Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/04/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Rei - YES - Somebody remembers! The IBM 3270, mostly made in the 1960's was the absolute pinnacle of keyboard technology. I remember room-fulls of data-entry clerks pounding the keyboards of those machines. Each unit was the size of an office desk and several together made quite a symphony as the solenoid feature sounded back with a crisp but soft 'boink' with each keystroke. Some data-entry gals (they were always women) attacked the keys like a Van Cliburn in full concert mode. With others, they just barely moved only their fingers. And every lady was amazing at multi-tasking - chewing gum, talking to one another or on the phone, commenting on the boss or latest office gossip. It was as if there was an eye-brain connection for data entry that was wired and insulated against all other distractions. Wow - you worked at Watson Labs - the Mecca of IBM! I was a lowly "third-party" programmer. Those were the IBM heydays when their slogan was simply "THINK". About the time IBM dropped the slogan, keyboards became junk and everybody got carpel tunnel syndrome. Gary > > i seem to recall the old 3270 i used to use at ibm watson labs > had a switch which would activate a solenoid on each key depression, > purely as an ergonomic device. > > this action was undertaken with such vigor, the keyboard would have > jumped an inch, had it not been the approximate dimensions and mass of a > small headstone. > > -rei > > > On Apr11 11:13, David C Mason wrote: > > "Gary Todoroff" <datamaster@northcoastphotos.com> writes: > > > > > > > As I type, making a beautiful racket on my 1984 IBM keyboard, [snip] > > > > Oh man! I am jealous of your keyboard noise! My last IBM keyboard > > disappeared at my last job. > > > > Now if only my M7 would give a big CLACK! whenever it fired. > > -- > Rei Shinozuka shino@panix.com > Ridgewood, New Jersey > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.1/308 - Release Date: 4/11/2006 > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.1/308 - Release Date: 4/11/2006