June 2017 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Konrad Zuse's 1936 patent - German text?
by Brian Randell 24 Sep '20

24 Sep '20

Hi Mark: I have a copy of the original 1936 Zuse patent application that I had translated into English for my Origins book. (It took some finding - some of my Zemanek documents had strayed into the middle of the Zuse documents, and so had obscured them! :-) It is a type-written document, on the letterhead of Zuse’s patent attorney Dr.-Ing. Bruno Wolf, Berlin Charlottenberg 5, Kantstrasse 85, dated 9.4.36 (i.e. 9 April 1936). It is some twenty or so pages in length. However I should warn you that some of the pages are barely legible (though could probably be deciphered by someone who knows German - which I don’t). I could scan this document for you if you wish. (I have about two inches thick of documents about Zuse’s work, including a number of patents and patent applications, some pre-war, immediately some post-war, together with several typescripts from him. My plan is that this material will be added to the archive of my files held in the Special Collections section of Newcastle University Library. This already holds all the extensive correspondence that I was involved in while compiling Origins.) Cheers Brian On 24 Jan 2017, at 10:58, Mark Priestley <m.priestley(a)gmail.com<mailto:m.priestley@gmail.com>> wrote: Dear list, Zuse's 1936 patent "Method for Automatic Execution of Calculations with the Aid of Computers" is reprinted in Brian Randell's "Origins of Digital Computers" collections. Does anyone know if/where I can get hold of the German original? Thanks in advance. Mark _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org<http://sigcis.org>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org -- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk<mailto:Brian.Randell@ncl.ac.uk> PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 FAX = +44 191 208 8232 URL = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/people/profile/brianrandell.html

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IBM 610
by John Impagliazzo 25 Apr '18

25 Apr '18

Hi All, Allegedly, some consider the IBM 610 Auto-Point computer (1959) the ‘first personal computer’. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computinghistory/plugboard.html Is this true – even slightly true?? John John Impagliazzo, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Hofstra University IEEE Life Fellow ACM Distinguished Educator

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Email "inventor" claimant to run for U.S. Senate -- alternative facts about technology and democracy collide
by Andrew Meade McGee 18 Sep '17

18 Sep '17

Continuing with the ongoing saga of V. A. Shiva and his claims regarding the invention of e-mail, that gentleman has just announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. https://twitter.com/va_shiva/status/835420061993218048 As several SIGCIS contributors noted earlier this month, this nicely parallels the upcoming SHOT themes of technology and democracy. "Alternate facts" about the history of technology will play a major public element of this campaign next year. --Andrew

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Fwd: Call for Papers: Stanford Conference on Non-Latin Type Design and Human-Computer Interaction
by M. Hicks 30 Jun '17

