July 2013 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Arpanet pictures
by Pierre Mounier 08 Aug '13

08 Aug '13

Hi all, In quest for a piece of advice: - What pictures would you select to illustrate a short story of Arpanet ? - Do you know if the map attached here is free of rights, or still under copyright (of which organization?) With many thanks (and regretting not to be in Manchester with several of you). Best, Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS & Universite Paris-Sorbonne http://pups.paris-sorbonne.fr/pages/aff_livre.php?Id=838 http://www.koyre.cnrs.fr/IMG/pdf/cv_mounier-kuhn.pdf

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Fwd: New CHM Lecture - The Totalisator
by Dag Spicer 31 Jul '13

31 Jul '13

Dear SIGCIS colleagues, Please see historical note below on totalisators from Peter Eckstein. Best, Dag Begin forwarded message: > From: <PeterEckstein(a)comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] New CHM Lecture - The Totalisator > Date: July 31, 2013 8:30:07 AM PDT > To: Dag Spicer <spicer(a)computerhistory.org> > Cc: <members(a)sigcis.org> > > This was not "totally" an historical byway, because the American Totalisator Company, spurred on by its vice-president, Henry Straus, began in 1948 providing financing for the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company and this, according to Nancy Stern's history, "kept EMCC solvent for fourteen months," during which time BINAC was developed. Then Straus was killed in a plane crash and the company plunged back into financial troubles. Straus obviously saw electronic digital technology as a logical next step in the development of the "tote board." > > From: "Dag Spicer" <spicer(a)computerhistory.org> > To: members(a)sigcis.org > Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 1:32:21 AM > Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] New CHM Lecture - The Totalisator > > Dear SIGCIS colleagues! > > Here is a recent talk at the Museum about a really interesting historical byway… computing odds for racetracks using gears! Totalisators were beautifully elaborate systems of mechanical sculpture the size of houses… > > From the lecture brief: > > Published on Jul 30, 2013 > > [Recorded: July 16, 2013] > > Before the advent of computers, special-purpose hardware was used to solve computational problems. For the pari-mutuel system of gambling the main problem was keeping accurate totals of the bets placed on each horse in a race, and the grand total of all bets, in the frenzied half hour before the race, when, at the larger racecourses, tens of thousands of bets would be placed at 100s of betting booths. Mechanical solutions to this problem were pioneered by Sir George Julius who formed the company Automatic Totalisators Ltd., operating from Sydney, Australia. Indeed, this year is the centenary of Julius' first machine which was set operating in Auckland, New Zealand in 1913. > > Please join Bob Doran, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, for a presentation on the history of a little-known application of large-scale mechanical calculating machines -- the horse track betting machines pioneered by Sir George Julius a century ago. > > Doran will also touch on the origins of the Pari-mutuel system, devised by Joseph Oller in the 1860s. Then the first generation of simple machines that started in the 1880s and the course-wide manual systems that were used well into the 20th century. Then he will look at Julius's first machine, its "Principles of Operation", and how it was developed into a reliable product that was widely used in the 1920s, culminating with the truly giant Longchamp totalisator installed in Paris in 1927 which had 293 on-line ticket-selling machines. He will also summarize some of the further developments, including dividend prediction, that took place over the years until the special-purpose machines were phased-out in the 1970s. > > Watch the lecture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfbzmq8_4c8 > > Enjoy! > > Dag > > -- > Dag Spicer > Senior Curator > Computer History Museum > > 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd > Mountain View, CA 94043 > 650.810.1035 direct > 650.810.1055 fax > > Follow Us: > CHM Blog I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options athttp://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 650.810.1035 direct 650.810.1055 fax Follow Us: CHM Blog I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube

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New CHM Lecture - The Totalisator
by Dag Spicer 31 Jul '13

