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
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> E-MAIL  RobtPotter () aol com