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VCF East 2026 Volunteers needed!
by Jeffrey Brace 12 Jan '26

12 Jan '26

Hey everyone! We are in great need of volunteers for VCF East. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/DK7Q2kT5XWBm8QKz5 In addition to general volunteers we also need managers for: Front Desk A/V Please let me know if you have any questions. Jeff Brace VCF East Showrunner

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80th Anniversary Celebration of ENIAC on Sunday February 15, 2026 in West Chester, PA
by bernieS 11 Jan '26

11 Jan '26

Jim Sherrer of Compuseum shares this exciting news about an upcoming celebration of the 80th Anniversary Celebration of ENIAC on Sunday February 15, 2026 in West Chester, PA at the impressive helicopter museum there. He told me MARCH members are invited to attend in person or online! -bernieS *February 15th is the 80th Anniversary of the ENIAC of 1946. * We aim to give you a great celebration! Combination "In Person" and "Virtual" event. *Re: 80th Anniversary Celebration of ENIAC * American Helicopter Museum, West Chester, PA February 15th, 2026 (Sunday) Starting at museum open at 1PM (EST). Video Presentation goes two hours from 2PM-4PM (EST) in their Auditorium, Afterwards is 1 hour duration in person meet and greet. Museum closes at 5PM (EST). This is also a virtual/online/hybrid event on the Zoom Platform. Virtual Registration via Helicopter Museum web site here: https://www.helicoptermuseum.org/event-details/eniac-day-celebration Free online, $20 at door. *Event Title: ENIAC Founders, Families and Futures - 80 Years On * *SPEAKERS * Kickoff By Jim Scherrer, Compuseum, 4 minutes Kathy Kleiman - "Deep Dive Into Proving Ground People" Author- Proving Grounds; Purchase Book here: https://a.co/d/52qkpvl (Confirmed - In person or Virtual) Brian Stuart - "The ENIAC in Context" A deep technical dive into how the master programmer makes the ENIAC satisfy the criteria necessary for universality in the Turing sense and to clarify the relationship between Turing's work and that of Mauchly and Eckert. (Confirmed - In Person) Paul Ceruzzi- "Perspective on ENIAC, 80 years On" Author "A New History of Modern Computing" book along with Tom Haigh. Tom Burick - "How Today's High School Students built a full sized replica of ENIAC, from scratch!" IT Instructor, PS Academy, Arizona (Confirmed, Virtual) Bill Mauchly, "Recollections of My Dad" Bill is from First Family of Computing, on the 80th. - Son of John Mauchly and Kathleen "Kay" McNulty Mauchly (Confirmed, In Person) Chris Eckert: "Recollections of My Dad" First Family of Computing - Son of J. Presper Eckert (Confirmed, Virtual) Gini Mauchly; "How My Mom Programmed the first Computer" First Family of Computing - Daughter of John Mauchly and Kathleen "Kay" McNulty Mauchly (Confirmed, In Person) Naomi Most - "Did my IT career result from my DNA" Granddaughter of Kay McNulty (Confirmed, Virtual) Dr. Tim Bartik, "Recollections of My Mother". Son of Jean Jennings Bartik, 1st ENIAC Programmer (Confirmed, Virtual) Jeffrey Yost - "The ENIAC's Unveiling: Shaping Metaphors and Meanings in Computing" Director, Charles Babbage Institute for Computing, Information & Culture (Confirmed, In Person) Paul Shaffer- "How the ENIAC made Quadrotor Drones Possible; From Vacuum Tubes to Vertical Flight" ENIAC Historian at PENN- (Confirmed, In Person) Ken Chaney - "See PENN's Supercomputer" Associate Director and Technical Lead of the Betty Holberton Data Center - Visitors will see the Betty Holberton supercomputer at PENN (named after Betty Holberton, ENIAC programmer) https://parcc.upenn.edu/systems/betty/ (Confirmed, On Site) Show & Tell- "Audience Participation" Q&A session where audience members can show off their ENIAC equipment or memorabilia using the screen share option. If you have ENIAC equipment or memorabilia you'd like to "show off", please let us know in advance. Wrap Up Where are we going with computing? Thank you from: Jim Scherrer (Compuseum); Paul Kahan (Helicopter Museum) (Confirmed, In Person) SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Kathy Kleiman, Senior Fellow, Programs on Tech, Law & Security and Information Justice and Intellectual Property, American University Washington College of Law, Author of "Proving Ground," and Founder of the ENIAC Programmers Project. Twenty years of work at ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to research the structure and