Category Archives: Console Living Room

Civic TV: the One You Take to Bed with You

I did some shopping online last week and picked up some #umwconsole appropriate leisure wear. This stunning Civic TV t-shirt was made possible by the good folks at StrangeLoveTees. You may not get the reference, in fact I’d be surprised if … Continue reading

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Hi Score

This is a screenshot of my recent hi score on Asteroids for Atari 2600. It’s really a pretty simple game, so this score is really not an accomplishment. Now if I actually finish Raiders of the Lost Ark for Atari … Continue reading

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#umwconsole Now with 2 Channels!

I spent most of the spring writing about UMW’s Living Room Console exhibit, a re-creation of a 1985 living room in a tucked away corner of the brand spanking new Information and Technology Convergence Center at UMW.  I spent the … Continue reading

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Computer Critters

One of the things I’ll miss most about UMW is the UMW Console, it looks like it may even become a more permanent attraction that will highlight random years across the decades. For example, we recently secured a Nintendo Virtual Boy for when … Continue reading

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SAVE THE #UMWCONSOLE

Zach Whalen pointed me to this Reddit thread a UMW student started about the UMW Console Living Room exhibit. It comes in the form of a plea to preserve the installation from SHUTDOWN!!! While there has been no direct threat of shutting us down … Continue reading

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UMW’s Console Living Room Now in Stereo

Yesterday my family and I went to JWK Electronics in Petersburg, VA for my monthly fix of 1980s technology. The proprietor, Justin, totally rules, and he hooked me up once again. Last time I was there they just got a mint condition … Continue reading

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Broadcast TV in the Console Living Room

When Michael Branson Smith came to town last month as a visiting artist, he brought with him an entire day’s worth of CBS programming for network television from the mid 80s. He edited back in the commercials to most of the shows—which … Continue reading

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Zach Whalen on the Vectex and #umwconsole

I have been spending the last two days capturing video of folks at UMW talking about the various digital projects they’re working on. I’m doing this in part for the Digital Scholars Institute (DSI) soirée this Thursday (I like short deadlines), as … Continue reading

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Remixing the Console

Today was the first of a two-day marathon on the ground with Michael Branson Smith (MBS) as embedded artist in the Console Living Room. It was awesome. Within the first hour he had all five of our TVs broadcasting to UHF … Continue reading

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My Media Consumption Problem (Part 1)

Since Zach Whalen and I started talking about UMW’s Console Living Room back in late January, I have quickly become consumed with consuming 1980s technology. Ebay has become one of the major outlets for my anachronistic impulses. Probably the best way … Continue reading

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