30 Jun '17

Please see below for a fascinating CFP from Tom Mullaney at Stanford ______________________ Marie Hicks, Ph.D. Asst. Professor, History of Technology Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL USA mhicks1(a)iit.edu | mariehicks.net | @histoftech Programmed Inequality: How Britain Discarded Women Technologists and Lost Its Edge in Computing (MIT Press, 2017) www.programmedinequality.com Begin forwarded message: From: "Thomas S. Mullaney" <tsm1978(a)stanford.edu> Date: June 30, 2017 at 1:53:21 PM EDT To: Tom Mullaney <tsmullaney(a)stanford.edu> Subject: Call for Papers: Stanford Conference on Non-Latin Type Design and Human-Computer Interaction FACE/INTERFACE Type Design and Human-Computer Interaction Beyond the Western World December 1-2, 2017 Stanford University In connection with the Fall 2017 Stanford University Libraries exhibition, “Facing the World: Non-Latin Type Design, 1450 to Now,” we will be holding an international conference bringing together scholars, designers, engineers, and technologists to explore Non-Latin type design, book design, interface design, and human-computer interaction beyond the Latin alphabetic world. We are now seeking paper proposals. PLEASE CIRCULATE TO ANY/ALL POTENTIALLY INTERESTED PARTIES. DATES & LOCATION Face/Interface will take place December 1-2, 2017 on the campus of Stanford University. ELIGIBILITY Scholars, Designers, Artists, Engineers, and Technologists working in all disciplines and time periods are welcome to apply. We are particularly eager to identify early-career candidates. All ranks are eligible and encouraged to apply, however. CONFIRMED SPEAKERS Confirmed Speakers for the Face/Interface conference include: * Fiona Ross (Associate Professor, University of Reading | Non-Latin Typeface Design Director | Foundational figure in South Asian script typeface design) * Gerry Leonidas (Associate Professor, University of Reading | Typeface Design Programme Director | World-leading Greek typeface designer) * Lara Captan (leading contemporary Arabic type designer & researcher + co-founder of Arabic Type Design-Beirut program) * Liron Lavi Turkenich (leading contemporary Hebrew type designer & researcher + regional director of ATypI) * Ken Lunde (Senior Computer Scientist, Type Development in Chinese/Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese scripts at Adobe) * Ramsey Nasser (NY-based Arabic-language computer science theorist/artist) * Scott Klemmer (HCI specialist & Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and Computer Science & Engineering at UC San Diego + Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Design Lab, UC Irvine) APPLICATION & DEADLINE The deadline for applications is AUGUST 4, 2017. Materials should be submitted via email/attachments to Tom Mullaney (tsmullaney(a)stanford.edu) with the subject header “FACE/INTERFACE APPLICATION.” (This subject header is REQUIRED.) Applications should include: I. Cover letter summarizing applicant’s field of study, research, and/or design practice in connection with the themes of the conference II. Title, 250-word Abstract of Proposed Conference Paper III. CV (3-page) IV. Two references including contact information (please do NOT request or provide letters of recommendation – but references may be contacted as part of application review process) FINANCIAL SUPPORT A limited number of partial travel stipends will be offered to help offset cost of travel to Stanford. This support will not cover the full cost of attendance, and so successful applicants should plan accordingly.

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Journal issue just published on European videogames of the 1980s
by Laine Nooney 26 Jun '17

26 Jun '17

