COMPUTERESE
8.5" X 11"
COMPUTERESE
8.5" X 11"
©
Bill Perry
©
Bill Perry
The Computerese opening page may be the most viewed Teldion image in history. It was used to launch the VISTA field trial, was the most seen during the trial and most reproduced since, online or in print.
The Computerese opening page may be the most viewed Teldion image in history. It was used to launch the VISTA field trial, was the most seen during the trial and most reproduced since, online or in print.
Those blue dots across the top of the screen are single pixels, one pixel apart. This vividly illustrated the superior resolution of Telidon. It would have been impossible to draw those dots so precisely spaced with pen and graphics tablet. Likewise, the precision of lines fanning out from the center to the edge was to precise to be possbile.
Those blue dots across the top of the screen are single pixels, one pixel apart. This vividly illustrated the superior resolution of Telidon. It would have been impossible to draw those dots so precisely spaced with pen and graphics tablet. Likewise, the precision of lines fanning out from the center to the edge was to precise to be possbile.
Click for the story behind the image:
Click for the story behind the image:
In 1980, Bell Canada issued a Request for Proposals from "Information Providers" (IPs) to provide Telidon content for their upcoming, Dept. of Communications sponsored Telidon/videotex field trial called VISTA.
In 1980, Bell Canada issued a Request for Proposals from "Information Providers" (IPs) to provide Telidon content for their upcoming, Dept. of Communications sponsored Telidon/videotex field trial called VISTA.
I submitted a proposal called “Computerese: The Electronic Media Magazine”. The concept was an online magazine about online media.
I submitted a proposal called “Computerese: The Electronic Media Magazine”. The concept was an online magazine about online media.
At the time, I was sharing a studio in a warehouse at King and Dufferin with three OCAD student/teachers at OCAD Photo Electric Arts Dept, i.e. Les Titze, Doug Back and Ron Gosbee. Les was working on designing a Telidon decoder-on-a-card for the Apple II. He secured a Telidon decoder, likely through Richard Hill, head of the PhotoElectric Arts Dept. and Foundation and my occasional employer.
At the time, I was sharing a studio in a warehouse at King and Dufferin with three OCAD student/teachers at OCAD Photo Electric Arts Dept, i.e. Les Titze, Doug Back and Ron Gosbee. Les was working on designing a Telidon decoder-on-a-card for the Apple II. He secured a Telidon decoder, likely through Richard Hill, head of the PhotoElectric Arts Dept. and Foundation and my occasional employer.
I wanted to create at least one Telidon graphic to use as support material for my proposal. But, there were no "page creation terminals" or "information provider systems" available. I connected Les's Telidon decoder to an Apple II. Telidon is a subset of ASCII text. I could create picture description instructions with a text editor and send it to the decoder to see if it worked.
I wanted to create at least one Telidon graphic to use as support material for my proposal. But, there were no "page creation terminals" or "information provider systems" available. I connected Les's Telidon decoder to an Apple II. Telidon is a subset of ASCII text. I could create picture description instructions with a text editor and send it to the decoder to see if it worked.
If you wanted to place a single pixel on the screen, there was a PDI to do that, as well as PDIs for lines, rectangles, circles, etc. I created a long and complicated animation and submitted it with my application to be a VISTA IP.
If you wanted to place a single pixel on the screen, there was a PDI to do that, as well as PDIs for lines, rectangles, circles, etc. I created a long and complicated animation and submitted it with my application to be a VISTA IP.
Much to my surprise, Bell et. al. were so impressed by the graphic, one of 25 $25K Norpak IPSs was delivered to my studio, without much notice.
Much to my surprise, Bell et. al. were so impressed by the graphic, one of 25 $25K Norpak IPSs was delivered to my studio, without much notice.
It weighed about 300 lbs and came with it's own desk and chair. It was considered a computer built for one person, a "single user VAX", a new concept in mainframe computing. Ironic, considering an alternate term, "personal computer" was bout to eliminate the Norpak IPS and put millions of dumb terminals in the garbage.
It weighed about 300 lbs and came with it's own desk and chair. It was considered a computer built for one person, a "single user VAX", a new concept in mainframe computing. Ironic, considering an alternate term, "personal computer" was bout to eliminate the Norpak IPS and put millions of dumb terminals in the garbage.
From 1981 to 1985 Computerese: The Electronic Media Magazine was available in 500 homes and businesses in Ontario and Quebec through the VISTA field trial. It was the most accessed "information package" in the trial, by far, which irritated the corporate content providers. Some months, Computerese got more hits than everyone else combined. By the end of the trial, up to 5,000 Telidon decoders across the country were able to access Computerese.
From 1981 to 1985 Computerese: The Electronic Media Magazine was available in 500 homes and businesses in Ontario and Quebec through the VISTA field trial. It was the most accessed "information package" in the trial, by far, which irritated the corporate content providers. Some months, Computerese got more hits than everyone else combined. By the end of the trial, up to 5,000 Telidon decoders across the country were able to access Computerese.
The Norpak IPS changed the direction of my life. IMO, it also changed the direction of Canadian "born digital", "interactive", media art. That computer was the real founder of Toronto Community Videotex. It is the reason Canada has the world's largest collection of videotex art. The Telidon Art Project found almost 20K files created by more than 60 emerging and established artists of the early 80s. Most of it was created on my Norpak IPS or others secured for TCV.
The Norpak IPS changed the direction of my life. IMO, it also changed the direction of Canadian "born digital", "interactive", media art. That computer was the real founder of Toronto Community Videotex. It is the reason Canada has the world's largest collection of videotex art. The Telidon Art Project found almost 20K files created by more than 60 emerging and established artists of the early 80s. Most of it was created on my Norpak IPS or others secured for TCV.
Mixed in with banks, department stores, government agencies, travel companies, hotels and other corporate IPs, Computerese was creative art. It stuck out like a sore thumb. Almost none of the corporate videotex concepts created on VISTA or videotex in general, is so entertaining or informative today as the art.
Mixed in with banks, department stores, government agencies, travel companies, hotels and other corporate IPs, Computerese was creative art. It stuck out like a sore thumb. Almost none of the corporate videotex concepts created on VISTA or videotex in general, is so entertaining or informative today as the art.
Thanks to my graphic and without much ado, a 300 lb box containing one $25,000 Norpak IPS was delivered to my studio. It came with its own desk and chair and weighed close to 300 lbs.
Thanks to my graphic and without much ado, a 300 lb box containing one $25,000 Norpak IPS was delivered to my studio. It came with its own desk and chair and weighed close to 300 lbs.
It was a windfall and a burden. I knew many artists and many of them wanted to check out the computer. My studio was not suitable, nor did I have the time to be there for everyone.
It was a windfall and a burden. I knew many artists and many of them wanted to check out the computer. My studio was not suitable, nor did I have the time to be there for everyone.
I needed to find a setting where artists could use it. If I was lucky, they would produce content I might use in Computerese. The first place I looked was the ArtCulture Resource Centre (ARC)
I needed to find a setting where artists could use it. If I was lucky, they would produce content I might use in Computerese. The first place I looked was the ArtCulture Resource Centre (ARC)