31 Jul '13

Dear SIGCIS colleagues! Here is a recent talk at the Museum about a really interesting historical byway… computing odds for racetracks using gears! Totalisators were beautifully elaborate systems of mechanical sculpture the size of houses… From the lecture brief: Published on Jul 30, 2013 [Recorded: July 16, 2013] Before the advent of computers, special-purpose hardware was used to solve computational problems. For the pari-mutuel system of gambling the main problem was keeping accurate totals of the bets placed on each horse in a race, and the grand total of all bets, in the frenzied half hour before the race, when, at the larger racecourses, tens of thousands of bets would be placed at 100s of betting booths. Mechanical solutions to this problem were pioneered by Sir George Julius who formed the company Automatic Totalisators Ltd., operating from Sydney, Australia. Indeed, this year is the centenary of Julius' first machine which was set operating in Auckland, New Zealand in 1913. Please join Bob Doran, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, for a presentation on the history of a little-known application of large-scale mechanical calculating machines -- the horse track betting machines pioneered by Sir George Julius a century ago. Doran will also touch on the origins of the Pari-mutuel system, devised by Joseph Oller in the 1860s. Then the first generation of simple machines that started in the 1880s and the course-wide manual systems that were used well into the 20th century. Then he will look at Julius's first machine, its "Principles of Operation", and how it was developed into a reliable product that was widely used in the 1920s, culminating with the truly giant Longchamp totalisator installed in Paris in 1927 which had 293 on-line ticket-selling machines. He will also summarize some of the further developments, including dividend prediction, that took place over the years until the special-purpose machines were phased-out in the 1970s. Watch the lecture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfbzmq8_4c8 Enjoy! Dag -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 650.810.1035 direct 650.810.1055 fax Follow Us: CHM Blog I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube

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CHM Fllows Nomintaions - Open!
by Dag Spicer 29 Jul '13

29 Jul '13

Dear SIGCIS Friends, Just an update… we're now half way through the nomination period for Computer History Museum Fellows. (Nominations end Aug 20). CHM Fellows are the cream of the computing crop, having performed trailblazing work in software, hardware, networks, computing philosophies, algorithms and approaches that have transformed not only computing but the world around us. Some of our past Fellows include Steve Wozniak, Gordon Moore, Bill Joy, Vint Cerf, Doug Engelbart, Grace Hopper, Alan Kay, Don Knuth, and many more... I am hoping to drum up SIGCIS support here by encouraging SIGCIS members to nominate someone they feel has really made a difference. SIGCIS members are uniquely qualified to participate, given the membership's interest and accomplishments in shaping the history of computing. For nomination guidelines and application form, see here: http://www.computerhistory.org/fellowawards/nominations/ Please help us select next years Fellows… we cannot do it without you! Warm regards, Dag -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator Computer History Museum 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 650.810.1035 direct 650.810.1055 fax Follow Us: CHM Blog I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube

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HaPoC 2013: Registration opens
by Maarten.Bullynck＠kuttaka.org 29 Jul '13

29 Jul '13

Dear SIGCIS members, We are glad to bring you news on the 2nd Conference on the History and Philosophy of Computing (28-31 October, ENS Paris). First of all, we are glad to announce that registration for HaPoC 2013 is now open: http://hapoc2013.sciencesconf.org/registration/index Further, you will find that we updated the website of the conference. It now features our sponsoring institutes and institutions as well as the list of all accepted contributions. best regards, and hoping to see you in Paris, the organisers, Maarten Bullynck (Paris 8 & SPHERE) Jean-Baptiste Joinet (Lyon 3, IRPhil & CIRPHLES) History and Philosophy of Computing (HaPoC 2013, 28-31 October, Paris) http://hapoc2013.sciencesconf.org/

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UCLA's 1948 Mechanical Computer
by Bernardo Batiz-Lazo 24 Jul '13

24 Jul '13

For those not following the Paleofuture blog, this might be interesting http://www.readability.com/articles/yt0ybia6

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Routledge Companion to Business History
by Bernardo Batiz-Lazo 21 Jul '13

21 Jul '13

Coleagues Perhaps a potential outlet to advertise the work of the SIGCIS Best Bernardo Bangor University, Wales > > > > John Wilson (Newcastle University Business School), Steve Toms (Leeds University Business School), and Abe de Jong (Rotterdam School of Management), the editors of a new volume in the Routledge "Companion" series, a "Routledge Companion to Business History," have issued a call for contributors. According to the editors, "The purpose of this compendium is to enhance the research agenda, to develop knowledge and understanding, and to offer researchers and students an introduction to, and overview of, current scholarship in the expanding discipline of Business History." The call for contributors flyer provides a proposed table of contents and contact information for the editors. The deadline for expressions of interest is October 1, 2013. > > > http://www.readability.com/articles/c4ezjiji