Hi all! Just sharing a link and TOC for the latest issue of Well Played, which is a special issue on 1980s European video games. Guest edited by game designers and scholars at NYU's Game Center, Clara Fernandez-Vara and Bennett Foddy. Enjoy! -Laine ------------------------------- ETC Press is excited to announce the release of the second issue of the sixth volume of Well Played, a special issue on European Videogames of the 1980s, edited by Clara Fernández-Vara and Bennett Foddy. http://press.etc.cmu.edu/content/volume-6-number-2-european-videogames-1980s Pac-Man for the VIC-20: Game Clones and Program Listings in the Emerging Finnish Home Computer Market Petri Saarikoski, Jaakko Suominen, & Markku Reunanen La Abadía del Crimen: Anatomy of a Cult Video Game in Spain Jaume Esteve Cammelli and Attack of the Mutant Camels: A Variantology of Italian Video Games of the 1980s Riccardo Fassone An Exploration of the Historical Contexts of Nu, Pogodi!, a Soviet Era LCD Game Peter Smith & Joseph Fanfarelli The curious world of The Hobbit: an early example of a dynamic gameworld Helen Stuckey The Well Played Journal is a forum for in-depth close readings of video games that parse out the various meanings to be found in the experience of playing a game. It is a reviewed journal with CfPs for submissions that will be released on a regular basis with high-quality essays Contributors are encouraged to analyze sequences in a game in detail in order to illustrate and interpret how the various components of a game can come together to create a fulfilling playing experience unique to this medium. Through contributors, the journal will provide a variety of perspectives on the value of games. The goal of the journal is to continue developing and defining a literacy of games as well as a sense of their value as an experience. Video games are a complex medium that merits careful interpretation and insightful analysis. By inviting contributors to look closely at video games and the experience of playing them, we hope to expand the discussion, and show how games are well played in a variety of ways. The Well Played Journal has been receiving enough quality submissions to be published biannually. We have organized our editorial board so that there are Editors (Ira Fay, Clara Fernández-Vara, Jane Pinckard and John Sharp) help set up a blind peer review process. Our goal is to publish great essays. There won't be a subscription, although as with all ETC Press publications, all issues will be available for download for free, and we'll offer print versions for sale through Lulu.com. For more information, and to purchase or download a copy, visit: http://press.etc.cmu.edu/ http://press.etc.cmu.edu/wellplayed The ETC Press is an academic and open-source publishing imprint that distributes its work in print, electronic and digital form. Inviting readers to contribute to and create versions of each publication, ETC Press fosters a community of collaborative authorship and dialogue across media. ETC Press represents an experiment and an evolution in publishing, bridging virtual and physical media to redefine the future of publication. All submissions and questions should be sent to: drew ( at ) andrew ( dot ) cmu ( dot ) edu For formatting guidelines, see:http://press.etc.cmu.edu/files/WellPlayed-Guidelines-New.doc. Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/etcwellplayed ISSN 2164-344X (Print) ISSN 2164-3458 (Online) _______________________________________________ Localgamehist mailing list Localgamehist(a)flinders.edu.au https://listserver.flinders.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/localgamehist -- Laine Nooney <http://www.lainenooney.com/> MCC <http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/mcc/> @ NYU <http://www.nyu.edu/> (incoming July 2017) Assistant Professor

