Claude Kagan was instrumental in the founding of the RESISTORS. So this small gaggle of teenagers would gather in his barn to really get into the fun stuff that was happening with computers. This formidable progressive coalition came together in the late 1960s. They chiefly concerned themselves at first with exploring the new tools—computers first of all, particularly the famous PDP-8, largely and graciously donated by the Digital Equipment Corporation. Kagan masterfully navigated high-level computer languages such as Fortran and BASIC. He developed a doting mentoring style and became the surrogate father and guiding genius for this group.
The RESISTORS never had more than 70 members in their ten-year odyssey. Though tiny in number, they shaped the intellectual character of a new and emerging computing landscape. They hacked their way through creative initiatives, such as their “Conceptual Typewriter.” They had the opportunity to interact with computer pioneer Ted Nelson as he was formulating his early ideas on hypertext. This post explores how the RESISTORS were created, their impact in the short-term and ongoing, and their legacy.
Formation and Early Days
In 1968, Claude Kagan offered his barn as a meeting space for the RESISTORS, effectively providing a sanctuary for young minds eager to explore computing. The barn itself hummed with excitement as teens joined together to learn and tinker. They experienced the machines that their parents and grandparents grew up with, such as the Burroughs Datatron 205 and Friden Flexowriter. With a retail value over $15,000 when new, the PDP-8 was their main computing platform.
Kagan’s barn was really much more than a place. It was a wonderland packed with computer artifacts he saved from the dump over his decades working there. This incredible collection drove the technical requirements that the RESISTORS explored and helped develop their understanding in various facets of computing. Kagan possesses a rare expertise in high-level programming languages. This deep knowledge profoundly informed their experience and catalyzed some truly groundbreaking ideas that a typical classroom setting just couldn’t touch.
Kagan was extremely cynical when it came to traditional educational practices, which she thought deeply disenfranchised students and didn’t involve them in any meaningful way. This mindset struck a chord with the RESISTORS and strongly influenced their approach to working, learning and collaborating together.
Connections with Pioneers
In 1969, the RESISTORS suddenly found themselves inextricably tied to one of the world’s great computer pioneers, Ted Nelson. At the same time, during this period, Nelson was creating some radically revolutionary ideas that were surrounding hypertext and these interconnected networks for publishing. His visit to convene the RESISTORS helped ignite their imaginations with visionary ideas. These concepts would soon influence almost every element of digital interaction.
What really hit home were Nelson’s comments on the importance of access to information. He stated, “Some people are too proud to ask children for information. This is dumb. Information is where you find it.” This cliché rang true to Kagan’s earlier admission that conventional pedagogy rarely lived up to its idealistic potential to engage and actualize the creativity and imagination of young people.
The RESISTORS’ environment of collaboration provided them with the space to really push the boundaries, and think more experimentally outside of the box. The duo produced one of the most clever projects we’d ever seen, “Conceptual Typewriter.” This ambition led to the project’s profound programming inspiration from the I Ching, largely through Kagan’s mentorship.
The Lasting Impact
Though their ephemeral youth and temporary membership meant these RESISTORS were often short-lived, their impact on the digital landscape was profound. Their unique approach to learning and experimentation provided a platform for young individuals to develop critical skills in computing and programming at a time when such opportunities were scarce.
John R. Levine, one of the group’s members, reflected on their experiences by saying, “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 feeling captures the spirit of inclusivity that permeated the group. They kept an independent and open-minded perspective at a time when such outlooks were in short supply in tech circles.
As time went on, Kagan’s influence, along with the collaborative atmosphere provided by the RESISTORS, created an environment that struck gold working outside the box. Their legacy gives us a glimpse into those early formative days of computing. Looking back, passion and curiosity drove exploration a lot more than a degree ever could.