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Computer Jokes: Hoaxes and Urban Legends

Hoax: The RAND Corporation "home computer" from 1954



This Internet email hoax, which started circulating in 2004-5 is a pretty funny and funky composite of a black and white photo of an exhibit of a submarine control panel at a real museum (see below), a photoshoped-in 50s fellow, a line printer (definitely of late 1960s or early 1970s origin) digitally embedded into the museum exhibit signage and a lovely 50s TV set hung up on the wall. It is surprising how many people were convinced by this one (the DigiBarn received a lot of copies of the above image!). The text below the image reads:

Scientists from the RAND corporation have created this model to illustrate how a "Home Computer" could look like in the year 2004. However, the needed technology will not be economically feasible for the average home. Also the scientists readily admit that the computer will require not yet invented technology to actually work, but 50 years from now scientific progress is expected to solve these problems. With teletype interface and the FORTRAN language, the computer will be easy to use.

Breaking News: this photo was the result of a 2004 Fark.com contest to Photoshop the following photo of a Smithsonian mock-up of a nuclear submarine's maneuvering room:

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