harry@UCBARPA.BERKELEY.EDU (Harry Rubin) (07/13/87)
Here's an interesting indication of the impact of computers on society: Original posting from Jerry Leichter at Yale: The following appeared in the Wednesday (24-Jun) New York Times, in the Metropolitan Diary, a weekly column of "human interest" stories sent in by readers: A small sign was taped to a building on West 120th Street near Amsterdam Avenue, and Ellen Shaw of Scotch Plains, N.J., noticed it as she passed by. It was a discreet advertiesement for a nearby stand run by three young entrepreneurs - two boys and a girl - who were selling iced tea, cola and cookies. Ms. Shaw ordered tea and offered the youngsters a suggestion: "You may want to make a bigger sign," she said. "That one is really not to noticeable." "I know," said one of the boys, gesturing toward one of his partners, "but that's as big as his computer makes them." He paused, thought for a moment, and slapped his forehead. "Hey, I've got it!" he exclaimed. "Maybe we could DRAW a bigger sign!" The tea, incidentally, was herbal.