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Women in Technological History Travel Grant for SHOT Conference
by Julie Cohn 19 Jun '17

19 Jun '17

Greetings. You or one of your colleagues may find this announcement of travel grants for the October 26-29, 2017 SHOT Conference of interest: ***************************** Julie Cohn, Ph.D. Research Historian Center for Public History University of Houston 315 McElhinney Hall Houston, TX 77204-3007 cohnconnor(a)gmail.com jacohn(a)uh.edu

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Computing is Work! - Siegen (Germany), July 6-8, 2017
by Sebastian Gießmann 19 Jun '17

19 Jun '17

Dear SIGCIS, Tom Haigh and I have been busy preparing the "Computing is Work!" conference at Siegen University - and we would be very happy to see some of you this July! For those of you who can't: We do have plans to videotape this for documentation, although we do have the recent controversy about scholarly talks on film in mind. Watch out for program updates here: http://www.socialstudiesof.info/ComputingIsWork/ Kind regards, Sebastian Giessmann ______________ * * *Computing is Work! * *International Conference* *July 6–8, 2017* Universität Siegen, Artur-Woll-Haus Am Eichenhang 50, 57076 Siegen; Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Siegen Conveners: Thomas Haigh / Sebastian Giessmann * * We humans spend most of our waking lives working. Work includes cultural, intellectual, managerial, and emotional labor as well as physical toil. Despite this, most work by humanities and media scholars implicitly treats the study of work as marginal or uninteresting. Even the study of “digital practices” rarely engages with the specifics of the workplace, despite the importance of distributed micro-practices like clickworking. Information technology underpins the transformation of work today, as it has it in the past. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that address computing as work practice, both on a local, situated, infrastructural level. Speakers will be exploring many kinds of work, from the work of computerized literary production to the work of scientific research. We believe that close attention to the social processes of work has the cross-cutting potential to integrate a variety of historical, social and ethnographic research approaches, from labor history to the scientific ethnography to the study of media practices as cooperative accomplishments, into a revealing whole. * * *July 6, Thursday *(Artur-Woll-Haus)** * * 9:30 OPENING REMARKS/ Computing is Work! /Thomas Haigh (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee/Siegen University) and Sebastian Giessmann (Siegen University) 10:00 ROUND TABLE /Computer Supported Cooperative Work as Theory and Practice / Erhard Schüttpelz / Volker Wulf (Siegen): // Moderator: Dave Randall (Siegen) 11:00 KEYNOTE Matthew Jones (Columbia University): /Data Mining is Work: Scaling Algorithms, Overcoming Friction, Redefining Knowledge/ Moderator: Carolin Gerlitz (Siegen) 14:00 PANEL: /Scientific Workplaces/ – Jens Schröter (Bonn): /Work will be 3D: Imaginary Workplaces and Volumetric Displays/ – Gerard Alberts (Amsterdam) /Archiving is Work, Archaeology Even More/ Moderator: Jörg Potthast (Siegen) 16:30 PANEL: /Structuring Labor/ – Roli Varma (University of New Mexico): /Women at Work: Decoding Femininity in Computing in India/ – Nathan Ensmenger (Indiana University): /Documentation is Work: Flowcharts as Temporal Boundary Objects/ Moderator: Axel Volmar (Siegen) ______ *July 7, Friday *(Artur-Woll-Haus and Museum für Gegenwartskunst)** * * 9:00 KEYNOTE Kjeld Schmidt (Copenhagen Business School): /Coordination is Work: The Problem of Computerizing Coordinative Practices/ Moderator: Erhard Schüttpelz (Siegen) 11:00 PANEL: /Workflows/ – Kari Kuutti (Oulo): /”Muddling through” is Work: a Plea for Workflow Oriented Computing/ – Maria Haigh (Milwaukee / Siegen): /Stopping Fake News is Work/ Moderator: Peter Tolmie (Siegen) 15:00 PANEL: /Institutions and Markets/ – Hallam Stevens (Nanyang Technological University): /Copycatting is Work: The Diverse Labours of the Shenzhen Electronics Markets/ – Ben Peters (University of Tulsa): /Networking is Work: How Computing Institutions Matter even When Networks Fail/ Moderator: Christian Henrich-Franke (Siegen) 18:00 KEYNOTE Fred Turner (Stanford University): /Bohemia is Work: Reimagining Art and Labor Inside Facebook/ Moderator: Ehler Voss (Siegen) (Venue: Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Unteres Schloss 1, 57072 Siegen). _______ * * *July 8, Saturday *(Artur-Woll-Haus)** * * 9:00 PANEL: /Fun and Games/ – Ksenia Tatarchenko (University of Geneva): /Leisure is Work: The Making of the Soviet Computing Collectives / – Laine Nooney (Georgia Tech): /Games are Work: Notes from the "Little Silicone Valley"/ Moderator: Nadine Taha (Siegen) 11:30 CLOSING REMARKS Thomas Haigh (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee/Siegen University) and Sebastian Giessmann (Siegen University) 12:00 KEYNOTE Matthew Kirschenbaum (University of Maryland): /(Even) Literature is Work! Word Processing and Literary Labor/ Moderator: Till Heilmann (Bonn) Participation is free. Please register in advance with Anja Höse: Anja.Hoese(a)sfb1187.uni-siegen.de <mailto:Anja.Hoese@sfb1187.uni-siegen.de>. Supported by the Siegen University iSchool, the Collaborative Research Centre “Media of Cooperation”, Siegen and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research North Rhine-Westphalia. -- Dr. Sebastian Gießmann Collaborative Research Centre Media of Cooperation SFB Medien der Kooperation Universität Siegen http://www.mediacoop.uni-siegen.de https://www.facebook.com/mediaofcooperation http://www.sebastiangiessmann.de Telefon: 0049-(0)271-740-2586 Sprechstunde: n.V.

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DEADLINE JUNE 30: SIGCIS CFP | MEASURE, MODEL, MIX: COMPUTER AS INSTRUMENT
by Laine Nooney 16 Jun '17

