Cyberworlds: computers and connections

Evolution of the computer user
from military scientist to the whole family

Fifty years ago the typical computer user was either a researcher or an academic, employed by the military or in a university. Since then, computers have moved into offices and homes. This section looks at the changing profile of computer users - from highly trained experts to ordinary people. At the same time, subcultures of hackers, nerds, cyberpunks and geekgirls have built their identity around computers.
Today our increasing dependence on computers is transforming our culture.

Stelarc
Stelarc - exploring the posthuman
is an Australian performance artist whose work explores and extends the concept
of the human body and its relationship with technology. He has used medical instruments, prosthetics, robotics, virtual reality systems and the Internet to explore, extend and enhance the body’s parameters. He has performed with a third hand, a virtual arm, a virtual body and a sculpture inside his stomach.
Stelarc’s work suggests that the next stage of human evolution involves interfacing the body with computer technologies.

Enigma cipher machine
SILLIAC
‘three months work in ten minutes’
Australia’s second computer, SILLIAC, was designed and built at the University of Sydney School of Physics between 1953 and 1956. It was made possible by the generosity of Sir Adolph Basser, who donated £50 000 when his horse won the Melbourne Cup. Used for scientific calculations, SILLIAC was so powerful for its time that its makers claimed it could do ‘three months work in ten minutes’. Its capacity has been well and truly surpassed by tiny microprocessors.

geekgirl
geekgirl- case study of a cyberfem webzine geekgirl is the world's first online cyberfeminist magazine. Irreverent and witty, geekgirl is a platform for ideas, art and entertainment, and highlights the work of women. The word 'geekgirl' was coined in 1994 by the magazine's Sydney founder and publisher Rosie Cross as her nickname. It has come to mean a female computer geek whose life revolves around computers and the Internet. Cross sees the word as an empowering term. Illustration for geekgirl by Técha Noble copyright 1999