The artifact that best seems to represent college life
as I have experienced it is my Hewlett Packard 48G calculator. As
a civil-engineering major, my calculator is as important to me as a
pair of running shoes are to a marathon runner. Just like others in
my classes, I have had so much practice using this calculator that
during exams I look more like a typist clicking away than an
engineer solving problems. Indeed, this calculator has a lot to
tell about contemporary college life and about the people who
typically use it.
The best way to describe this artifact, thoroughly analyze
its role in our contemporary society, and to reveal the meaning it
holds for me personally, is through E. M. Fleming's "Model of
Artifact Study". Therefore, the majority of this paper will be
devoted to performing his four operations: identification,
evaluation, cultural analysis, and interpretation on my artifact.
In order to read further about the HP 48G, click on the locations listed below. Otherwise, you may return to my homepage by choosing "Return to Homepage".