16 Jun '17

Reminder of upcoming *June 30* deadline for the annual 1-day conference of the Special Interest Group for Computing, Information and Society. CFP below and online <http://meetings.sigcis.org/call-for-papers.html>. The annual SIGCIS conference hosts traditional academic presentations,* as well as a dedicated Works-in-Progress session ideal for receiving feedback on dissertation proposals and chapters*, articles-in-progress, etc. *Travel support is available* for graduate students, contingent faculty and other scholars with limited institutional funding--so these groups are especially encouraged to apply! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *MEASURE, MODEL, MIX: COMPUTER AS INSTRUMENT* 2017 SIGCIS Conference Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | October 29, 2017 *Proposal Due Date: June 30, 2017 * *KEYNOTE SPEAKER* Joanna Radin <http://history.yale.edu/people/joanna-radin> | Department of History, Yale University *THEME* Computers are instruments of action. They are made to measure, model, and mix; count and aggregate; save and surveil; pick, parse, and select; and in a world of embedded systems, they are even designed to listen, wait, and relay. In many instances, these actions involve the computational transformation of other social and technological processes—from software that compiles the census to the suites of code assisting in the digital manipulation of sound and image. In other cases, computers register and create information at scales and speeds we have only begun to grasp: artificial intelligence, machine learning, and “big data” in all its local forms. And while often leveraged as democratizing, computers have long been known to amplify structural inequality, map over difference, and jettison “noise” that cannot be translated into a specific form of information. Measure, Model, Mix invites scholars and independent researchers across the disciplinary spectrum to explore the historical conditions of computation. Areas of engagement may include: - How have bureaucratic, scientific, and aesthetic computational instruments eroded, produced, and reproduced biopolitical and epistemological realities, past and present? - How can we analyze the relationships between computing and identity categories such as race, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity? - What are the historical foundations of computing’s contemporary capacity to recognize information? - How have cultures, subcultures, political systems and identity groups mobilized computational techniques for their own ends? SIGCIS is especially welcoming of new directions in scholarship. We maintain an inclusive atmosphere for scholarly inquiry, supporting both disciplinary and theoretical interventions from beyond the traditional history of technology, and with respect to promoting diversity in STEM. We welcome submissions from: histories of technology, computing, and science; science and technology studies; studies of women, gender, and sexuality; studies of race, ethnicity, and postcoloniality; film, media, and game studies; software and code studies; network and internet histories; music, sound studies, and art history; and all other applicable domains. The annual SIGCIS Conference begins immediately after the regular annual meeting of our parent organization, the Society for the History of Technology [SHOT]. SIGCIS welcomes everyone, inclusive of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, age, appearance, race, nationality or religion. We are committed to fostering a positive, productive space for all participants. *SUBMISSION FORMATS* SIGCIS welcomes proposals for individual 15-20 minute papers, 3-4 paper panel proposals, works-in-progress (see below), and non-traditional proposals such as roundtables, software demonstrations, hands-on workshops, etc. *WORKS-IN-PROGRESS* We are pleased to announce a new format for the 2017 SIGCIS Works in Progress (WiP) session. This year, participants will not deliver presentations on their WiP, and there will not be an audience. Instead, the session will serve as a workshop wherein participants will discuss the works in small group sessions. We invite works in progress—articles, chapters, dissertation prospectuses—of 10,000 words or less (longer works must be selectively edited to meet this length). We especially encourage submissions from graduate students, early career scholars, and scholars who are new to SIGCIS. Authors who submit a WiP will also commit to reading (in advance) two other WiPs, discussing them in a very small group setting, and providing written feedback on one of those WiPs. Scholars who would like to participate in this session without submitting their own WiP are certainly welcome; we ask that they commit to reading (in advance) at least two of the WiPs. Submissions for WiP only require a 350-400 word abstract, but applicants should plan to circulate their max-10,000-word WiPs no later than October 8, 2017. Scholars who would like to be a reader of WiPs, please email a brief bio or 1-page CV, along with your areas of interest and expertise, to Gerardo Con Diaz [condiaz(a)ucdavis.edu] *SUBMISSION PROCEDURE* Submissions are due June 30, 2017. Applicants should download, fill out and follow the instructions on the application cover sheet at http://meetings.sigcis.org/call-for-papers.html. All submissions will require: - 350-400 word abstract (full panel proposals should additionally include a 300-word panel abstract in addition to 3-4 paper abstracts) - 1-page CV or resume Please Note: Individuals already scheduled to participate on the main SHOT program are welcome to submit an additional proposal to our workshop, but should make sure that there is no overlap between the two presentations. However, SIGCIS may choose to give higher priority to submissions from those not already presenting at SHOT. Questions regarding submission procedure should be sent to Kera Allen [kera.allen(a)gatech.edu] *TRAVEL AWARD* The top financial priority of SIGCIS is the support of travel expenses for graduate students, visiting faculty without institutional travel support, and others who would be unable to attend the meeting without travel assistance. The submission cover sheet includes a box to check if you fall into one of these categories and would like to be considered for an award. These is no separate application form, though depending on the volume of requests and available resources we may need to contact you for further information before making a decision. Any award offered is contingent on registering for and attending the SIGCIS Conference. Please note that SHOT does not classify the SIGCIS Conference as participation in the SHOT annual meeting, therefore so acceptance by SIGCIS does not imply eligibility for the SHOT travel grant program. Details of available awards are at http://www.sigcis.org/travelaward. *SIGCIS CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE* Laine Nooney <http://www.lainenooney.com/>, New York University (SIGCIS Vice-Chair of Meetings) Andrew Russell <http://www.arussell.org/>, SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SIGCIS Chair) Stephanie Dick <https://hss.sas.upenn.edu/people/stephanie-dick>, University of Pennsylvania Gerardo Con Diaz <https://www.condiaz.com/>, University of California, Davis Joy Rankin <http://joyrankin.com/>, Michigan State University Kera Allen <https://hts.gatech.edu/people/person/e2f55e07-937a-571a-a4f8-c32c87fef19d>, Georgia Institute of Technology (Conference Assistant) Nabeel Siddiqui <http://nabeelsiddiqui.net/>, College of William and Mary (Conference Assistant) -- Laine Nooney <http://www.lainenooney.com/> MCC <http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/mcc/> @ NYU <http://www.nyu.edu/> (incoming July 2017) Assistant Professor

