January 2021 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Reminder: SIGCIS Community Values and Acceptable Use Policy
by Irish, Sharon Lee 31 Jan '21

31 Jan '21

Dear SIGCIS listserv members, Best wishes for 2021. We hope this message finds you healthy and coping as well as possible. You may recall that when we re-opened the SIGCIS listserv in September of 2017, we indicated that we would send out the Acceptable Use Policy and the Statement of Community Values on an occasional basis as reminders of our commitments. SIGCIS officers put considerable time and substantial thought into these documents and we’d like to share them with you again. The Statement of Community Values is on the About page of the sigcis.org<http://sigcis.org/> site, https://www.sigcis.org/about_values The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is also on the sigcis.org<http://sigcis.org/> site https://www.sigcis.org/aup; we will revisit these policies, as needed. We, the volunteer moderators, use this AUP as our guide to manage the listserv; any response to messages is post-facto. If you, dear members, want to call our attention to a post, you may do so by emailing us at members-owner(a)lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members-owner@lists.sigcis.org>. A description of the Moderator Responsibilities and Guidelines, as well as contact information for each of us, is posted at https://www.sigcis.org/listserv We have three new moderators (welcome!) and their information will be posted shortly. Also, we would like to thank Barbara Walker for her service; she has stepped away from moderator duties after three years. Best wishes, Troy Astarte Sharon Irish Shreeharsh Kelkar Bill McMillan Alexander Mirowski Janet Toland The current moderators

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SIGCIS volunteers needed
by Elizabeth Petrick 27 Jan '21

27 Jan '21

Hello SIGCIS! We could use a few volunteers to help with different aspects of SIGCIS communications: 1. Mailing list moderators: we need at least 2 more people to join our team to approve messages from non-members and react to potentially inappropriate messages sent to the list 2. Twitter account: we need 1-2 people to join me in running SIGCIS's Twitter account. Post and retweet relevant content. Neither of these roles should be very time-consuming, but either would help us out in keeping everything running smoothly. Let me know if you're interested! Best, Liz ------------- Elizabeth Petrick Associate Professor Department of History Rice University http://elizabethpetrick.com/

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Complete set of Annals of the History of Computing paper volumes
by David Walden 26 Jan '21

26 Jan '21

Hi, My set of the Annals is available free to whomever can arrange to have it taken away from our house in Sandwich, MA. The set is currently organized by yearly magazine volume. Half the set I collected; Tim Bergin gave me the other half. I can provide a linear feet number in another message, but it is the thickness of a year of issues times years. If someone doesn't take the set, probably few issues a week will go into paper recycling. Dave

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Announcement: The Retro Mobille Gaming Database
by Adriana de Souza e Silva 26 Jan '21

26 Jan '21

*** Apologies for cross-postings *** Announcement: The Retro Mobille Gaming Database The Mobile Gaming Research Lab <https://mglab.chass.ncsu.edu/> at NC State University is proud to announce the release of the Retro Mobile Gaming Database <https://go.ncsu.edu/rmgd> [https://go.ncsu.edu/rmgd <http://database.mglab.chass.ncsu.edu/>] (RMGD). The RMGD is an online, publicly searchable database of early mobile games, intended for use by game scholars, students interested in games, and game enthusiasts. The RMGD includes information about games developed between the years 1975-2008. We have selected this initial experimental timeframe to demarcate the release of the earliest handheld games up through the release of iPhone 3G and app store in 2008, when the number of mobile games grew significantly. The RMGD offers a centralized repository for researching games. Prior to this point, it was often very difficult to find information about specific mobile games or to understand how they related to one another, since several early mobile games lacked consistent documentation and were experimental, ephemeral, or small-scale in nature. The RMGD fills this gap by allowing users to search using a wide range of criteria, such as title, time frame, genre, type of connectivity, number of players, place of development, authors, hardware, as well as popular press and scholarly articles written about them. By combining and establishing search criteria, users will be able to trace new correlations among games that otherwise might not be evident. The database also provides a map that shows the geographic locations of where searched games were developed and a list of games with similar features. In addition, users will be able to participate by not only searching for games, but also by suggesting new games! So, if you know of a game that is not currently in the database, you can help to populate our database by suggesting a new game. To do that, simply register for a new account and complete the “suggest new entry” form. The game suggestions will be reviewed by the MGRL staff before becoming publicly available. WE WELCOME YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS! Users can also export their search results as a .csv file, so that the data can be used for any individual research purposes. Finally, the repository is mobile friendly, so you can access it either from your computer or mobile device. Mobile games are a growing and increasingly complex genre. Our database aims at creating a centralized repository for all types of mobile games, including (1) games played on mobile gaming consoles, such as Mattel Football and Nintendo Game & Watch Parachute, (2) games played on mobile phone screens, such as Tetris and Snake, and (2) games played with mobile phones, but that take place simultaneously in physical and digital spaces, such as location-based mobile games, hybrid reality games, pervasive games, augmented reality games, and urban games. *** The Retro Mobile Gaming Database was developed and designed by the NC State University Computer Science Department Senior Design Center team members:Alexander Chtcheprov, Shrawan Gautam, Neeloy Gomes, and Meet Patel, under the mentorship of Ms. Margaret Heil (Director), Dr. Lina Battestilli (Technical Advisor) and Mr. Michael DeHaan (Technical Consultant). The concept, content and structure of the MGDB was developed by the NCSU Mobile Gaming Research Lab research team, which is comprised of Ragan Glover-Rikjse ( CRDM, PhD candidate) and Akshay D'Souza(STS student), under the supervision of Dr. Adriana de Souza e Silva (Professor of Communication). _________________________ Adriana de Souza e Silva University Faculty Scholar Professor Department of Communication NC State University http://www.souzaesilva.com <http://www.souzaesilva.com/>

