field.
So how exactly is this important in the big scheme of things? Well, in reflecting upon the past, we can develop a new-found appreciation for what we have today and perhaps even dream of what is to come. After all, what better way is there to forecast the future than to base it upon the foundations of history?
Some people may be tempted to write off the antiquated devices of the past, choosing instead to focus on the latest and greatest in portable technology today. Such a path is fraught with perils, for the perspective that one gains in remembering the past can make even the most jaded of techies gain a new appreciation for the gadgets that have become commonplace today.
Bibliography
1. Martin Campbell-Kelly and William Aspray, Computer: A History of the Information Machine (HarperCollins Publishers, 1997).
There is a section in this book that covers Alan Kay and his idea of a portable computer, the first time such an idea was brought up.
2. "History of Laptop Computers," http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllaptop.htm (About.com, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This is a brief outline of the history of laptop computers.
3. "Osborne 1 Computer," http://oldcomputers.net/osborne.html (Obsolete Technology Website, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
The Osborne 1 is believed to be the first commercially available laptop computer.
4. David H. Ahl, "Osborne Computer Corporation," http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n3/24_Osborne_Comptuer_Corporat.php (Atarimagazines.com, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
A short article on the rise and fall of the Osborne Computer Corporation, creators of the Osborne 1.
5. "Portable Computers," http://www.worldhistory.com/portable-computers.htm (WorldHistory.com, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This is a timeline of portable computers, on which I can select certain machines to explore in detail.
6. "IBM 5100 APL Reference Manual," http://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/5100/SA21-9213-0_IBM_5100aplRef.pdf (bitsavers.org, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This document is a pdf copy of the manual to the IBM 5100, IBM's first portable computer.
7. "The Dynabook Revisited - A Conversation with Alan Kay," http://www.honco.net/os/kay.html (The Book & The Computer, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This is an interview with Alan Kay that talks about the Dynabook concept that played an important part in the development of laptops.
8. "Dynabook," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynabook (Wikipedia, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This is a brief overview of the Dynabook concept.
9. "Apple Newton," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton (Wikipedia, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This is a brief overview of the Apple Newton.
10. "Newton Secrets," http://www.a-in-a-circle.com/newton/ (a-in-a-circle.com, accessed 2004 Nov 3).
This is a site that has pictures and details on various Newton prototypes that never made it to market.