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Alan Kay and Smalltalk
1. Alan Kay and Smalltalk
Smalltalk is an object-oriented language developed by Alan Kay (and others) at Xerox PARC in the 1970s.
Alan Kay wanted to make a computer so easy to use, a child could use it. Then maybe adults could use a computer. Steve Jobs saw what Alan Kay was doing and hired him away from Xerox to create the MacIntosh computer, introduced in 1984.
2. Smalltalk
Many object-oriented languages followed Smalltalk which was originally based on a message passing idea as found in Simula. The Actor model followed.
In Smalltalk, everything is an object-oriented. The primary disadvantage of Smalltalk is that it is bundled as a programming environment that is not easily separated into separate programs for use individually.
3. Technology
Alan Kay has in insightful way of defining technology.
Technology is things invented after we were born. Alan Kay (American computer scientist)
The question of what is and what is not technology depends on your point of view. This is the essence of information.
Alan kay noted that children, even at the age of 3, will take a CD, put it in a computer, and use it, without thinking about it as technology.
It is just something that they interact with.
It is something that has been around their entire life.
4. Predicting the future
The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Alan Kay (American computer scientist)
5. Teaching children about computers
Alan Kay (teaching children to program computers) did a lot of research in the 1970's at Xerox
PARC (Palo Alto Research Community), teaching children how to use and program computers.
Alan Kay wanted to make a computer so easy to use, a child could use it. Then maybe adults could use a computer.
Kay concluded that children learned more through images and sounds than through plain text and, along with other researchers at PARC, Kay developed a simple computer system which made heavy use of graphics and animation. Some of the children became very adept at using this system; in fact, some developed complicated programs of their own with it!
6. Mouse buttons
Alan Kay wanted to make a computer so easy to use, a child could use it.
That's why the Mac had only one button on the mouse. It's hard to teach children the difference between left and right.
Kay reasoned that if he could make a computer so easy to use that a child could use it, perhaps the computer would become easier for adults to use too.
7. PARC
At PARC, object-oriented systems such as the Smalltalk language/system were invented and/or developed.
At PARC, windows, the
GUI (Graphical User Interface), and the mouse, were developed.
Who is Alan Key and why is he important?
8. End of page
