This Final Edition of the Resource Guide is a companion to the new digital edition of The Powersharing Series, a curated collection of 134 audio and video recordings of presentations by computer industry pioneers recorded between 1981 and 1991. The Series was conceived and produced by Charles Mann, an international development economist who recognized early the contributions the PC could make to improve his contributions as a food policy advisor to several governments. He also recognized the important educational roles being played by the rapidly growing computer user groups and sought to multiply this learning through creating and distributing these recordings. With help from the Computer History Museum which now holds all of Powersharing’s materials, Mann has produced a new digital edition of the complete Series. The Guide provides an overview of the Series and a complete list of the speakers, the subject of each talk, the forum where it was presented and the date. The programs cover the formative era of the personal computer, and feature not only such rock star personalities as Steve Jobs (3 programs) and Bill Gates (4 programs), but also many more significant if less well-known contributors to the development of the computer industry. The presentations were recorded at The Boston Computer Society, the Computer Museum in Boston, and at various New York City computer user groups. In the Guide, Mann provides insights from learning theory to help listeners use these recordings as powerful learning resources. He also explains how - as he edits and produces the finished programs - he represents the listener’s perspective. For example, if a graphic is mentioned but not described, he provides narration as needed to make it understandable. If there is a sudden inexplicable outburst of laughter, he explains what prompted it. Finally, in a charming series of original pen and ink drawings, fine artist Ann Leggett enlivens the Resource Guide, imagining how a variety of individuals might listen to the Series.
