March 2016 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Tomlinson's quote on email invention - authenticated
by Thomas Haigh 08 Mar '16

08 Mar '16

I wouldn't call Ray Tomlinson, or anyone else, THE inventor of email. As you can see below, in 2012 I got Tomlinson to confirm the authenticity of the nice quote floating around the internet with his name on it: "Any single development is stepping on the heels of the previous one and is so closely followed by the next that most advances are obscured. I think that few individuals will be remembered." That is not false modesty on his part, but Tomlinson's own 1971 contribution was certainly one of the most significant of the many steps leading towards the Internet mediated standards-based email infrastructure over which you are receiving this message. Tom -----Original Message----- From: Ray Tomlinson [mailto:RTomlinson@bbn.com] Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 3:29 PM To: Dave Crocker Cc: Thomas Haigh <thaigh(a)computer.org> Subject: Re: Pre-release draft of email history article to the Washington Post. >> I do have a question for Ray. I am planning to use the quote from >> http://www.nethistory.info/History%20of%20the%20Internet/email.html >> that "Any single development is stepping on the heels of the previous >> one and is so closely followed by the next that most advances are >> obscured. I think that few individuals will be remembered." > >> Did he really say this? Is it being quoted from an earlier source. > > Yeah. Great quotation. > > Ray? Fess up! Yes. I did say something like this. I believe it was in the context of comparing internet advances with earlier advances like Bell's telephone. I don't remember to whom I said it and I can't find any email record. It may have been by telephone.

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"Inventor of Email" campaign targets Ray Tomlinson, "racist" journalists, reality
by Thomas Haigh 08 Mar '16

08 Mar '16

Hello SIGCIS, Perhaps predictably, Ray Tomlinson's recent death has prompted a new publicity push by Shiva Ayyadurai, the self-proclaimed "inventor of email." (Backstory at http://www.sigcis.org/ayyadurai) Here are some recent tweets from his wife Fran Drescher, best known as "The Nanny": "Thank you. Raytheon are plagiarists and liars. Big biz w/o integrity! The worst of the worst! Low roadsters," and "PO'd! Ray Tomlinson WRONGLY credited 4 email whn EVERY1 honest knos Shiva Ayyadurai <https://twitter.com/va_shiva> @va_shiva invented, has copyright &is a victim of racism." Also "Th larger issue is the oppression of people of color. There is a narrative in America that white washes innovation. That's the real issue!" Ayyadurai himself has tweeted "White journalists since 2012 have joined in the lynching and whitewashing of facts on <https://twitter.com/hashtag/email?src=hash> #email. I challenge all and any to a f2f debate !!" The new push is reported in a Fortune blog piece, http://fortune.com/2016/03/07/who-really-invented-email/, which quotes SIGCIS at length. (I like its description of us as "an organization comprised of many prominent Internet historians and college professors" rather more than the "internet cabal" description used by Boston Magazine). Ayyadurai seems to be getting almost entirely uncritical coverage in leading Indian publications, including * http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/who-invented-email-ray-tomlinson -or-shiva-ayyadurai/article8323987.ece * http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/On-Mahashivaratri-email-pioneer- Shiva-Ayyadurai-prays-for-recognition/articleshow/51297305.cms * http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/the-invento r-of-email-is-still-alive-says-india-born-scientist/ There's a somewhat more nuanced, but still not entirely accurate, report (quoting SIGCIS) at http://thewire.in/2016/03/08/did-shiva-ayyadurai-invent-email-it-isnt-simple -and-youre-probably-missing-the-point-24149 <http://thewire.in/2016/03/08/did-shiva-ayyadurai-invent-email-it-isnt-simpl e-and-youre-probably-missing-the-point-24149/#disqus_thread> . So there's fascinating story of historical techno nationalism developing here, in that Ayyadurai's new focus on alleged racism as the only reason for disputing his claim to have invented email seems to be enough to win him widespread acceptance in India despite the obvious reality-based problems with claiming to have invented something that was already in widespread use. Best wishes, Tom

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CSIRAC commemoration event in Melbourne, June 14-17 2015
by Justin Zobel 08 Mar '16