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FW: SIGCIS at the Manchester Congress
by Thomas Haigh 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

[Forwarded from Jonathan Aylen] Dear SIGCIS, those visiting iCHSTM next week with an interest in the field of automation and industrial computing should not miss: Christopher Bissell, Open University, United Kingdom, "Control in the Cold War: the genesis and early years of the International Federation of Automatic Control" Part of Session T182 on "Post-Second World War Science and Technology" In T182-A: Postwar contexts Tuesday 23 July, 09:10–10:40 http://ichstm2013.com/programme/guide/p/0447.html Jonathan Aylen Manchester Institute of Innovation Research P.S. James has indeed done a brilliant job with the organisation! ________________________________________ From: members-bounces(a)sigcis.org [members-bounces(a)sigcis.org] on behalf of Thomas Haigh [thaigh(a)computer.org] Sent: 17 July 2013 19:27 To: members(a)sigcis.org Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] SIGCIS at the Manchester Congress Hello everyone, Like many of you I will soon be on my way to Manchester to take part in the gigantic iCHSTM congress (which includes ICOTECH, the international history of technology meeting, and an array of other events. Below are parts of a reposted message sent to the list a few months ago by our own James Sumner, who seems to be shouldering a very large part of the organizational burden for the meeting. I've reshuffled the events into order, and removed one that has been cancelled but there are probably various changes since then so my advice is to check details here against the main program, http://www.ichstm2013.com/programme/, for anything you particularly care about. Look particularly at the line "Computing, information, comms" on the chart here: http://www.ichstm2013.com/programme/timetable.html. >From the list below we should have probably the biggest concentration of SIGCIS members ever gathered outside our own events at SHOT. I'm going to be there for the whole week, and expect that this will give a chance to spend happy times with many of you inside and outside the official events. It also happens that July 24 is my birthday. Given this, and the fact that I lived in Manchester for four years as a student and retain a great fondness for the place, I'm thinking that the evening of July 24 would be a particularly appropriate date on which to assemble anyone who is interested for an informal tour of historic pubs and elegant bars around the city center. Reply to this message if you are interested and I'll create a small email group to plan the specifics. (July 24 seems to be between the main SIGCIS related events so if you are interested but won't be that day reply anyway and perhaps we will move it). Extracts from James' message: SIGCIS has a symposium (group of themed sessions) at the Congress, organised by Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, Miguel Garcia-Sancho and myself, and a lot of familiar SIGCIS faces will be presenting both within this symposium and elsewhere…. The theme of the SIGCIS symposium is "Data at work".... By my reckoning, there are at least 40 obviously SIGCIS-relevant papers on the programme, most of which appear on a dedicated "Computing, information, comms" track to avoid clashes: see the timetable at <http://www.ichstm2013.com/programme/timetable.html>. Some wider connections to themes relevant to some researchers on this list are covered in the "Systems, data, automation, computation" section at <http://www.ichstm2013.com/programme/guide/m/discipline.html#a3>. Below (with apologies for likelihood of mangled text on some systems) I have cut and pasted listings of several core relevant symposia. I would emphasise, however, that there is a *lot* of interesting material on the wider programme, in fields ranging from military communications to systems biology to the use of digital techniques in teaching history. And there are highly relevant papers in broader sessions about other themes. Two that leapt out at me are Per Lundin in S078 on oral history, and Dick van Lente in T193 on STM in the public sphere. There are almost certainly others: let me know what I've missed! My reformatting and arrangement in chronological order of the relevant session information (which, to repeat the disclaimed, may now be out of date): S086-B. Biology, agriculture and medicine Mon 22 July, early afternoon Chair: to be announced Miguel GARCIA-SANCHO | University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom Writing the history of ‘computers’ and ‘data’ through their interactions with biomedical research: from the genetic code to DNA sequencing (1950s-1980s) Joseph NOVEMBER | University of South Carolina, United States The Cochrane Collaboration, beyond Cochrane Hallam STEVENS | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Generating value: the Ensembl database and the dynamics of data Sabina LEONELLI | University of Exeter, United Kingdom Putting data to work in plant science, 1990-2012 S086-C. Making coding cultures Mon 22 July, late afternoon Chair: James SUMNER | University of Manchester, United Kingdom Liesbeth DE MOL | Ghent