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Call for Reviews: Information & Culture
by James A Hodges 25 Jan '21

25 Jan '21

Greetings, and please accept my apologies for cross-posting with a few other lists. I’m James Hodges, and I am in the process of assuming the position of Senior Book Reviews Editor for Information & Culture journal ( https://infoculturejournal.org/) I will be taking the helm from our current editor later this spring, and I’m writing today to solicit pitches for our upcoming issues. I’m especially interested in bringing a more global and multicultural range of subject matter to our review pages. This means that while our general focus on the social and cultural influence of information remains unchanged, I am eager to seek out books and reviewers with origins and expertise in areas beyond the Anglosphere and Global North. Do you have a book coming out that fits with the editorial mission of Information & Culture? Is there a new or upcoming book that you would like to review? If so, please contact reviews(a)ischool.utexas.edu to let us know! We are also currently seeking reviewers for the following titles: A History of Data Visualization and Graphic Communication Michael Friendly, Howard Wainer; June 2021 https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674975231 Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge Richard Ovenden; November 2020 https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674241206 Please get in touch via reviews(a)ischool.utexas.edu if you are interested in reviewing these or other titles. More information: Information & Culture is an academic journal printed three times a year by the University of Texas Press. It publishes original, high-quality, peer reviewed articles examining the social and cultural influences and impact of information and its associated technologies, broadly construed, on all areas of human endeavor. In keeping with the spirit of information studies, we seek papers emphasizing a human-centered focus that address the role of and reciprocal relationship of information and culture, regardless of time and place. The journal welcomes submissions from an array of relevant theoretical and methodological approaches, including but not limited to historical, sociological, psychological, political and educational research that address the interaction of information and culture. I look forward to collaborating with members of this community! Sincerely, James -- *JAMES A. HODGES* Bullard Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Texas at Austin School of Information

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Identity Systems on Computer Networks
by D. Schmudde 22 Jan '21

22 Jan '21

Hello all - I am interested in learning more about the history of identity systems on computer networks. From finger to CompuServe IDs to Twitter handles. Any advice for resources? I am most interested in the design trade-offs made for each system. Priorities may include memorability, ease of administration, anonymity, user flexibility, findability, uniqueness, and cultural issues that relate to self identification or identification in society. Any research that pertains to these issues is much appreciated. While I have your attention, I'll also ask if anybody would like to anecdotally share any particularly absurd or well-conceived identity systems they have encountered. Many thanks! /David -- w: http://schmud.de e: d(a)schmud.de t: @dschmudde

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Richards Book
by Holbrook, Dan 18 Jan '21

18 Jan '21

Hello, I have a very nice copy of Richards, R. K. Digital Computer Components and Circuits. Princeton, N.J.: Van Nostrand, 1957, that I will be happy to send to anyone who wants it. It was once owned by Montgomery Phister (https://prabook.com/web/montgomery.phister/3485617) Let me know if you want it and I'll send it right out. Dan Holbrook

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Fwd: [CDCinfo] a question for computer historians regarding Netscape
by Jan Müggenburg 17 Jan '21