balance of private Internet governance systems, privacy & Internet technologies. Brian Stuart, PhD is a professor of Computer Science at Drexel University. He hold a BS from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an MS from the University of Notre Dame, and a PhD from Purdue University. His primary research for the past ten years has been uncovering the details of the design, operation, and programming of the ENIAC. Bill Mauchly is the son of John W. Mauchly and Kathleen "Kay" McNulty, two pioneers whose work on ENIAC, UNIVAC, and early programming helped define the very foundations of modern computing. As part of the "first family of computers," Bill has carried forward that legacy through a career that bridges advanced technology, digital creativity, and the preservation of computing history. Tim Bartik, PhD is a senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, a non-profit and non-partisan research organization in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His research focuses on state and local economic development policies and local labor markets. At the Upjohn Institute, Dr. Bartik co-directs the Institute's research initiative on place-based policies. Tom Burick - Teacher at PS Academy in Gilbert, Arizona. PS Academy is a private high school for students with autism and other exceptionalities. which offers customized programs, clubs and electives, and ability-based learning with a focus on social skills improvement. Paul Ceruzzi is Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. He has published extensively on topics in the history of computing and aerospace. His most recent publications include "GPS: a Concise History," "Computing: A Concise History"--both part of MIT Press's Essential Knowledge Series, And, with Tom Haigh, "A New History of Modern Computing." Jeffrey R. Yost is Director, Charles Babbage Institute and Research Professor, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, University of Minnesota. He has published nine books. His four most recent books are Just Code: Power, Inequality and the Political Economy of IT (co-edited with G. Con Diaz, JHU Press); Making IT Work: A History of the Computer Services Industry (MIT Press); Computer: A History of the Information Machine 4th ed. (co-authored, Routledge); and FastLane: Managing Science in the Internet World (co-authored with Tom Misa, JHU Press). He co-edits Studies in Computing Culture book series for Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Press. Paul Shaffer is the ENIAC Historian at the University of Pennsylvania, where he serves as a steward and interpreter of the world's first general-purpose electronic digital computer. He has spent more than three decades championing the ENIAC artifact - researching its history, preserving its story, and translating its technical significance. A helicopter pilot, Paul brings an aviator's perspective on systems, risk, and disciplined procedure to his work in technology and public history. He is also a commercial UAS (drone) instructor. Paul is known for making ENIAC both legible and vivid: not only as a landmark machine, but as a human achievement shaped by ingenuity, constraint, and collaboration. As ENIAC approaches its 80th anniversary in 2026, he continues to help ensure the machine's technical and cultural impact remains accurately understood, widely shared, and meaningfully remembered. REFERENCES & SUGGESTED READING A New History of Modern Computing: Co-Author Dr. Thomas Haigh and Paul Ceruzzi Purchase book here: https://a.co/d/esgXbCS. Proving Grounds; Author: Kathy Kleiman Purchase Book here: https://a.co/d/52qkpvl Computer: A History of the Information Machine. Link to Amazon: https://z.umn.edu/Computer_A_History DONATE TO COMPUSEUM TO HELP FUND THIS AND OTHER EVENTS. Help us make a splash for this 80th Anniversary with a monetary donation at the "Donate Now" button on the web site here: https://thecompuseum.org/home Special Note: This event is Coincident with Americas Semiquincentennial! (250th) Watch Here: https://www.britannica.com/video/how-to-pronounce-semiquincentennial-and-wh… Jim Scherrer, President and Founder *Compuseum, Inc.* Technology Center West Chester, PA 19382-6735 - USA Phone- 610-793-4600 www.theCompuseum.org Info(a)theCompuseum.org X/Twitter: @TheCompuseum Hashtags: #Compuseum #WorldComputerDay Sponsors of World Computer Day at https://worldcomputerday.org/ Sponsors of ENIAC Day at https://eniacday.org/