University, Belgium From the machine’s eye? ENIAC and its different users Thomas HAIGH | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States Rethinking the stored-program concept David NOFRE | Independent scholar, Netherlands The promises and problems of a universal programming language: reconciling scientific inquiry and technological stability in the ALGOL project, 1960-1965 Tilly BLYTH | Science Museum, London, United Kingdom De-coding public service: the production and consumption of cultural values in the BBC microcomputer P125. Enforced specialization in computing technology: debugging the history of cooperation and competition in COMECON countries Tue 23 July, early morning until early morning Chair: Thomas HAIGH | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States Pierre BOUILLON | École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, France A paradoxical Franco-Romanian cooperation in computers, both supported and circumscribed by the Cold War Slawomir LOTYSZ | University of Zielona Gora, Poland Plaiting a whip of sand: ups and downs of optical fiber technology in pre-1989 Poland Petri PAJU | University of Turku, Finland Finlandized computing or business as usual? Computer trade between Finland and the Soviet bloc in the 1970s Frank DITTMANN | Deutsches Museum, Germany The development of network technology in COMECON countries S005-A. Approaching machines and mathematics Fri 26 July, early morning Chair: Maarten BULLYNCK | Université Paris 8, France Anthony MOORE | Academy of Media Arts, Cologne, France Music machines and aural arithmetic Peggy Aldrich KIDWELL | Smithsonian Institution, United States Mathematical recreations and machines Doron SWADE | Independent scholar, United Kingdom Mathematics and machines: from calculation to computing Gerard ALBERTS | University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Mathematics as a machine S005-B. Numerical mathematics and analog computing Fri 26 July, late morning Chair: Marie-José DURAND-RICHARD | Laboratoire SPHERE-UMR 7219, France Johannes LENHARD | University of Bielefeld, Germany Mathematics, machines, design: Carl Runge and the contested status of numerical mathematics Helena DURNOVA | Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Václav Láska (1862-1943) and Václav Hruška (1888-1954): machines and practices in calculation in interwar Czechoslovakia Ulf HASHAGEN | Deutsches Museum, Germany Analog computing as a failed modernization program in the military-industrial-academic complex of the Third Reich Loïc PETITGIRARD | Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, France Analog computing and the mathematics of dynamical systems: ‘theoretical dynamics’ at the Centre de Recherche en Physique, Marseille, France, 1948-1964 S005-C. Mathematics through the machine's eye: the advent of digital computing Fri 26 July, early afternoon Chair: Liesbeth DE MOL | Ghent University, Belgium Marie-José DURAND-RICHARD | Laboratoire SPHERE-UMR 7219, France Douglas R Hartree (1897-1958): from the differential analyzer to digital computers Allan OLLEY | Independent scholar, Canada A task that exceeded the technology: early applications of the computer to the lunar three-body problem Maarten BULLYNCK | Université Paris 8, France Computing primes with the help of machinery (1929-1949) Mark PRIESTLEY | University College London, United Kingdom From computing plan to computer program: Monte Carlo and the ‘miracle of the ENIAC’ S005-D. Programming mathematics on digital computers Fri 26 July, late afternoon Chair: Liesbeth DE MOL | Ghent University, Belgium Claude LOBRY | INRIA-MODEMIC, France De la «mise en equation» à la «mise en programme» Wolfgang BRAND | University of Stuttgart, Germany Getting in shape, form-finding in architecture: the force-density method as a bridge between mathematics and machine Edgar DAYLIGHT | Independent Scholar, Belgium Edsger W. Dijkstra in the 1980s: proving theorems by programming an ideal, non-existing, machine Commentary: Renate TOBIES | Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany T202-A. Information technology Sat 27 July, early morning Chair: to be announced Marcelo VIANNA | Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Brazil Para além dos clones – a formação do campo da Informática no Brasil nos anos 1980 através de três casos de fabricantes de microcomputadores (1980-1988). Beyond clones: the building up of the Brazilian information technology field in the 1980s through three cases of personal computer manufacturers, 1980-1988 Aracele TORRES | University of São Paulo, Brazil Os estudos do software e a compreensão da sociedade contemporânea: o caso do movimento software livre Software studies and the understanding of contemporary society: the free software movement case BAO Ou | Institution of Science Technology & Society, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, China 翻译工作在中国计算机起步中的作用（1953-1967） The role of translation in China’s starting development of the computer, 1953-1967 Scott CAMPBELL | University of Waterloo, Canada Computation centres, configured users and early computer technology in Canada Best wishes, Tom _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members

