The Intimate Life of Computers: Digitizing Domesticity in the 1980s by Reem Hilu (review).

The main focus of the article is Reem Hilu's book, *The Intimate Life of Computers*, which examines the rise of home computers in the 1980s and their impact on family life and personal identity in the United States. The author explores how these technologies became integrated into daily domestic act...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Technology & Culture Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 1180 - 1183
Main Author: Petrocelli, Carla
Format: Article
Published: Johns Hopkins University Press Oct2025
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:The main focus of the article is Reem Hilu's book, *The Intimate Life of Computers*, which examines the rise of home computers in the 1980s and their impact on family life and personal identity in the United States. The author explores how these technologies became integrated into daily domestic activities, reshaping relationships and self-expression through applications like word processing and romance software. Hilu also addresses the anxieties surrounding the proliferation of computers in homes, highlighting concerns about their effects on traditional family dynamics. The book is positioned within various academic fields, including media studies and gender studies, and offers a nuanced perspective on the emotional connections people have with technology.