Computers & Business Machines
Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.
The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers
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Global Positioning System, Garmin GPS StreetPilot 2720
- Description
- This Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver uses information transmitted from four or more satellites in the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) to deduce its own location.
- The unit is made of gray colored plastic. It has a touch screen with four buttons (FIND, MENU, MAP, SPEAK) on the front. The back has connectors for the power and USB cords. On the bottom of the unit is the post for the dash mounting base. The car adapter power cord contains a speaker to verbally communicate directions to the user.
- Accessories include: power cord, USB connector, car adapter power cord, dash mounting base, remote control, screen cover, portable friction mount, oval backing disks for mounting base, and a setup and map data dvd. Object received in original box.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2005
- maker
- Garmin Corporation
- ID Number
- 2016.0058.03
- accession number
- 2016.0058
- catalog number
- 2016.0058.03
- serial number
- 42639086
- model number
- 2720
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Flowmaker Button, No Excuses
- Description
- This circular button has black text on a white background that reads: No Excuses. It has a black flowMaker logo. Surrounding the words it has a red circle with a slash through it.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 2000
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.427
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.427
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Ceramic Jar with Cork Containing Plastic Y2K Bugs
- Description
- This turquoise and gray jar has a cork lid. It contains eighteen colorful plastic bugs.
- Donor Jan Lilja received the jar as a gift from a colleague at the time she was the Y2K Executive at the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the nation's nutrition programs such as food stamps (now called SNAP), WIC, and school lunch and breakfast programs. Because most of these programs are administered through the states, territories and local governments, Lilja was also held personally responsible for preventing computer software problems in nutrition programs at these entities when dates changed from 1999 to 2000. To recognize the hard work done, the U.S. government created Y2K medals. She requested about 100 of these for individuals within FNS and arranged an awards ceremony. When the medals did not arrive in time for the ceremony, she purchased plastic bugs to put in the ceramic jar. Rather than receiving a medal, awardees received a bug and a paper certificate (for such a certificate, see 2016.3118.01). These bugs were far more widely displayed than the medals that eventually arrived (for such a medal, see 2016.0138.02).
- She distributed the bugs as rewards to those working on the project.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 2000
- ca 1999
- 1999-2000
- ID Number
- 2016.0138.01
- accession number
- 2016.0138
- catalog number
- 2016.0138.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Diskette with Text for September 11 Witness Story Web Page
- Description
- This 3 1/2" diskette contains the text used for the September 11 Witness Story page on the NMAH website.
- Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
- The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2002
- ID Number
- 2017.3148.03
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3148
- catalog number
- 2017.3148.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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i.Picasso 6000 IP Internet Telephone
- Description
- One of the newer technologies to emerge in the modern workplace is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), which combines network functions with telephone functions, utilizing IP packet-based computer protocol. The i.Picasso 6000 streamlines telephone and computer networks by allowing voice to be sent via packet-based computer protocol controlled by a server. This blue telephone appliance has a PDA-like touch screen. and includes a handset, stylus, two vertical tilt adjusters, handset to base unit cable, network cable, and power adapter. There are ports are for Ethernet 10/100 BaseT cables, a USB port and a headphone jack.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 2001
- 2001
- Associated Name
- congruency, Inc.
- maker
- congruency, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2001.0271.02
- catalog number
- 2001.0271.02
- accession number
- 2001.0271
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Palm IIIxe Documentation
- Description
- Documentation for a Palm IIIxe personal data assistant (PDA) including "Handbook For the Palm III series," "Warranty and End User License Agreement," "Accessories for Palm Connected Organizers," "Palm Protection," "Palm Organizer Solutions" by LandWare, "GoType! users guide" with product registration card by LandWare, and an advertising flyer for mobile applications from AvantGo.
- See 2017.3053.02 for other Palm IIIxe documentation and
- 2017.0113.01 for the Palm IIIxe
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 2000
- ID Number
- 2017.3053.01
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3053
- catalog number
- 2017.3053.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Button, Advertising, Percussion Software
- Description
- This 14-pointed star-shaped button has an off-white background with a black border. The black text across the center reads: "Percussion 2005." The dark yellow text below reads: "Make Domino Shine." In the upper part of the star is a green and black logo. It has small lights on every other point of the star.
