The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast

#684 – Lee Felsenstein: The Computer Revolution & Counterculture

Dec 10, 2024
Lee Felsenstein, a legendary figure in the computing world, designed the Osborne 1 and is credited with inventing social media. In this engaging discussion, he shares his experiences from the Berkeley Free Speech Movement to the dawn of personal computing. Fascinating tales unfold about his interactions with pioneers like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Felsenstein elaborates on the design challenges of the Osborne 1 and how grassroots innovation shaped early technology. His reflections on the evolution of social media reveal a rich intersection of community and technology.
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ANECDOTE

Early UNIVAC Experience

  • Lee Felsenstein's early interest in electronics began in Philadelphia, a then-center of the computer industry.
  • He recounts visiting a UNIVAC plant and being impressed by the console, though the engineer couldn't explain its workings.
ANECDOTE

Return to Berkeley

  • Lee Felsenstein failed a security clearance at NASA due to his parents' background, prompting his return to Berkeley.
  • He arrived amidst the Free Speech Movement, a pivotal moment in counterculture history.
INSIGHT

Defining Counterculture

  • The counterculture was a period of generational breakaway, marked by experimentation with alternative lifestyles and communal living.
  • It involved exploring different ways of living and connecting with like-minded individuals.
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