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Fwd: Reminder for the CFP : "Unix in Europe : between innovation, diffusion and heritage"
by Camille Paloque-Berges 16 Jun '17

16 Jun '17

Dear all, Please find enclosed the CFP for the *international conference**"Unix in Europe: between innovation, diffusion and heritage"* that will take place in Cnam (Paris, France), October, 19th, 2017. We are pleased to announce two keynote participations: - Laurent Bloch (cyberstrategy researcher at the French Institute of Strategic analysis) - Thomas Haigh (associate professor in History at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, School of Information studies) A one-page abstract (maximum 500 words) with a short biography is expected for June 30th 2017. The Cfp is also available at : <http://technique-societe.cnam.fr/international-symposium- unix-in-europe-between-innovation-diffusion-and-heritage-913107.kjsp> <http://technique-societe.cnam.fr/international-symposium-unix-in-europe-bet…> . Best regards, The organization comitee : Isabelle Astic, Raphaël Fournier-S'niehotta, Pierre-Eric Mounier-Kuhn, Camille Paloque-Berges, Loïc Petitgirard > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > *Call for contributions* > > *International symposium * > > *Unix in Europe: between innovation, diffusion and heritage* > > *Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France – October 19 > 2017* > > > > Communications and discussions will be held in French or English. > > > *Rationale* > > > The Unix system was born in the 1970s at the crossroads between two > interacting worlds: industry (the Bell Labs at AT&T) and academia (the > University of Berkeley computer science network). Its fast adoption > throughout computer research and engineering networks across the world > signaled the future success of the new system, fostering software > experiments within its open, multi-user and multi-tasking system running on > mini-computers – and later compatible with a larger part of computer > hardware. In the European context, how was this American innovation > propagated, adopted and adapted? Why was Unix of so much interest in this > context, then and now? A solid culture of Unix users might also explain > this success, as well as subsequent processes of appropriation and > inheritance, due to the long and complex history of Unix versioning. The > memory of Unix users is vivid indeed, fed by early accounts within the > computer world (Salus, 1994) as well as preservation initiatives (Toomey, > 2010). Moreover, the Unix system is a crucial reference in the history of > computing, in particular in the field of free and open source software > (Kelty, 2008), computer networks (Paloque-Berges, 2017), as well as in > programming language philosophy (Mélès, 2013). > > > In order to explore the variety of these interrogations, this symposium > encourages contributions from historians as well as philosophers, social > science researchers, and heritage professionals interested in the history > of computer open systems and software with a focus on Unix or who have a > wider perspective. It will also welcome protagonists and witnesses of Unix > culture and carriers of its memory. We wish to discuss and shed light on > several aspects of the development of Unix in Europe (including in > comparison or relation with the rest of the world) along three main lines: > historical and sociological, philosophical and epistemological, and > heritage- and preservation-oriented. > > > *1/ Historical and sociological perspectives* > > > Historically, the Unix system is linked to the promotion and development > in research on open systems and computer networks. How does this fit in the > context of industrial, scientific and technological policies defined at the > national and European level? The history of Unix thus reaches at least > three levels of interrogations: 1/ the forms, places and practices of > innovation around Unix in R&D labs and computing centers in companies, > schools and universities; 2/ planning, promoting and negotiating open > systems (norms and standards) from the perspective of science and/or > politics; 3/ international geopolitical relations, whether economical or > geopolitical and even geostrategic (for example between Unix users, with > users of other computer equipment or other hardware and software companies, > the role of embargos in the shipping of mini-computers, of code, and > military uses of Unix). > > > In parallel, how has the world of computer research welcomed, encouraged, > negotiated and propagated uses and innovations related to Unix systems? > This begs the question of how Unix-related research and development was > legitimized - or played a part in the legitimization of computer science > experimentalism in the scientific field and beyond. We would also like to > highlight practices of resistance, the failure to acknowledge, ignorance of > or even the limits of the Unix system, its software tools and hardware > environment (beginning with the famous PDP and Vax machines from Digital > Equipment where the first Unix versions were implemented). With a focus on > occupational computer uses, we call for analysis which aims to explore and > clarify: > > - the role of developers, users, and user associations – from the point of > view of pioneers as well as helpers, maintainers and other witnesses of the > implementation of Unix; > > - the context, process, and people who determined its propagation, > appropriation, and development over time; > > - the meaning of concepts of Unix philosophy and ethics such as “openness” > and “autonomy”, from a social, political or economic point of view. > > > *2. Philosophical and epistemological perspectives* > > > > We will foster research and reflection at the crossroad of the theoretical > foundations of computer systems and engineering pragmatism, between the > philosophy of computer systems and Unixian