Alumni visit Computer History Museum

Alumni given a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California

On Saturday 28 February 2009, twenty-five alumni and their family members met for the first official Imperial College Alumni Association of Northern California (ICAANC) event of the year.

The group visited the Computer History Museum (www.computerhistory.org) in Mountain View, California, a Silicon Valley city where many technology companies such as Google are headquartered. John Mashey, former Vice President and Chief Scientist at Silicon Graphics, gave a guided tour of the museum with the help of his wife Angela Hey, Imperial College alumna (Management Science 1979) and former president of the ICAANC.
 
The main part of the tour was spent walking through the Visible Storage displays of computer technology ranging from Chinese abacuses through to pioneering computers and handhelds. It was a learning opportunity for many and a reunion for some: the CDC 6600 exhibit brought back memories to those who toiled in the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s computer centre, and many had programmed IBM mainframes and DEC PDP-11s.

The Association’s recently elected president, Fabien Schmitt (Mechanical Engineering 2000) said “It was amusing to see John ask in regular intervals: "Does anybody know what exhibit XYZ is?", and see a third of the group raise their hands, much to his disbelief, as many museum visitors have not had the opportunities that Imperial College graduates have had, both at college and in their subsequent technical careers.” 

A notable exhibit was the Difference Engine No.2, designed by Charles Babbage in 1849, which is currently on loan to the museum from Nathan Myhrvold’s private collection (former Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft). Only two complete models have been built with the other based in the London Science Museum next door to Imperial College.

The event was very well received by alumni and their families. Some were attending an ICAANC event for the first time and appreciated the opportunity to meet fellow Imperial alumni and suggest ideas for future events.
 
Following the tour, a smaller group of alumni went to Mountain View's Shoreline Golf Club for lunch for a catch-up and John Mashey amused alumni by recounting an ‘insider’ tale or two from his time at Silicon Graphics.

If you would like to find out more information about ICAANC please contact Fabien Schmitt directly at fbn_schmitt@yahoo.com.