July 2021 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

2021 Mahoney Prize nominations
by Elizabeth Petrick 10 May '22

10 May '22

Hello everyone, It's time for the 2021 Mahoney Prize for outstanding article in the history of computing and information technology, broadly conceived. Articles published in 2018, 2019, or 2020 will be considered. Self-nominations and nominations of others are both welcome. Please email a copy of the article to members of the prize committee, listed here: https://www.sigcis.org/mahoneyprize Deadline is May 1, 2021. Best, Liz ------------- Elizabeth Petrick Associate Professor Department of History Rice University http://elizabethpetrick.com/

2 2

query re: Early UNIX distribution tape formats
by Acker, Amelia 31 Jul '21

31 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, I am researching early uses of magnetic tape for sharing and storing information with minicomputers, especially DEC machines. I am trying to gather stories where magnetic tapes are used to share software and data. I’ve been learning about how Ken Thompson developed UNIX using the PDP-7 and later installing version 6 on a PDP-11 at Berkeley. According to Salus’ Quarter Century of UNIX, around 1978, Bill Joy begins offering a BSD distribution tapes described as '800 bpi magnetic tape, 1200 foot reel at $50'. Other accounts also mention "the 50 fixes" diff tape and Bell’s lawyers demanding licensees destroy the diff tape. I’m having trouble finding more information about the specifications of these tape formats. Does anyone know what format(s) these early UNIX distribution tapes or would be? I would like to confirm that they were magnetic tape (and not paper?), and if any were DECtape or another kind of data tape format. Any ideas? Or good place to look for confirmation? I would be grateful for any sources you can point me too. Thanks, Amelia Amelia Acker, Assistant Professor Director, Critical Data Studies Lab The University of Texas at Austin | School of Information http://www.ameliaacker.com/

2 1

Research into the history of PNG? (Bonus: "paleo PNGs")
by Jeff Thompson 28 Jul '21

28 Jul '21

Hi everyone, a summertime shot in the dark maybe, but is/has anyone here done work on the history of the PNG format? I’m working on a project creating an annotated PNG file, weaving together technical details and historical info on how the PNG format was created and the layers of other technologies that it’s built on. Would love suggestions for reading and/or to chat with anyone who has done work in this area! As a bonus, if anyone is interested I’ve unearthed two of the “paleo PNGs,” some of the first images encoded in the PNG format by Glenn Randers Pehrson in 1995. You can find lots of dead links to them online and I had no luck for months.. finally stumbled on them and have attached them here! Cheers and thanks for letting me lurk here :) Jeff - - - Jeff Thompson (he/him/his) Associate Professor Visual Art & Technology, Stevens Institute of Technology www.jeffreythompson.org

1 0

Oral history interviewer for VCF, Aug 7 & 8
by LO*OP CENTER, INC. 23 Jul '21

23 Jul '21

Dear SHOT and SIGCIS Folks, I'd like to recruit 4 or 5 of you to help collect oral histories at the Vintage Computer Festival-West <https://vcfed.org/wp/festivals/vintage-computer-festival-west/> in Mountain View, CA on August 7 and 8. Most attendees and exhibitors will be hobbyists, hardware and software aficionados, and gamers. My particular interest is in the intersection of computing and education. Often this will be non-formal or informal learning but sometimes it may be school, college or on-the-job training. I want to explore with interviewees: 1. What they learned in their early contacts with computers 2. How what they have learned has impacted what they are doing now 3. Their vision of how computing (and communication) technologies can enhance learning in the future If you are interested in this project, please contact me directly whenever you have time. If you can help me out at the Festival the first weekend in August, please get in touch immediately. Experience in oral history is helpful but not necessary. We can teach each other. Thanks in advance, Liza lizaloop(a)loopcenter.org -- Liza Loop Executive Director, LO*OP Center, Inc. Guerneville, CA 95446 www.loopcenter.org 650 619 1099 (between 8 am and 10 pm Pacific time only please)

