Evan Koblentz

History of Technology in NJ

MEETING DATE: April 19, 2013
 by Joanne Grazide
Everything has a history. Our country has a history. Art has a history. And, technology has a history. Our speaker this month, Evan Koblentz, will speak about that history, and how his organization, the InfoAge Science Center, is working to preserve and document technology development and maintain chronicles, particularly relevant to our own Monmouth County.
In Evans' own words online, “I co-founded and serve as president of a user group, MARCH [Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists]. MARCH activities include administering an email list, hosting the annual Vintage Computer Festival East, and operating a bricks-and-mortar computer museum at the InfoAge Science Center."
Evan's interest is to help preserve and document the way that computers have developed and helped to define our current lifestyles over the years. 
In his presentation about the InfoAge Science Center and Museum, Evan will tell us about the its features and some of the exhibits therein. A group of us from BCUG visited there last August, and were treated to a private introduction to what this museum does on an ongoing basis. The exhibits are located in separate rooms and set up so you can actually almost touch them. I was very impressed with not only the scope of the collections, but with Evan's ready willingness to answer questions and engage in dialogue. I totally enjoyed meeting Evan and hearing what he had to say about each exhibit. He is very knowledgeable about each model of computer, its year of birth, its era and has many anecdotes to tell. I am sure you will feel the same way, and have plenty of questions and ideas to share with him at our next general meeting.
We are lucky to have a collection of computers (and World War II memorabilia) as huge or as interesting right nearby. If you want to relive memories, or recall facts long forgotten, this is the place.
Evan lives in Springfield and works as a technology journalist.  His interests include cars, Linux, running, and raising money for cancer research.
We look forward to meeting with Evan, and he is looking forward to spending some time with us.