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Add-up to Tom's email about ICHSTM.
by Simone Turchetti 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

Dear Tom and SIGCIS members, First of all let me say to all those that will be coming to the ICHSTM: welcome to Manchester! Hope you'll enjoy a nice stay, interesting papers and (at least accordingly to forecasts) pleasant weather conditions. I just wanted to add a few more details to Tom's message since we have been working hard -as ICHSTM Local Organising Committee- to make sure that aside from academic sessions and papers, we could also offer an opportunity to explore the HSTM in interesting ways. History of computing is a case in point since on 22 and 23 July 2013 the Ooppera Skaala of Helsinki will put on stage the Turing Machine Opera at the MMU Capitol Theatre. The performance, a UK premiere, represents a unique opportunity to learn more about the life and career of mathematician, code breaker and computer pioneer Alan Turing. Before the opera, guests will also be invited to take part in Decode/Recode, the global networked interactive event that was designed last year to celebrate the centenary of Turing's birth. Additional information on Turing Machine Opera with Decode/Recode can be found in our website (www.ichstm2013.com/programme/guide/s/L346.html<http://www.ichstm2013.com/programme/guide/s/L346.html>) and in one of our video blogs (www.ichstm2013.com/blog/2013/06/19/the-turing-machine-opera-video-blog-prev…<http://www.ichstm2013.com/blog/2013/06/19/the-turing-machine-opera-video-bl…>). Tickets can be purchased directly at the ICHSTM Events Desk (University Place) from Sunday. Alternatively, those who are interested in reserving a ticket can send an email to boxoffice(a)ichstm2013.com<mailto:boxoffice@ichstm2013.com>. For those coming to Manchester please also take a look at the other events in the public and fringe programmes, of which Turing Machine is part of, here: www.ichstm2013.com/fringe/index.html<http://www.ichstm2013.com/fringe/index.html> and here: www.ichstm2013.com/public/index.html<http://www.ichstm2013.com/public/index.html>). And please note that our own James Sumner has organised a special Turing walk on Monday 22. This is the ideal "appetiser" to the Turing Machine Opera (but works well also as a “main”!) and the details can be found here: www.ichstm2013.com/programme/guide/s/M384.html<http://www.ichstm2013.com/programme/guide/s/M384.html>. So join him in a short visit to the places in Manchester where Turing lived and worked. Looking forward to seeing you soon in Manchester! Dr. Simone Turchetti Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM) The University of Manchester Simon Building Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL Tel.: +44-161-275-5923 Fax.: +44-161-275-5699

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History of the ATM webminar
by Bernardo Batiz-Lazo 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

Colleagues, I am blowing my own trumpet but since its free (its free to attend but you need to register), it might be of interest. Thanks Bernardo Batiz-Lazo (Bangor University, Wales) Live Webinar: The Most Important Events (and Surprises) in the ATM's History http://www.atmmarketplace.com/whitepapers/6787/Live-Webinar-The-Most-Import… Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Time: 11:00 AM EDT Bernardo Bátiz-Lazo and Tom Harper, co-authors of Cash Box, will talk about the history of the ATM, from its contested beginnings to its unlikely role in the world of mobile. The co-authors will summarize the highlights from their book and make you an instant expert on the history (and future) of this 50 year-old industry. Any historical account of banking, business, tech or self-service would be incomplete without the story of the ATM. Though invented almost five decades ago, this simple machine has survived competing technologies, evolving consumer habits and cultural shifts.

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