MetaChat - I just got the coolest book

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22 May 2006

I just got the coolest book →[More:]
Engineering and Operations in the Bell System
It offers a comprehensive description of telecommunications in the Bell System in 1982-1983, just a short time before divestiture, from the point of view of AT&T Bell Laboratories.

post by: cmonkey at: 17:26 | 19 comments

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by cmonkey 22 May | 17:27

Great, Cmonkey, just great.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 22 May | 17:29

The diagrams are awesome!

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by cmonkey 22 May | 17:32

Was it in the free bin at Powell's technical? That bin is a treasure trove of stuff like that.

posted by togdon 22 May | 17:47

Is my dad mentioned in it? He was there.

posted by JanetLand 22 May | 17:48

Customers connected. Conversation ensues.

posted by matildaben 22 May | 17:57

Nope, not in the free bin, although that bin sure is neat.

Is my dad mentioned in it? He was there.

I haven't seen mention of anyone's name except when it references research papers.

posted by cmonkey 22 May | 18:04

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by cmonkey 22 May | 18:16

A friend of mine used to have these life-sized human factors posters of a typical male and a typical female. White on blue background, like a blueprint. I loved the.

posted by matildaben 22 May | 18:19

I like how the guy is punching his terminal.

posted by cmonkey 22 May | 18:26

excellent! Love that ergo diagram.

posted by chewatadistance 22 May | 18:39

nerd

posted by deborah 22 May | 18:45

Whatever you do, don't read the last page first, it'll ruin it for you.

posted by essexjan 22 May | 18:47

One time, I went to this open house at the Western Electric plant where my dad worked, and they had this GIANT TELEPHONE RECEIVER that was standing on its end and was taller than me (well, okay, I was only about 4 feet tall at the time, but still), and the coolest part was that it was a WORKING PHONE. You could press the giant lighted buttons and make a real call. We called the number to get the weather report! This was probably the first time in my life I was blown away by technology.

posted by JanetLand 22 May | 18:56

Wow. That is a very cool book. I want a copy.

posted by kmellis 22 May | 19:30

i want a giant telephone! : >

posted by amberglow 22 May | 19:56

J.G. Ballard could write an entire story based on that ergonomics pic, cmonkey. That is crazy cool.

posted by BoringPostcards 22 May | 21:27

Those sure are some sweet diagrams.

posted by LeeJay 22 May | 21:39

That is cool.

posted by sveskemus 23 May | 04:24

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