IP: Computer Casual

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

I like the idea a lot. djf


>From: RobtPotter@aol.com
>Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 18:40:52 EDT
>Subject: Computer Casual
>To: farber@cis.upenn.edu (Dave Farber)
>X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13
>
>Dave,
>Please recall our telephone call regarding Computer Casual.  Following is a 
>one page description of the concept.  What do you think of it?
>
>
>Define a line of unisex clothing called Computer Casual.  The fundamental 
>objective is to communicate the trend toward casual dress and simultaneously 
>capture the spirit of the computer revolution.
>
>Computer Casual is characterized by clean, neat usually cotton shirts, 
>trousers, and sometimes jackets or vests, sometimes worn with fabric athletic 
>shoes.
>
>Black tie, semi-formal, western wear, white-tie, business attire, business 
>casual, cocktail attire are terms that people understand.  These two or three 
>word phrases define the dress style appropriate for certain social occasions 
>or work environments.
>
>Computer Casual has a clear meaning. People who are creative, cerebral, or 
>compulsively attentive to their tasks, regardless of day or hour, appear to 
>ignore conventional dress codes; but have generated a look of their own.  
>This dress code arose in the computer and communications business environment 
>where employees work in casual surroundings, primarily with computers and 
>other electronic equipment.  Computer Casual is not limited to the computer 
>business, but is worn in telecommunications, media, and other related 
>technology areas.
>
>Computer Casual dressers are professionals as well as technicians, usually 
>engineers, programmers, software analysts or test engineers who are doing 
>clean work.  There is no dirty work or heavy lifting.  The style of dress 
>usually consists of a cotton dress or sport shirt, sometimes a golf shirt, 
>rarely a T-shirt, but no tie.  The trousers are usually cotton, often blue 
>jeans, but might be khaki or some other color.  They are distinctly not dress 
>slacks, not gabardine or gray flannel.  The colors are not important, but are 
>usually solid colors (blue, tan or brown) not pastels, not plaids, not 
>herringbone and not conspicuous contrasting colors or patterns.  Rarely does 
>Computer Casual require a jacket or sport coat; an informal jacket or sweater 
>is acceptable, but not expected.  The shoes are comfortable.  They can be any 
>form of athletic shoe, boot or moccasin.  Usually fabric, but can be leather, 
>definitely not a wing-tip, patent leather or other form of formal or informal 
>dress shoe.
>
>Use of the term, Computer Casual, will allow a further sharpening of the 
>look.  Additionally, selected items, such as shirts, trousers, belts, vests, 
>can be named with generic computer terms, 
>e.g., the web, the keyboard, the monitor, the mouse, the switch and/or 
>software, hardware, firmware, vaporware.  More technically sophisticated 
>terms for certain items, i.e., RAM, hard drive, modem, motherboard, daughter 
>board, fiber optics, CPU.  Similarly, the secondary names could include 
>telecommunications terms, e.g., switch, bandwidth, video, sound, compression.
>
>What is your reaction to this idea?
>
>Bob
>Robert J. Potter
>R. J. Potter Company
>Williams Square      Suite  1110
>5215 North O'Connor Boulevard
>Irving, Texas  75039
>
>TEL   (972) 869-8270
>FAX   (972) 869-6593
>E-MAIL  RobtPotter@aol.com