practices. > > > > Protagonists in the conception and diffusion of Unix often claim to have a > ‘Unix philosophy’ . But beyond statement of principle, what was the real > influence of this idea on the technical choices underlying the system’s > developments? What are the ethical, moral, and philosophical motivations – > alongside the social, political or economic dimensions discussed earlier – > underpinning the adoption of Unix or pretending to extend it (for instance > in relation to the notions of sharing, modularity or freedom)? How is the > idea of ‘openness’ attached to Unix practices and heritage (free software, > open source) conceived? What are the theoretical developments to be drawn > from it (for instance with the idea of open software)? > > > > The logical and mathematical foundations of Unix should be readdressed. Do > the fundamental concepts of Unix have an ontological or metaphysical > significance beyond the sole research aim of technical efficiency? What > role do aesthetics play in the formulation of general principles and > technical choices? How can we analyze programming languages such as C and > its successors, scripts, software, and generally speaking, the > proliferating source codes of Unix? How do we consider the system, the > software environment, as well as the hardware in which Unix is implemented > and executed? > > > > Such philosophical questions also cover the modalities of the transmission > of Unix, extending to the investigation of the respective roles of theory > and practice in the teaching of the system, the teaching of knowledge and > tools underlying the system or supporting the system. > > > > *3. Unix heritage and ‘heritagization’* > > > > France is now the home to multiple initiatives taking place to build and > preserve a material and immaterial heritage of computer science and > technology – such as ‘Software Heritage’ at INRIA, a global software > archive in progress. The Museum of Arts et Métiers gave impetus to the MINF > initiative (‘Pour un Musée de l’informatique et du numérique’) and > coordinates the ‘Patstec Mission’ dealing with contemporary scientific and > technological heritage preservation, including computer science. At an > international scale and with a grassroots perspective carried by the > community of Unix users, the TUHS (The Unix Heritage Society) demonstrates > the current interest in the specific heritage linked to Unix. We encourage > reflections on this heritage and its specific features: > > > > - What is the place of Unix in the construction of computer science > heritage? Is it possible to map Unix systems and their heritage, from the > standpoint of machines, languages and software? What has already been > collected? What corpus, data bases, and/or platforms with a patrimonial > mission are concerned with Unix and to what purpose? > > - How are the questions of training, constitution and diffusion of a Unix > culture incorporated in the effort to collect heritage? How do we evaluate > and put forward the importance of immaterial heritage attached to Unix, > considering the effects of community and memory in its history and for the > writing of its history? > > - What are the practices and modalities advocated by the unixian heritage > itself? What has been its influence on the field of computer engineering > and research as well as diverse fields such as: popularization of science > and technology, ‘hacker’ movements and many ‘maker’ practices today > (Lallement, 2016)? > > > *Schedules* > > Please send a one-page abstract (maximum 500 words) with a short biography > by June 30, 2017 to: camille.paloque-berges(a)cnam.fr > <camille.paloque-berges(a)lecnam.net> and loic.petitgirard(a)cnam.fr. > Accepted contributions and speakers will be notified by July 15, 2017. > > > *Organizing committee* > > Isabelle Astic (Musée des arts et métiers) > > Raphaël Fournier-S’niehotta (Cédric, Cnam) > > Pierre-Eric Mounier-Kuhn (CRM, Paris 1) > > Camille Paloque-Berges (HT2S, Cnam) > > Loïc Petitgirard (HT2S, Cnam) > > > *Scientific committee * > > François Anceau (UMPC-LIP6) > > Pierre Cubaud (Cédric, Cnam) > > Liesbeth de Mol (STL, Lille 3) > > Claudine Fontanon (CAK, EHESS) > > Gérald Kembellec (DICEN, Cnam) > > Baptiste Mélès (Archives Henri Poincaré, CNRS) > > Pierre Paradinas (Cédric, Cnam, SIF) > Giuseppe Primiero (Middlesex University) > > Lionel Tabourier (LIP6, Paris 6) > > > *Institutional partners and support: * > > - Project « Hist.Pat.info.Cnam », HT2S, Cnam – Research program supported > by the Excellence laboratory History and Anthropology of Knoweldge, > Technics and Beliefs (HASTEC), and in partnership with the laboratories > CEDRIC (Cnam), DICEN (Cnam), and the Center Alexandre Koyré (EHESS). > > - « Histoire de l’informatique » (« History of computing » seminar) > seminar - (Musée des arts et métiers, CRM, Paris 1, UMPC-LIP6) > > - « Source code » seminar - (CNRS, Cnam, Université Paris 6). > > With support from the DHST/DLMPST for the History and Philosophy of > Computing (HAPOC) > > > *Bibliography * > > Kelty, Christopher M. 2008. *Two Bits: The Cultural Significance of Free > Software*. Durham: Duke University Press Books. > > > > Lallement, Michel. 2016. *L’âge du faire, *Seuil. > > > > Mélès, Baptiste. 2003. « Unix selon l’ordre des raisons : la philosophie > de la pratique informatique ». *Philosophia Scientiæ* 17 (3): 181‑98. > > > > Salus, Peter H. 1994. *A quarter century of UNIX*. Addison-Wesley. > Reading. > > > > Toomey, Warren. 2010. « First Edition Unix: Its Creation and > Restoration ». *IEEE Annals of the History of Computing* 32 (3): 74‑82. > > > > > -- Institutional email address : camille.paloque_berges(a)cnam.fr *Laboratory for the History of Techno-Sciences (HT2S), Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, 2 rue Conté, 75003 Paris, France *Associate researcher at the Digital Paths cluster of CNRS' Institute for Communication Sciences (ISCC)