17 Jan '21

Dear everyone, here’s an interesting question concerning the history of Netscape from my dear colleague Andreas Bernard. How did Andreessen and Clark (and probably Perkins?) celebrate the foundation of Mosaic Communications Corporation on April 4th 1994? Can someone help? ---jan Prof. Dr. Jan Müggenburg Assistant Professor for Media History and History of Science Leuphana University of Lueneburg Institute for Culture and Aesthetics of Digital Media Universitätsallee 1, C5.324 Fon: 0049 4131 6771647 21335 Lueneburg E-Mail: jan.mueggenburg(a)leuphana.de > Anfang der weitergeleiteten Nachricht: > > Von: "Andreas Bernard" <CDCinfo(a)leuphana.de> > Betreff: [CDCinfo] a question for computer historians > Datum: 14. Januar 2021 um 10:34:56 MEZ > Antwort an: "Andreas Bernard" <bernard(a)leuphana.de> > > Dear all, > I have a little question concerning a certain day in recent computer history. Has anybody done some research or does anybody know a source about April 4 1994, the day Andreessen and Clark founded Netscape? I would need some precise information on the circumstances of that day: when and where did they release the foundation, how did they celebrate it, what did they do in the evening of April 4 (e.g. a festive dinner, a big party)? > It would be so great if somebody among us knew a source? I have researched the Net for hours and all I found was only some very general articles about the foundation, without any specific information. > Thank you so much for your help. > Best regards, Andreas > > > Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernard > Leuphana Universität Lüneburg > Centre for Digital Cultures > Am Sande 5 > 21335 Lüneburg > > Tel.: 04131 2192622 > cdc.leuphana.com > > >

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Gravitational Waves Event
by Brian Berg 17 Jan '21

17 Jan '21

Hello, all, This is a bit off-topic for this list, but I thought you would still be interested in this Feb. 3 IEEE Milestone dedication to honor 3 Gravitational-Wave Antennas, in Washington State and Louisiana, USA, along with one near Pisa, Italy. This summarizes the event in 140 characters: *An international event recognizing how massive antennas in the US and Italy confirmed Einstein's 1916 prediction about the nature of gravity* I have embellished this website with lots of background information: www.GWAMilestone.com It includes some fascinating videos - the ones of the three 2017 Nobel Laureates in Physics are priceless, and this event will feature them in an enchanting conversation about - the Universe. Register for this event on that website - it will be available internationally as an online event. Here is an image related to the event: [image: GW.jpg] Best wishes. ________________________ Brian A. Berg / bberg(a)StanfordAlumni.org Berg Software Design - LinkedIn Profile <https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaberg/> 14500 Big Basin Way, Suite F, Saratoga, CA 95070 USA Voice: 408.741.5010 / Cell: 408.568.2505 Consulting: Flash Memory/USB/Storage/Patents visit the Storage Cornucopia: www.bswd.com FMS Technical Chair: www.FlashMemorySummit.com IEEE Milestone <http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:List_of_IEEE_Milestones> Coordinator & History Chair for Region 6 <http://www.ieee-region6.org/> IEEE History Committee <https://www.ieee.org/about/history-center/history-committee.html> Member IEEE SCV Section <http://www.ieee.org/scv/> Past Chair / IEEE-CNSV <http://www.CaliforniaConsultants.org> Board Director IEEE Silicon Valley Tech History Committee <http://www.SiliconValleyHistory.com/> Chair

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Call for proposals: A New AI Lexicon
by Dr. Joy Lisi Rankin 16 Jan '21

16 Jan '21

Hello SIGCIS, I'm excited to share that my colleagues at AI Now, Noopur Raval and Amba Kak, have launched the project: A New AI Lexicon: Responses and Challenges to the Critical AI Discourse. The projects aims to expand and revise critical AI thinking by attending to global racial histories, diverse queer movements, struggles of caste and tribe communities, and their specific place-based demands especially outside of the West. We need a more expansive stocktaking of race and gender relations as well as the variegated forms of marginalization globally. As part of this project, we are inviting short essays that address or challenge a dominant concept, metaphor, or keyword along which critical AI thinking is currently undertaken (like Fairness, Transparency, Accountability, Bias, Auditing, Ghost Labor, Explainability, Social Good etc.). Or identify new terms or formulations currently missing from the discourse. We encourage academics, activists, journalists and others, especially early career or junior colleagues researching global AI histories, materialities and futures to apply. We are able to offer financial support to a limited number of contributors, and the submission guidelines are available here: https://medium.com/a-new-ai-lexicon/a-new-ai-lexicon-responses-and-challeng… If you have any questions, or know someone who would be a good fit for this project, please feel free to reach out to me, Noopur (noopur(a)ainowinstitute.org) or Amba (amba(a)ainowinstitute.org) Thanks very much, Joy Joy Lisi Rankin | she/her/hers Research Lead for the Gender, Race, and Power in AI Program AI Now Institute @ NYU Author: A People's History of Computing in the US Recently: "Bodies into Bits" and "Whitewashing Tech"

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