MyLifeBits - an Experiment in Lifetime Storage

A special seminar hosted by the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash Museum of Computing History, COSI and Monash University e-Research Centre with guest speaker, Gordon Bell.

Gordon Bell will speak about his latest work in developing the MyLifeBits project which is an experiment in using multimedia to record every aspect of his daily life. This includes everything he has accumulated, written, photographed and presented. The digital world has presented us all with a vast amount of ephemera. The MyLifeBits project seeks to record these in a personal transaction processing database.

Gordon has a long career in the computing industry starting with 23 years (1960-1983) at Digital Equipment Corporation as Vice President of Research and Development, where he was responsible for Digital's products. He was the architect of various mini- and time-sharing computers (e.g. the PDP-6) and led the development of DEC's VAX and the VAX Computing Environment. Currently Gordon is a principal researcher in Microsoft Research Silicon Valley, working in the San Francisco Laboratory.

Workshop
Gordon will give an informal talk on “building computer museums” for supporters of the Monash Museum of Computing History (MMoCH).  Gordon started the Computer History Museum when he was working at Digital Equipment Corporation and realized that the history of computing needed to be preserved. The Computer History Museum is now housed in Silicon Valley, California.  Gordon will speak about his involvement with establishing the Museum and guiding it through its various stages of development.

Event date:  Thursday, 17 April, 2008 (RSVPs close on 14 April)

Event summary:

All rooms are in building B, level 2. For a map of the Caulfield campus click here

Seminar: 3-4pm Lecture Theatre B215

Workshop: 4.30-5.30pm. Tutorial Room B224

Cost: free

Meet and greet Gordon Bell 6pm around the environs of the Monash Museum of Computing History

Note: the numbers are limited so please ensure that you reply via email with the subject line “RSVP to Gordon Bell event” to: marketing@infotech.monash.edu.au

For further information about this event please contact:
Dr Judy Sheard, Caulfield School of Information Technology
judy.sheard@infotech.monash.edu.au
Ph 03 990 32701