- Percussion Software was founded in 1994 in Woburn, MA by Alan Matthews, Barry Reynolds, and John Devine. They created add-ons for Lotus Notes.
- Reference:
- https://www.percussion.com/about-us/
- [Last accessed 6-5-2019]
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 2005
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.609
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.609
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Button, ReelMagic for Real Gamers
- Description
- This rectangular button has yellow, green, and orange text on a purple background that reads: ReelMagic FOR REAL GAMERS. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: Sigma Designs.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 2002
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.348
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.348
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Handheld Electronic Calculator
- Description
- The handheld electronic graphing calculator has a gray plastic case with a sliding cover that can also serve as a stand, and a silver plastic keyboard. It also has alternate cases and keyboard faceplates in blue, pink, orange, and black. These colored faceplates and covers, along with a larger memory, distinguished the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition from the TI-84 Plus also introduced in 2004. These calculators replaced the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition (2001).
- The calculator has an array of forty-one plastic keys of diverse shapes, many of which can take on three meanings. These include a wide number of arithmetic, trigonometric, and algebraic functions (the TI-84 Plus did not solve calculus problems directly). Letters of the alphabet also can be represented. The calculator also has three arrow keys, plus a row of five keys immediately under the display that relate to graphing, tables, and functions. In addition to performing a wide range of calculations, the calculator could display text or icons.
- A mark above the display reads: TI-84 Plus Silver Edition (/) TEXAS INSTRUMENTS. A cable allowed sharing data with other instruments. As with the TI-83 Plus (1999), it was possible to link the calculator to a computer and download additional software applications. These were known as Apps. It also was possible to transfer programs, variables, and applications between TI-84 Plus and TI-83 Plus units, if the memory of the receiving calculator was sufficient.
- A battery compartment in the lower part of the back of the calculator holds four AAA batteries. It also holds a 303 or SR44SW back-up battery. Text above these indicates that the instrument was copyrighted in 2004. It also reads in part: MADE IN CHINA. The serial number, marked above the compartment, is: 2204001379 S-1005D.
- Included with the calculator, in addition to the multiple faceplates and covers, are USB and link cables, a manual, a CD with instructions, and advertising sheets.
- References:
- Texas Instruments, TI 84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Guidebook, 2004 (the manual received with the calculator).
- Online Datamath Museum.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2005
- maker
- Texas Instruments
- ID Number
- 2006.0214.02
- catalog number
- 2006.0214.02
- accession number
- 2006.0214
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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NMAH Web Site Documentation Binder
- Description
- This white loose-leaf binder contains information about the design, configuration and installation of the files and servers needed to power the redesigned National Museum of American History website (americanhistory.si.edu). Included is information on how the page appearance was constructed using ColdFusion custom tags and an example of how each page would look. In addition to 185 pages of text, it includes 2 cd-rom disks entitled "Web Site Phase I Final File Set".
- The NMAH website was created by Mediatrope Interactive Studio of San Francisco, CA.
- The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2005
- 2005-04
- ID Number
- 2017.3148.01
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3148
- catalog number
- 2017.3148.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Microcomputer Peripheral, Silicon Graphics 1600SW Flat Panel Monitor
- Description
- This Silicon Graphics1600SW (super-wide), 17.3 inch diagonal ultra-high resolution flat panel monitor was added to the O2 workstation early in 2000. The adapter card was installed by the donor. The monitor was made by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in the O2 workstation colors, blue and black.
- The monitor came with a digital camera for video conferencing and a color sensor to calibrate the monitor's color display.
- See 2016.3032.05 for monitor documentation and systems software. See 2016.3032.06 for adapter card installation tools.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1998 - 2000
- maker
- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- ID Number
- 2016.0057.02
- accession number
- 2016.0057
- catalog number
- 2016.0057.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Acorn NetStation
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- c. 1996
- maker
- Acorn Computers Ltd.
