A new breed of teenage computer whiz kids was coming up out of Princeton, New Jersey in the late 1960s and early ’70s. Collectively known as the RESISTORS, this awesome group of creative thinkers entered an exhilarating world of technology. They accomplished this while home personal computers were still a glimmer in the future. The RESISTORS were not only connected by their love of technology, but by their desire to work together. This story explores their creation, projects, success and continuing impact on the tech ecosystem today.
Engineer Claude Kagan co-founded the RESISTORS and was one of the original organizers. He opened up the discussions by offering his barn as a meeting space. It was Kagan’s encouragement, support and guidance that lit the match on this group’s initial efforts. During its 10-year existence, the section had been made up of less than 70 members. Among the young innovators, Ted Nelson was a real original. His mark on computing was so profound that he was awarded the Turing Award (the “Nobel Prize of Computing”) for his pioneering advancements in hypertext.
The Formation and Early Days of RESISTORS
Claude Kagan, a longtime member of the C4 staff, was instrumental in founding the RESISTORS. His engineering background gave him the ability to help steer the group through the technical challenges that they encountered along the way. Kagan’s barn became a refuge for aspiring young nerds. What it gave them was a physical space to do so together and experiment without restriction.
The coalition relied on an acoustic coupler to connect to a nearby pay phone. This was one of the first standardized ways to set up a computer connection. With this configuration, they were the first to connect to Digital Equipment Corporation’s (DEC) PDP-8 from teletype over phone lines. This new connection created a huge opportunity for the young programmers.
One of the RESISTORS’ most important assets was the PDP-8, well over a $15,000 value. For West, it became a generative medium, an experimental lab space. This freed the ensemble to have the artistic freedom to take greater risks and experiment with the frontier of the technology available at that time.
Innovations and Contributions
That’s when the RESISTORS dove deeper into programming. To do that, they began using the TRAC (Text Reckoning And Compiling) language, which Calvin Mooers had developed in 1959. TRAC was particularly efficient and well-suited for machines with limited memory capacity, making it an ideal choice for the PDP-8.
At 10 years old, Nat reached that humility by joining this pioneering group. Members such as him started their journey at a very young age. The RESISTORS created a space in which figuring out how to share what you know was the main goal. They embraced a motto that resonated throughout the group: “Each one, teach one.”
“If you want to teach someone how to do something, you had to let them sit at the keyboard.” – Anonymous RESISTORS member
This member-driven philosophy fostered hands-on learning and collaboration between members which helped them hone their skills together.
Collaborative Projects and Artistic Ventures
One of the most ambitious projects created by the RESISTORS, developed under the guidance of renowned conceptual artist Agnes Denes. She worked with the group to animate geometric shapes to use in her final art piece, named “Trigonal Ballet.” That dynamic fusion of art and innovation showcased the RESISTORS’ adaptability. They proved to the world that their skills are canonic and creative contributions are needed in every discipline.
Beyond the immediate scope of programming, the impact of the RESISTORS was profound. Their work inspired generations of aspiring computer whizzes and provocateurs. John R. Levine is a past member of the advisory group. He would go on to later coauthor “The Internet for Dummies,” anchoring their legacy in technology education.
Reflecting on their experiences, Levine noted, “We were so nerdy that it didn’t occur to us that girls [would] be any different in terms of what they could do.” This tiny blurb of text is an important reminder of the open-mindedness and inclusivity that defined the RESISTORS.
Lasting Impact and Reflection
The RESISTORS lives on, and their work is more relevant than ever in today’s digital age. Their collective vision helped cultivate community standards around accessibility and inclusive computing practices, and established an ethos of collaboration through learning that underlies today’s hackathons. Ted Nelson, reflecting on the future of technology, stated, “The future of mankind was at the computer screen.” His vision might seem outdated today, but it emphasizes the amazing and transformative use of computers that exists in our world.
Moreover, Nelson emphasized the importance of information sharing within communities: “Some people are too proud to ask children for information. This is dumb. Information is where you find it.” His words beautifully evoke the sense of wonder and collective inquiry that was at the heart of the RESISTORS’ spirit.