[SIGCIS-Members] Call for "paper"

Wed Sep 2 10:10:49 PDT 2015

I don't know if this is exactly what you're referring to, but when I
was a CS undergrad at Pitt 1999-2003 we had to write code (pseudocode
and otherwise) by hand and create flow charts on paper and whiteboards
for class. I still print out code and annotate it or draw arrows on it
sometimes, and also still very occasionally make a handwritten
flowchart before writing my pseudocode and then a program (if the
middle stage happens - I am not writing anything very complicated
these days).

Handwritten code is not entirely dead!

Molly

-- 
Molly C. Des Jardin, PhD
Japanese Studies Librarian, University of Pennsylvania
http://www.mollydesjardin.com
@mdesjardin

On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 8:09 AM, Mike Willegal <mike at willegal.net> wrote:
> Hi Stefan,
>
> I guess I’d respectfully disagree with the premise that hand coding was
> mainly used by kids without computers in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Before the
> widespread availability of full screen, computer based text editors with
> cursor control, such as VI and EMACS, I’d say, a fair percentage, if not a
> majority of professionals used coding forms to write the initial drafts of
> their programs.  Some shops were card based, the coding forms were handed to
> clerks, who operated the card punches.  Do a google image search for “coding
> form” and you’ll find quite an array of examples, mostly for machines and
> languages that kids didn’t have access to, or any particular interest in.
>
> One other tool of the “old days" that has fallen into relative disuse is the
> flow chart.   I haven’t seen very many of those drawn up to describe program
> flow in recent years, even though there still is great value in doing it.
>
> regards,
> Mike Willegal
>
> On Sep 2, 2015, at 7:27 AM, Melanie Swalwell
> <melanie.swalwell at flinders.edu.au> wrote:
>
> Hi Stefan,
>
> What a fabulous project!
>
> I have two people I can put you in touch with locally in Australia who –
> while schoolboys -- wrote their code for microcomputer games on paper (often
> at school) before being able to enter it in the computer.  One actually sold
> (signed) paper copies of his code, which he’d run off roneo’ed copies of
> (after sneaking into the school principal’s office to use the copier…)
>
> I will see what I can sort out for you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Melanie
>
> From: Members [mailto:members-bounces at lists.sigcis.org] On Behalf Of "Dr.
> Stefan Höltgen"
> Sent: Wednesday, 2 September 2015 6:03 PM
> To: members at lists.sigcis.org
> Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] Call for "paper"
>
> Dear SIGCIS members,
>
> I am planning to publish a book on handwritten programming code (means:
> written without computer, only with pencil and paper). That kind of
> „programming“ has been manily practiced in the 1970s and 1980s when kids
> without own computers planned their programs on paper to type them in later
> (at school, in computer ware houses, at friends, …) But that kind of
> programming is as old as programmable computers themselves, I guess. Every
> programmer surely had written short algorithms as drafts by hand or had
> corrected and commented program printouts by hand. Handwritten code, I
> think, today is almost extinguished. So the book will show today’s
> computational scientist that special kind of programming history and will
> also give a slightly insight into how the programmer anticipates the work of
> machine works while he is trying to think as the machine that runs his/her
> code.
>
> The book will show such handwritten codes and code fragments (of any
> programming language) as scans, gives informations about the author, date of
> origin, programming language, computer where it was typed in (if so) and a
> about the planned function of the code or fragment. If the system and
> language are available and the code is readable and (sort of) complete, it
> will be tested and a screenshot of the output will addet to the text.
>
> The book will be published in 2017 and there will be an exhibition at the
> „Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum“ in Paderborn (Germany) - one of the largest
> computer museums in Europe.
>
> WHAT DO I NEED FROM YOU?
>
> 1. Original paper* with handwritten code or reprintable scans of such papers
> (300 dpi, color, TIFF, with the edges of the paper in the picture).
> 2. A permission to reprint that code from its author.
> 3. Informations about the origin of the paper (author name, date of origin,
> programming language and system, if remembered: anecdotes about that code
> and its genesis)
>
> * If you want your paper to be shown at the exhibition at „Heinz Nixdorf
> MuseumsForum“ in 2017 you have to send in the original.
>
> Before you send in anything please contact me (se below)!
>
> Sent-in original papers will be scanned and kept safely until they are not
> needed anymore and than will be returened to the owner. Shipping fees from
> the sender to me can’t be refunded, since the project is completely
> unsalaried. But those who’s code has been reprinted or shown at the
> exhibition will get a free copy of the book.
>
> The book with the working title „Papier-Maschinen“ (engl. „Paper Machines“)
> will be published in summer 2017 in our series „Computerarchäologie“ (engl.:
> „Computer Archaeology“) at the German „Projekt-Verlag").
>
> If you need more informations do not hesitate to contact me at:
> email at computerarchaeologie.de or visit our Facebook page:
> https://www.facebook.com/computerarchaeologie
>
> I would appreciate it if you would spread my call for „paper“!
>
> thanks,
> Stefan Hoeltgen
> ---
> Dr. Stefan Höltgen
> Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
> Institut für Musikwissenschaft und Medienwissenschaft
> Fachgebiet Medienwissenschaft
> Zimmer 2.33
> Georgenstraße 47
> D-10117 Berlin
>
>
> Studienfachberater für Medienwissenschaft
>
> Telefon: (+49) (0)30 2093-66-185
> Telefax: (+49) (0)30 2093-66-181 (Sekretariat)
> Mobil: (+49) (0)173 9025982
>
> E-Mail: stefan.hoeltgen at hu-berlin.de
> Web: http://u.hu-berlin.de/hoeltgen
>
> Sprechstunde: Mittwochs, 13-14 Uhr
>
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