Computing technologies now define and shape human activity of every kind -- from brain surgery and rocket science to sport fishing and grocery shopping. Keeping it all in balance and perspective is the task of Beyond Computers, a weekly series broadcast on KQED 88.5FM, Sunday nights from 11 p.m. to midnight.

Hosted by Maureen Taylor, each program opens with a news update headlining the latest in legislation, litigation, new products, and new companies. What follows is a smorgasbord of information and special features, from the topic of the week to chats with experts. Regular program features include "WebPick," a segment that identifies interesting or quirky websites; "Random Access," a magazine-style feature that takes listeners into Internet-controlled blimps, Silicon Valley road racers, and beyond; and "How Does It Work?," a discussion that demystifies the technology on which our society has come to depend.

Program Schedule

November 7, 1999
In with the I-crowd

Program Highlights

News Update
Host Maureen Taylor and Brian Cooley of CNET discuss this week's high-tech headlines.

News Feature:The 'Celebrities' of Silicon Valley
Maureen Taylor talks to David Kaplan, senior writer for Newsweek magazine about his experiences with the 'celebrities' of Silicon Valley and his book "The Silicon Boys and the Valley of their Dreams."

Commentary: "Business Porn"
Correspondent Paulina Borsook takes a look at what she calls "Business Porn."

Short Report: Movie Review Websites Infuriate the Film's Public Relations Industry
Maureen Taylor examines this issue with Jonathan Taylor, executive editor of Variety magazine; Patrick Suriel, CEO of Coming Attractions.

Sidebar: Sandra Bullock Gets Spooked by her Own Movie and Invests in Meffert's Company
Correspondent Speed Weed with Greg Meffert, president of NetEx .

WebPick: Dmoz.org
Correspondent Taylor Fogelquist visits Dmoz.org: volunteers keep this open directory up to date.

Round Table: Is Silicon Valley Modeled after Hollywood?
Host Maureen Taylor discusses with Laura Rich, author of the Industry Standard column, The Rich List; Andrew Beebe, CEO and co-founder of Bigstep.com; Bob Kavner, General Partner at Idealab.

How Does It Work: Where Did Bits and Bytes Come From?
Maureen Taylor talks to Ron Hipschman from the Exploratorium .

One on One: Creating and Managing an online tarot deck!
Maureen Taylor visits Thomas Scoville, self titled "novelist and has-been UNIX hacker."

Random Access: On Site Website Satire and Other Tech Sabotage
Correspondent John Rieger speaks with Candid Lucida, bartender in LA and member of RTMark; Ray Thomas, accountant and RTMark spokesperson; Andrei Codrescu, frequent NPR commentator who manages the media fund for RTMark.

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