08 Mar '16

Are you interested in visiting CSIRAC before attending SHOT in Singapore? The Department of Computer Science at the University of Melbourne, in conjunction with the Melbourne Museum, is hosting an event to celebrate 60 years of computing in Victoria, which – not coincidentally – also marks 60 years of computing in Australian universities. The details of the event are still being finalised, but will include public lectures on Tuesday June 14 and a ‘history day’ at the Melbourne Museum on Friday June 17. The event marks 60 years since CSIRAC commenced service in Victoria, on June 14 1956. Constructed as the CSIR Mk 1 in 1948-50 and one of the first computers to be operational, it is the world’s oldest intact stored-program computer and is on permanent display at the Melbourne Museum. CSIRAC has been extensively documented by the Department (http://www.cis.unimelb.edu.au/about/csirac/) and the Museum (https://museumvictoria.com.au/csirac/) SHOT is being held just a few days later (June 22-26), nearby (at just six hours away, Singapore is one of our closest neighbours), and in more or less the same time zone (we’re two hours ahead at that time of year). If you are considering participating in our event on the way to SHOT, please contact Julie Ireland (julie.ireland(a)unimelb.edu.au) to be added to our mailing list. Justin Zobel

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CHM Curatorial Update: Unique recording of Lee Boysel, Early Microprocessor Pioneer, now on CHM YouTube channel
by Dag Spicer 07 Mar '16

07 Mar '16

Dear SGICIS colleagues, Lee Boysel is one of the unsung fathers of the microprocessor who has a genuine claim to making the earliest one. Pace TI, Intel, Faggin, Hoff, et al. and 99% of ’standard histories’ of the microprocessor. He was the only expert witness in the famous TI microprocessor patent case retained by all sides and the presentation of his notes from 1969 and working model effectively ended the case. If you are interested in semiconductor history and the early development of the uP, this is a must-watch. It is now part of CHM’s permanent archive, thanks to a special arrangement with the University of Michigan, where this presentation initially took place (in 2007). The lecture is entitled, “Making your first million: Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs,” which doesn’t quite get the idea across but, rest assured, it’s microprocessor history and also the only known recording of Boysel explaining his contributions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtGxI7yqau4 Enjoy! Dag -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator Computer History Museum Editorial Board, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard Mountain View, CA 94043-1311 Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055

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MIDAC Project
by Salem Elzway 05 Mar '16

05 Mar '16

Greetings everyone! This is my first communication to the SIGCIS listserv, so I thought I'd introduce myself quickly before getting to the topic at hand. I'm a first year PhD student in the history department at the University of Michigan studying the history and political economy of technological development (particularly in the US). Generally speaking, I'm interested in how "the State" has played a pivotal role in the development of technology and, more specifically, how the "national security state" affected the computer's development in the early Cold War and after. Canned introductions aside, I'm currently working on a history of the Michigan Digital Automatic Computer (or MIDAC) that was built and in-use at the Willow Run Laboratories between 1951-1958. MIDAC was originally commissioned to process air-guidance data for the BOMARC missile as part of the Air Defense Integrated System (ADIS) and later the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system. Unfortunately, there seems to be a paucity of documentation about MIDAC as my initial foray into the archives here at Michigan have not uncovered much. Is anyone familiar with MIDAC and/or aware of where I may find more documentation about it? I greatly appreciate any help you can provide and I look forward to interacting with the SIGCIS community in the future! Best, Salem -- *Salem Elzway* PhD Student Department of History University of Michigan (402)730-4775 salem.elzway(a)gmail.com

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From the ex-BBN email list...
by Dave Walden 05 Mar '16

05 Mar '16

...Ray Tomlinson died this morning. RIP

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CHM Update: Rare Norbert Winer recording now available
by Dag Spicer 04 Mar '16

04 Mar '16

Hello everyone, We are delighted to let you all know that the Museum has acquired a very rare 1948 recording of MIT professor Norbert Wiener. We have digitized it and you may listen to it here: http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102706617 Best wishes, Dag -- Dag Spicer Senior Curator Computer History Museum Editorial Board, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard Mountain View, CA 94043-1311 Tel: +1 650 810 1035 Fax: +1 650 810 1055

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Reminder PhD Studentship in the History and Philosophy of Computing
by Liesbeth De Mol 02 Mar '16