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OT: Why New Jersey Has No Major City
by Herbert Johnson 10 Jan '26

10 Jan '26

I've lived near Trenton for decades but was not born in NJ. So I see the state as an outsider. I appreciated the video. The second half of the video was about "boroughitis", that I figured out by experience, I didn't realize it was driven by policy. But the first half about the (pre)colonial history was new to me and very informative, made sense. I knew previously, that Ben Franklin referred to New Jersey as "a barrel with two corks at either end", being opposite Phila and NYC. And I also knew before, the geography, more than in the video. The state is split north-south by "hills" and rocky lands north, clay and sand and forest soils to the south. I know in particular, the economic value of the southern farms, clays for pottery, sand for glass - a lot of economic value a century or two ago. Trenton was a world pottery center, from vases down to sinks and toilets. Also pine for construction. Even the Pinelands had "bog iron", washed down from the north into the clays. Not in the video, is the fact that ridges run across the north half of the state, from southwest to northeast. They are the ancient foothills and worn-down Appalachian Mountains (mined for coal and iron, other minerals). Rivers and roads run in those directions. They are physical obstacles to north-south commerce, until powered vehicles and asphalt highways were created, except for the Delaware. The Delaware River cuts through these ridges, from northwest to south east in the north half, as the video called out. In the south half, the Delaware bends to the southwest. Roads in either half follow in parallel, or perpendicular-to, the river. Thus there's no "cardinal directions" in the the state - you can't drive "north", you drive roughly parallel or perpendicular to the Delaware. Thus a compass is useless for travel in most of New Jersey. The video called out greater Newark as a single sprawling metropolitan area of millions, bigger than Chicago - that was a surprise. regards Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA https://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net

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OT: Why New Jersey Has No Major City
by Jeffrey Brace 10 Jan '26

10 Jan '26

*"If you go by pop culture alone, you might think the entire state of New Jersey is just one long turnpike exit—a grey, industrial corridor connecting New York City to... well, anywhere else. It’s the butt of every joke about the state. But if you actually look at the map, and I mean really look at the physical reality of the land, you’ll realize that New Jersey isn’t just a paved-over parking lot. It is actually a geographic marvel that, by all rights, shouldn't exist as a single political entity."* This video talks about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzohouMgODo&t=36s Enjoy! Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President

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MARCH Workshop this weekend
by Jeff Salzman 10 Jan '26

10 Jan '26

For those arriving at InfoAge for the MARCH Workshop event this weekend, you can open the door to the 9010-D building simply by pulling on the door handle. Even though the door has a code lock, the door is not locked. It's just closed for climate control inside. Jeff Salzman

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Site-wide wireless for VCF East?
by Neil Cherry 10 Jan '26

10 Jan '26

I think this is getting way off track and posting blame isn't going to change the network. I take exception with the understanding of what it takes to build a network. I've built very large networks (Corp 50 type networks). I haven't built exhibition networks. Those are two different things. This network is not designed to handle an expo center network, especially on a campus env. Remember this network was built with volunteers and a lot (if not all) was donated. Not a cheap thing, expecially with 10G fiber between the building. If someone wished to cough up the dollars and volunteers to build an expo network, please step up. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Site-wide wireless for VCF East?
by Ian Litchfield 09 Jan '26

