April 2008 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

SIGCIS Panels and Grad Student travel awards for SHOT 2008
by Thomas Haigh 26 Aug '08

26 Aug '08

Hello everyone, This email is a request for people who are interested in participating in SIGCIS sponsored panels at the annual meeting to get in touch with me. The deadline is March 14, which means I need to hear from you within the next few days with an initial expression of interest. SHOT does not need full papers, but I would need an abstract and one page resume by March 9. The normal SHOT format is for three or four talks of 20-25 minutes each followed by a commentator and questions. I can't promise that all ideas can be fitted neatly into one of our panel proposals. However if I can't accommodate whatever you are interested in within a panel then you still have the option of submitting your abstract as an individual paper. What I've done for each of the past three conferences is to circulate a call like this and receive a short summary from interested people of the work they'd like to present. Then I look for connections among the ideas and group them into one or more thematically coherent panel proposals. I work with the authors to strengthen their abstracts and to tweak them to better fit the panel. This has worked well in the past. Last year we submitted three panels, all of which were accepted. For the previous year we had two panels, both accepted. Once we see how things are shaping up we may use the list again to appeal for additional papers on specific topics or for chairs or commentators. You've already seen a couple of reminders of the upcoming SHOT 2008 meeting from other people. Lisbon, October 10-14. Lots of information including maps, hotels, travel, etc. is now online at http://www.shotlisbon2008.com/meeting.htm. The call for papers is at http://shotnews.net/?p=401. It mentions looking for papers on how the history of technology might be written in the future, so this may lead to a panel of historiographical papers about the future of the history of computing. However other ideas are also welcome. It also appeals for papers "from those new to SHOT regardless of discipline." If you are a graduate student there is an additional reason to join one of our panels. At the last meeting we raised enough money with our collection and book auction to fund two graduate student travel awards of $300 each to support the cost of attending the meeting. Any student presenting in a SIGCIS sponsored panel will be eligible for consideration for one of these awards. It promises to be a great meeting, and I hope to see many of you there in Lisbon. At the last SHOT meeting we had far more history of computing panels than ever before - so let's try to set another record this year. Tom Haigh www.tomandmaria.com/tom

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CFP: Annals special issue on computer games
by Jeff Yost 20 May '08

20 May '08

Dear SIGCIS members, FYI--Please see the attached Call For Papers for a special issue of /IEEE Annals of the History of Computing/ on "Perspectives on the History of Computer Games". Dr. Henry Lowood (Stanford University) will be the guest editor of the issue. Best, Jeff Jeffrey R. Yost Associate Director, Charles Babbage Institute Editor in Chief, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 222 21^st Avenue South University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455 612 624 5050 612 625 8054 (FAX) yostx003(a)umn.edu

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Paul Allen job opening for "Vintage Systems" Engineer
by Dag Spicer 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

Paul Allen, co-founder with Bill Gates of Microsoft, has been keeping vintage computing hardware running for several years. Here is a position for working within that context: http://jobs.vulcan.com/default.cfm?szCategory=JobProfile&szOrderID=1541&szJo bCategory=15 Best, dag -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator The Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043-1311 U.S.A. Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055 "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe." H.G. Wells h

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JVN
by Dag Spicer 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

I have an original recording of JVN's NORC dedication. Unfortunately, it was transferred enough times to render my confidence in the pitch of JVN's voice doubtful. He sounds a bit like a smurf... (i.e. High-pitch and rapid speech). Has anyone on the list every heard JVN speak in person? I would like to use your memory of his voice as a means of calibrating my recording. Best wishes and thanks for any help! Dag -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator The Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043-1311 U.S.A. Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055 "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe." H.G. Wells

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Charles Babbage Difference #2 - See it LIVE !!!
by Dag Spicer 24 Apr '08

24 Apr '08

Dear SIGCIS Members, Thought you might find this interesting! Dag. *********** Charles Babbage Difference Engine #2 -- See it LIVE !! On May 1 2008, Join the Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) in launching its exciting new exhibit: "Babbage¹s Difference Engine No. 2," exhibited for the first (and probably last) time in North America! This five-ton Engine is one of only two of Charles Babbage¹s computing engines ever built. Designed to calculate and print mathematical tables, it is made of 8,000 parts of bronze, cast iron and steel and measures 11 feet long by 7 feet high. Come see docents crank the Engine by hand and watch it mechanically calculate - an arresting spectacle of automatic computing. The May 1st exhibit launch and open house, a Victorian-themed event, promises a stunning display of Babbage¹s elegant design and inspired engineering. His designs for vast mechanical calculating engines rank as one of the startling achievements of the 19th century. Come see what no Victorian -- including Babbage himself -- ever saw. If you miss the Opening Night, the Engine will be at the Museum until May, 2009 so be sure to visit us when you have the chance! Starting May 10, see http://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/ for more information. D.S. -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator The Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043-1311 U.S.A. Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055 "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe." H.G. Wells

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Job Posting: Interpretive Curator
by Dag Spicer 22 Apr '08

22 Apr '08

A new job opportunity at the Computer History Museum in sunny Mountain View, California! *********BEGIN******** Position: Interpretive Curator General Purpose of the Position: Research, write, edit and develop exhibition interpretive content Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Develop and write content and other interpretive materials for exhibitions and related interpretive programs (including web-based programs), including researching and writing text and other interpretive materials; Ensures accuracy of content by professional research methods and by consulting with outside subject matter and industry experts; Familiar with professional museum collections/artifact principles, practices and procedures; Serving on appropriate Museum committees and able to represent curatorial function to Trustees, senior management and outside organizations; Developing relationships with other museums, professional societies, and related institutions; Supporting the Museum¹s events and other PR-related duties, such as giving interviews and tours to the media; Other duties as assigned. Required Background, Experience, and Education: Demonstrated ability to write well in a museum or academic setting; Master¹s degree in closely related field, such as history, history of science/technology, electrical engineering, computer science or Bachelor¹s degree plus equivalent museum experience; Track record of published materials in the field of computing history (optional); Detail-oriented and ability to be flexible; Excellent written and oral communications skills. CONTACT: Kirsten Tashev, VP Collections & Exhibitions, tashev(a)computerhistory.org *********END******** -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator The Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043-1311 U.S.A. Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055 "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe." H.G. Wells

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"Internet Alley"
by Ceruzzi, Paul 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

(I hope I am not violating netiquette, but this seems to be an unusual case.) MIT Press has just published my book on "Internet Alley," and they have provided a Podcast for anyone who wishes to listen to my talk about it. <http://mitpress.mit.edu/podcasts/MITP_008.mp3> Paul E. Ceruzzi National Air & Space Museum MRC 311; PO Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 202-633-2414

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