Opening the stacks
Opening the stacks
The development of compact, mobile computer systems like the Osborne 1 and GRiD Compass that allowed users to work outside traditional office settings.
2 chapters across 2 books
The chapter chronicles the evolution of portable computing devices from early models like the Osborne 1 to transformative products such as the iPhone, illustrating how these technologies enhanced personal freedom by enabling mobility, communication, and entertainment anywhere. It further examines advancements in digital cartography through Google's layered and real-time mapping design, the shift towards AI-driven autonomous vehicles redefining mobility, and the rise of wearable biometric devices as expressions of Californian cultural values around productivity and self-surveillance. The chapter concludes by situating these technological developments within California's broader legacy of perception enhancement and fantasy, linking past innovations like LSD and video games to contemporary virtual reality and pervasive self-recording cultures.
The chapter details the creation and impact of the Osborne 1, a pioneering portable computer introduced in 1981 by Osborne Computer Corporation. It highlights the device's innovative design inspired by Xerox PARC, its bundled software suite that challenged industry norms, and its initial commercial success followed by the company's bankruptcy due to premature product announcements and market competition.