In the demo video, there are some noises in the background, I'm assuming from his workstation -- rather pleasant and atmospheric. Anyone know what they are? Is it a transmission artifact? Feedback intended for the user (maybe related to the chorded keyboard)?
I've read several accounts of this presentation ( one is in _What the Dormouse Said_ ), but don't recall an explanation.
The account in What the Dormouse Said says the sound was intentional audio feedback:
"Engelbart referred to the on-screen cursor as a "bug" or a "tracking spot," and there were occasionally odd buzzing sounds in the background as he executed commands at the keyboard. The group had been experimenting with using the computer to generate different tones depending upon what was being executed, as a way of creating auditory feedback."
It's not intended. It's clock and/or data-signals that leaks and has gotten amplified, if you look at it in an oscillator you will probably see a square or sawtooth wave at around 1KHz. You might even be able to read that data...
I don't know, but as a guess it sounds like a transmission artifact from when his terminal redraws. Maybe some cross-talk between the terminal transmission line and the microphone feed?
Comments
In the demo video, there are some noises in the background, I'm assuming from his workstation -- rather pleasant and atmospheric. Anyone know what they are? Is it a transmission artifact? Feedback intended for the user (maybe related to the chorded keyboard)?
I've read several accounts of this presentation ( one is in _What the Dormouse Said_ ), but don't recall an explanation.
The account in What the Dormouse Said says the sound was intentional audio feedback:
"Engelbart referred to the on-screen cursor as a "bug" or a "tracking spot," and there were occasionally odd buzzing sounds in the background as he executed commands at the keyboard. The group had been experimenting with using the computer to generate different tones depending upon what was being executed, as a way of creating auditory feedback."
Looks like a pretty uniform buzz, too
http://i.imgur.com/BbaGsCu.png
It's not intended. It's clock and/or data-signals that leaks and has gotten amplified, if you look at it in an oscillator you will probably see a square or sawtooth wave at around 1KHz. You might even be able to read that data...
I don't know, but as a guess it sounds like a transmission artifact from when his terminal redraws. Maybe some cross-talk between the terminal transmission line and the microphone feed?