02 Mar '16

Dear all, this is a reminder for the PhD position to study the Leo I, II and III computers at Middlesex University, best wishes, Liesbeth. -------- Doorgestuurd bericht -------- Onderwerp: PhD Studentship in the History and Philosophy of Computing Datum: Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:32:27 +0000 Van: Giuseppe Primiero <g.primiero(a)mdx.ac.uk> Aan: Giuseppe Primiero <g.primiero(a)mdx.ac.uk> The Department of Computer Science at Middlesex University, together with the LEO Computers Society are looking for a PhD Candidate for a research project in the area of History and Philosophy of Computing. This will incorporate research into the objectives, design, construction and market penetration of the LEO I, II and III computers, developed by the catering firm J. Lyons and Co., and its subsidiary LEO Computers Limited – subsequently incorporated in different companies (English Electric LEO, English Electric Leo Marconi, ICL, Standard Telephones and Cables and finally Fujitsu). Further details and instructions on how to apply available at http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research-degrees/research-student… -- --- Giuseppe Primiero Department of Computer Science Middlesex University /--------------------------------------------------------------------------- / /Please note that Middlesex University's preferred way of receiving all correspondence is via email in line with our Environmental Policy. All incoming post to Middlesex University is opened and scanned by our digital document handler, CDS, and then emailed to the recipient. / /If you do not want your correspondence to Middlesex University processed in this way please email the recipient directly. Parcels, couriered items and recorded delivery items will not be opened or scanned by CDS. There are items which are "exceptions" which will be opened by CDS but will not be scanned a full list of these can be obtained by contacting the University. /

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Reminder PhD Studentship in the History and Philosophy of Computing
by Liesbeth De Mol 02 Mar '16

02 Mar '16

Dear all, this is a reminder for the PhD position to study the Leo I, II and III computers at Middlesex University, best wishes, Liesbeth. -------- Doorgestuurd bericht -------- Onderwerp: PhD Studentship in the History and Philosophy of Computing Datum: Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:32:27 +0000 Van: Giuseppe Primiero <g.primiero(a)mdx.ac.uk> Aan: Giuseppe Primiero <g.primiero(a)mdx.ac.uk> The Department of Computer Science at Middlesex University, together with the LEO Computers Society are looking for a PhD Candidate for a research project in the area of History and Philosophy of Computing. This will incorporate research into the objectives, design, construction and market penetration of the LEO I, II and III computers, developed by the catering firm J. Lyons and Co., and its subsidiary LEO Computers Limited – subsequently incorporated in different companies (English Electric LEO, English Electric Leo Marconi, ICL, Standard Telephones and Cables and finally Fujitsu). Further details and instructions on how to apply available at http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research-degrees/research-student… -- --- Giuseppe Primiero Department of Computer Science Middlesex University /--------------------------------------------------------------------------- / /Please note that Middlesex University's preferred way of receiving all correspondence is via email in line with our Environmental Policy. All incoming post to Middlesex University is opened and scanned by our digital document handler, CDS, and then emailed to the recipient. / /If you do not want your correspondence to Middlesex University processed in this way please email the recipient directly. Parcels, couriered items and recorded delivery items will not be opened or scanned by CDS. There are items which are "exceptions" which will be opened by CDS but will not be scanned a full list of these can be obtained by contacting the University. /

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Registration now open - The Maintainers: A Conference
by Andrew Russell 01 Mar '16

01 Mar '16

Colleagues - Lee Vinsel and I are organizing a conference on maintenance, repair, and other things non-innovative. We’ve got several SIGCIS people joining us, with papers on digital archives, software, PCs, and the Internet, but we also have a range of papers on other topics, including a great opening panel and an opening keynote from Ruth Schwartz Cowan. The draft program is up, and registration is open. See below for the blurb I am sending around to various mailing lists… We hope to see you in Hoboken in April! Andy & Lee ------------- Stevens Institute of Technology is hosting a conference titled "The Maintainers" on April 7-9, 2016. The conference will feature over 40 presentations from scholars in a variety of fields, including academic historians and social scientists, as well as artists, activists, and engineers. All share an interest in the concepts of maintenance, infrastructure, repair, and the myriad forms of labor and expertise that sustain our human-built world. Presentations will cover a wide variety of technologies and practices, including software, spaceflight, trolleys, meteorology, digital archives, and the politics of funding for infrastructure. The conference keynote speaker will be Ruth Schwartz Cowan<https://hss.sas.upenn.edu/people/cowan>, Professor Emerita in the History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania and author of several books, including the pathbreaking More Work for Mother: The Ironies of Household Technologies from the Hearth to the Microwave<http://www.amazon.com/More-Work-Mother-Household-Technology/dp/0465047327>. The conference is sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters at Stevens Institute of Technology. More information, including a draft program and registration information, is available from http://themaintainers.org/ or from Prof. Lee Vinsel (lee.vinsel(a)gmail.com<mailto:lee.vinsel@gmail.com>).

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