by Phil Coale Tallahassee Democrat March 22, 1984 Steve Roberts, a 31-year-old writer from Ohio, arrived in Tallahassee Wednesday aboard his well-equipped bicycle — complete with word processor. Since Sept. 28, Roberts has travelled 3,788 miles from his home state. Throughout his trip, he writes regular columns for Online Today, a computer magazine. He plans to…

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Just a quick photo/caption from my stop at FSU in Tallahassee… including the adventure of staying in a womens’ dorm. by Deborah Thomas Florida Flambeau March 22, 1984 Freelance writer Steve Roberts from Columbus, Ohio drove his bike of the future into town Wednesday — and certainly didn’t go unnoticed. His $5,000 18-speed recumbent bike is equipped…

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Computing Across America, Chapter 25 by Steven K. Roberts Tallahassee, Florida March 18, 1984 photo by Dan Burden Now, when I start singing, you duck…— instructions for taking a shower As the miles unfolded, I became increasingly fascinated by the intertwined threads of connections. It was not uncommon to meet someone randomly, crash at their…

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The Winnebiko in Palatka, Florida, late 1983

This article has always stuck in my mind because the photo is excellent… and the photographer, John Delzell, was kind enough to give me an 8×10 glossy. Most newspaper images are forever lost to me, and I’m grateful to have this perfect shot of the original Winnebiko. by Jennifer Thomas and John Delzell Palatka Daily…

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Computing Across America, Chapter 24 by Steven K. Roberts Anastasia State Park March 6, 1984 Travel makes a wise man better but a fool worse.— Thomas Fuller I awoke in my tent, confused by the insistent sound that pierced the night and shattered my dreams. I was still groping for the telephone with a sleepy…

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Written while I was on the road, this piece discusses information brokers who leverage their knowledge of Dialog and other database services into consulting work. I had done a bit of that myself (as The Information Institute), but that was a minor sideline compared to writing and preparing for the Computing Across America adventure. I had friends…

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I quickly discovered the allure of hostels as I began my new bicycling life… and this one is one of the finest of the breed. If you ever pass through Brunswick, Georgia, take some time to savor this complete non-sequitur. A more detailed version of this is a chapter in the Computing Across America book;…

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Computing Across America, Chapter 23 by Steven K. Roberts Gainesville, Florida February 14, 1984  And the road, like a woman, lies down before him.— Nancy Johnson, “Ballad of Spooner,” Mellow Lady Security vs Freedom Commitment vs Change Love vs Wanderlust Must those be forever mutually exclusive? Freedom and security, freedom and security — the dilemma keeps resurfacing like…

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Artificial Intelligence - Online Today - Steven K Roberts - 1

Between 1980 and 1983, before venturing off on a life of technomadics, I had the good fortune to become a sort of cutting-edge dilettante. Every few months, I would jet to an academic conference with a press pass, spend a few days hanging with the gurus of a new microculture, then return with a head…

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This was a fun encounter – I was pedaling up the dreaded Highway 19 after sailing with the bike from Key West to Clearwater. Suddenly, just south of Weeki Wachee, a fellow standing on the side of the highway began waving his arms and calling, “Stop! Stop! My boy called and said I had to…

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