Notion Podcast

Howard Rheingold is a writer known for his specialty covering the development of virtual communities. He was one of the first authors, critics, and teachers to treat the internet as a social and cultural environment and pioneered new ways of talking about social media in his book The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier. He went on to write numerous books about the power of the human mind and social media that pulled from his experiences being involved in one of the first virtual communities called the WELL, being the executive editor of Wired Magazine’s HotWired, and founding Electric Minds, another prominent early virtual community. He's also known for his spectacular painted shoes.

Alan Kay is a prolific computer scientist known by many as the “father of personal computers." He's best known for his work on object-oriented programming languages, windowing graphical user interface design (also known as GUIs) and for leading the team that developed Smalltalk.

Jonathan Blow is an independent video game designer and programmer. He created Braid (2008) and The Witness (2016) — two puzzle games that, when released, received widespread acclaim. Jonathan also created a new programming language called Jai, intended specifically for game development.

May-Li Khoe, a designer, dancer, engineer, and DJ, discusses how dance influences interaction design, the shift to remote work with MACE Space, challenges in virtual reality implementation, creating digital third spaces for social interaction, designing for joy and collaboration, transformative power of attention and intention in problem-solving, and language immersion in emotional learning experiences.

A mathematician by training, Richard Hamming contributed significantly to the computer science and telecommunications industries. Of his work in information theory, digital filters and numerical methods, the most widely known is the Hamming codes — a family of formulas that allowed computers to detect and correct their own errors. This work would go on to be foundational for computers and communications, being used in modems, embedded processors, satellites, and more.   For more episodes of Pioneers, including photos and transcripts, please visit: https://www.notion.so/blog/topic/pioneers​  Produced by Notion: http://www.twitter.com/NotionHQ​ Hosted by Devon Zuegel: https://twitter.com/DevonZuegel​ Audio by This Land Films: https://etfilmhome.com/

Pamela Hardt-English, the driving force behind the first computerized bulletin board system in the 1970s, provides a resource network for counterculture centers. She shares the challenges of bringing computer access to individuals and discusses the unique culture within the warehouse community.

Louis Pouzin, inventor of the datagram, discusses the early internet days. Topics include TCP/IP protocols development, impact on mass culture, and future internet evolution. Key points: journey at MIT, C-Cloud project, protocol standardization, TCP-IP history, and network governance shifts.

Ted Nelson, the founding designer of Xanadu, discusses his expansive vision for digital technology. He explores the concept of hypertext and its influence on the Internet. Topics include Xanadu Classic, transcopyright, transclusion, and missed opportunities of the web

Stu Card discusses his pioneering work in Human Computer Interaction, including the design of Englebart's mouse and Information Foraging theory. Topics covered include practical theories in engineering, the origins of HCI, expanding brain capabilities, innovations at Xerox Park, and the importance of seamless interfaces and virtual books.

In a fascinating conversation with Andy Hertzfeld, a key member of the original Macintosh team, listeners gain insight into the early days of personal computing. Hertzfeld shares stories about the thrill of creating innovative designs while navigating challenges in user accessibility. He reflects on the agile development strategies that set the Macintosh apart from its predecessors, emphasizing collaboration among tech enthusiasts. Additionally, he discusses the evolution of user experience enhancements and the visionary push for handheld communication devices in the 1990s.