09 Jan '26

Forgive any brashness here, but “taking away” the network due to complaints of it being over loaded seems excessive and unwarranted. There are ways to implement network segregation, quotas, QoS, etc. and setup temporary networks for exhibitors or attendees. That being said, shame on those that vindicated IA, which provided a free service and experienced a moment of congestion. Of course 1500 people all going through one pipe is going to be slow. If you go to any major event there are quality and service disruptions.. -Ian L. On Fri, Jan 9, 2026 at 17:03 Martin A Flynn via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > On 1/9/2026 2:38 PM, Dan FitzGerald wrote: > > I am designing my exhibit for VCF East, and would like to know if we > > are going to have site-wide public wifi for the event. Whether we do > > or not will affect what kinds of things I do with my exibit; > > specifically, if I am going to allow for attendees for remote access > > to my personal mainframe system, and whether or not I will attempt any > > cross-site demos of the OfficeVision/VM (PROFS) mail program. > > > > Do you think that this will be possible? > > Dan, > > After InfoAge and myself getting thoroughly beat up for Wi-Fi issues at > a previous VCFe, the decision was made to no longer provide "public" > Wi-Fi at InfoAge. > > InfoAge does provide staff Wi-Fi in the areas that were equipped by the > volunteers from CDL, VCF, and the RTM, however it is definitely not > site-wide. > > Martin Flynn > > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Site-wide wireless for VCF East?
by Patrick Finnegan 09 Jan '26

09 Jan '26

It's unfortunate that VCFed can't find a way to provide this for the attendees at the show, even if it's not provided by infoage. There are good options for Wireless and Satellite network uplinks, so you're not even limited to what connectivity the site has to it. Actually, considering that IA is a non profit more or less educational entity, it should look at joining Eduroam... Even hospitals and museums have joined into that. Patrick Finnegan On Fri, Jan 9, 2026, 17:03 Martin A Flynn via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > On 1/9/2026 2:38 PM, Dan FitzGerald wrote: > > I am designing my exhibit for VCF East, and would like to know if we > > are going to have site-wide public wifi for the event. Whether we do > > or not will affect what kinds of things I do with my exibit; > > specifically, if I am going to allow for attendees for remote access > > to my personal mainframe system, and whether or not I will attempt any > > cross-site demos of the OfficeVision/VM (PROFS) mail program. > > > > Do you think that this will be possible? > > Dan, > > After InfoAge and myself getting thoroughly beat up for Wi-Fi issues at > a previous VCFe, the decision was made to no longer provide "public" > Wi-Fi at InfoAge. > > InfoAge does provide staff Wi-Fi in the areas that were equipped by the > volunteers from CDL, VCF, and the RTM, however it is definitely not > site-wide. > > Martin Flynn > > >

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Site-wide wireless for VCF East?
by Dan FitzGerald 09 Jan '26

09 Jan '26

I am designing my exhibit for VCF East, and would like to know if we are going to have site-wide public wifi for the event. Whether we do or not will affect what kinds of things I do with my exibit; specifically, if I am going to allow for attendees for remote access to my personal mainframe system, and whether or not I will attempt any cross-site demos of the OfficeVision/VM (PROFS) mail program. Do you think that this will be possible? -- Regards, Dan FitzGerald Classical Computing Laboratory at IBM Poughkeepse http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/DFITZGER Danbury-Area Retrocomputing Enthusiasts (D.A.R.E.) HNET: EVIEVM(DFITZGER)

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT I have some CRESTRON equipment that I am willing to get rid of
by August Culbert 09 Jan '26

09 Jan '26

Hi Mike, I'm interested in the Crestron equipment. I have an old copy of the software I can use to program them. I will be at the workshop on Saturday. Thanks! -August On Tue, Jan 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I will be at the workshop this Saturday up until about 4 PM > If anybody is interested in some old CRESTRON equipment > Including touch panels, processors and accessories please let me know > immediately. > I will have to put these in a container so I can bring them with me if > there is any interest > No picking and choosing winner has to take all. > > Mike Rosen > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. >

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