Visit to the Computer History Museum
The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA.
In early May, the Northern California chapter of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) held a networking event at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. Members gathered in the museum's café, where they were welcomed by the Communications Chair, Jennifer Epler, and introduced to the group. The attendees represented a spectrum of experience levels, from early career to senior professionals, spanning a wide range of medical writing specialties. Following these initial introductions, the group began its tour.
A docent, himself a retired computer engineer, led the members through the "First 2000 Years of Computing" exhibition. The first stop was a replica of the Hollerith Census Machine, an early computer that utilized punch cards to tabulate the 1890 U.S. Census. Next, the tour proceeded to the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) exhibit. Built in 1958 to detect enemy bombers in real time, SAGE was a massive system, with twenty-three of these computers housed in multi-story buildings across the United States. As the tour group progressed towards the first personal computers, such as the Apple I and Apple II, members discussed their own first personal computers.
In addition to its extensive collection of computers, the museum also features live demonstrations. A particular highlight is the fully restored and operational IBM 1401 computer. The demonstration and maintenance of this vintage machine are managed by a dedicated team of volunteers with extensive experience in computer science and engineering.
A replica of the Hollerith Census Machine
The Apple 2, one of the earlier models of personal computers, is pictured on the left.
Following the tour and demonstration, the group proceeded to Roger Bar and Restaurant for a late afternoon brunch. Over popular dishes like the falafel rice bowl and chilaquiles, the conversation began with members sharing their favorite parts of the museum. The discussion then shifted to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the medical writing profession. Members discussed their preferred AI platforms and the tasks for which they leverage them most effectively. A notable preference was expressed for using Gemini for writing over other platforms. Another popular option was using Perplexity to generate summaries of research papers. Other common applications mentioned by attendees included creating initial drafts and obtaining editing suggestions. Beyond professional topics, the conversation also touched on favorite local Bay Area activities, resulting in a shared list of recommended venues for high tea.
About the author: Haley Stubbs is a scientific and medical writer specializing in grants and publications. She is passionate about rare disease research and volunteers with The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) in her spare time.