- ID Number
- 2006.0132.01
- catalog number
- 2006.0132.01
- accession number
- 2006.0132
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sheet, Correspondence of Jim Reeds
- Description
- In February of 2006, computer scientist Jim Reeds of Princeton, New Jersey, sent Stanford professor emeritus of computer science Donald Knuth two electronic messages pointing out flaws in the third edition of the second volume Knuth's book The Art of Computer Programming. As was his custom, Knuth printed out the messages and penciled in his comments. Knuth found one error sufficiently significant to award Reeds a check for 32 cents. He mailed the printouts of the messages with the check to Reeds in Princeton. These materials constitute object 2012.0251.01. Reeds drafted a reply to Knuth on another printout of one of his messages. This consitutes 2012.0251.02. According to Reeds, this message was not sent.
- For related materials, see 2012.0251.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2006
- ID Number
- 2012.0251.02
- catalog number
- 2012.0251.02
- accession number
- 2012.0251
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Button, Advertising, Percussion Software
- Description
- This semi-circular button has an off-white background with black text that reads "Percussion 1994- -2004." The dark yellow text between the dates reads: "10th Anniversary." In the upper part of the semi-circle is a green and black logo. The button is decorated with six lights that flash green, blue and red when the dial on the reverse is pressed or tightened.
- Percussion Software was founded in 1994 in Woburn, MA by Alan Matthews, Barry Reynolds, and John Devine. They created add-ons for Lotus Notes.
- Reference:
- https://www.percussion.com/about-us/
- [Last accessed 6-5-2019]
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 2004
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.608
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.608
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Mentor Button, Mentor helps me!
- Description
- This circular button has black and red text on a white background that reads: Mentor helps me! It has a blue and green Mentor logo.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 2006
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.252
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.252
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation Relating to EMAIL Program of Shiva Ayyadurai
- Description
- This group of documents includes correspondence, typescripts, transparencies and publications relating to Shiva Ayyadurai's early education in computer science and his preparation of an electronic mail program while working for the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It also includes copyright documents and notes by the donor.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978-2007
- ID Number
- 2012.3026.03
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3026
- catalog number
- 2012.3026.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Advertising Button, Ziff-Davis, ZDnet.com
- Description
- This circular button has alternating circles of orange and green. Around the border the black text reads: http://www.zdnet.com.
- ZDNet was a website developed by Ziff-Davis as a source for the latest news, product reviews, shareware ratings.
- References: PC Magazine, April 8, 1997, p.134. (company advertisement.)
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 2000s
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.192
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.192
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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CD with Lift for Dreamweaver Software
- Description
- This gold colored compact disc (cd-r, a recordable compact disc) contains a copy of “Lift” software. This software was an add-on product used with Dreamweaver to ensure websites were compliant with U.S. government accessibility and usability regulations.
- Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
- The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2002-2006
- ID Number
- 2017.3148.07
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3148
- catalog number
- 2017.3148.07
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Medal Awarded by the Presiden't Council on Year 2000 Conversion for Outstanding Y2K Service
- Description
- This metal medal and ribbon are in a cloth-lined leatherette case. The medal was awarded to Jan Lilja for work on assuring that computer programs developed in the 1900s would work in the year 2000 and later. For related objects, see 2016.0138.01 and 2016.3118.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2000
- ID Number
- 2016.0138.02
- accession number
- 2016.0138
- catalog number
- 2016.0138.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Texas Instruments TI-Navigator System, Wireless Network for Electronic Calculators
- Description
- By 2007 Texas Instruments calculators were used primarily in classrooms, often in conjunction with computers. The Navigator Learning System, copyrighted in 2004, linked individual student calculators wirelessly to a teacher’s computer. It included four network hubs, four network connectors (each of which could connect to four calculators), a charging bay, a charging bay power adapter AC9940, a network hub power adapter, sixteen TI-Navigator seventy-two-inch input/output cables, and four network hub clamps. A mark on one of the hubs reads: S/N:206 1041298 (/) MAC: 00093700A152 DATE:S-0706A. Another mark reads: MADE IN CHINA.
- A sheet in French, Spanish, and English gives electrical information and a warranty. A leaflet describes radio frequency interference. A booklet describes the license agreement. The hub and charging bays are marked: MADE IN CHINA. A mark on the box reads: Made in Taiwan.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2006
- maker
- Texas Instruments
- ID Number
- 2007.0179.04
- accession number
- 2007.0179
- catalog number
- 2007.0179.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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