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Digital Equipment Corporation Collection at the Computer History Museum
by David C. Brock 14 Jun '17

14 Jun '17

Dear List: The Computer History Museum is pleased to announce that our Digital Equipment Corporation collection is open for research. The Digital Equipment Corporation records are 1,239 linear feet of material in 1,343 boxes. The records represent the largest and most complete set of DEC records in existence, dating from 1947 through 2002, with the bulk from the company’s years of operation from 1957 through 1998, when they were bought by Compaq Computer. The collection is a comprehensive technical history of every major computing innovation at DEC, as well as its nontraditional business culture. The finding aid for the collection may be found here: http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/finding-aids/10273… Information about accessing the collection may be found here: http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/requests/ To read more about the collection, see https://medium.com/@computerhistory/what-the-dec-6d9f92d172bf .............. David C. Brock Director Center for Software History [http://www.computerhistory.org/softwarehistory/] Computer History Museum [http://www.computerhistory.org/] Email: dbrock(a)computerhistory.org Twitter: @dcbrock Skype: dcbrock 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd. Mountain View, CA 94943 (650) 810-1010 main (650) 810-1886 direct Follow Us: @CHM Blog [http://www.computerhistory.org/atchm/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/computerhistory] Twitter [https://twitter.com/ComputerHistory] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/computerhistory/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/ComputerHistory] Make Software, Change the World! Now Open. [http://www.computerhistory.org/exhibits/makesoftware/]

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