1 0

40th Anniversary IBM PC
by James Cortada 22 Jul '21

22 Jul '21

Hard to believe but in August 1981 IBM introduced its PC and along came all those Charlie Chaplin advertisements. The IEEE just published a short history of the PC extracted from my history book, *IBM. *I thought it might be of some interest to my fellow colleagues in SIGCIS. https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-history/silicon-revolution/how-the-ibm-pc-wo… Jim Cortada -- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada(a)umn.edu 608-274-6382

1 0

Seminar on the history of computing in Latin America
by Fabian Prieto 20 Jul '21

20 Jul '21

Dear Colleagues A group of scholars from Latin America (me included) have been working on putting together an open seminar on the History of Computing Latin America. We are inviting anyone interested to join the Seminar, as well as to know more about our community. Classes will be in Spanish and Portuguese initially but we are planning to add english readings and translation in future versions of the seminar. What we want is to extend the reach of our community and support groups like SIGCIS. The link for the seminar can be found at: http://citeus.org/sp2021-hialyc/ If you need more information, you can email me at fprieto(a)vt.edu Many thanks Sincerely, -- Fabian Prieto Ñañez *Assistant Professor* *Department of Science, Technology, and Society280 Alumni MallVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061-0247*

1 0

Fw: History of Computing curator position open
by Ceruzzi, Paul 14 Jul '21

14 Jul '21

Hello folks: I'm resending this announcement, as many of you may have been away on vacations or out of touch. Applications accepted until July 27, which is coming up fast. best, Paul Ceruzzi ________________________________ The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is seeking to hire a new curator of the history of computing (see below for details). Applications will be accepted until July 27, 2021. Please follow the links below for more details. And please share this announcement with anyone you think would be interested in putting in an application. Please note that there are two listings: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/606618800 - for current and former federal employees https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/606854200 - for the public Summary The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The National Air and Space Museum department of Space History embraces topics such as rockets, spacecraft, and other technologies. The incumbent curates the department's collection and exhibits with a focus on the history of computing with an emphasis on its role in spaceflight. This position is OUTSIDE bargaining unit. Responsibilities Duties of the GS-11 and GS-12 are the same. At the GS-11 level there is closer supervision of the work completed. * Conduct independent technical research on the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance resulting in publications in peer-reviewed journals or books * Serve as a curator to include managing and interpreting artifacts associated with the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance. * Develop exhibits, especially as related to the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance. * Prepare technical reports in writing as well as oral presentations to the staff and public and digital outreach on the Museum and its collection. * Foster relationships across the organization to enhance attention to the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance. Margaret A. Weitekamp, Ph.D. (she/her) Curator and Department Chair | Department of Space History Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum | Washington, D.C. P 202.633.2416 | E weitekampm(a)si.edu<mailto:weitekampm@si.edu> | IgniteTomorrow.si.edu<http://ignitetomorrow.si.edu/> [A close up of a sign Description automatically generated]<https://airandspace.si.edu/ignite-tomorrow/>

1 0

Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Bits & Bytes: News from the Charles Babbage Institute
by Jeffrey Yost 14 Jul '21

14 Jul '21

Dear Colleagues, Hope everyone is doing well! Please excuse any duplication as some/many on the SIGCIS list are also on ours at CBI. Here is the Summer 2021 *CBI Bits & Bytes* (a twice a year e-pub) with news of events, our fellows, developments at the CBI Archives, overview on the past year at CBI (my Dir. Desk), and a wonderful article by CBI Senior Research Fellow Bill Aspray on the early history of the history of computing (inspired by an oral history series he is kindly conducting for CBI that significantly advances early IT historical understandings, people, and institutions, and the historiography of computing)! Best, Jeff On Tue, Jul 13, 2021 at 9:52 AM Charles Babbage Institute <cbi(a)umn.edu> wrote: > Summer 2021 edition of CBI's e-newsletter. > View this email in your browser > <https://mailchi.mp/ba9520f627aa/cbi-bits-and-bytes-13395867?e=7e9b315345> > > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > *Help us build a brighter tomorrow for the study of computing and > culture. * > Give today! > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > *Director's Desk* > Reflecting on the past academic year at CBI, work settings changed, but > dedicated service to local and global stakeholders, events, publications, > oral history projects, collection development, editing, and outreach > propelled our mission—advancing interdisciplinary computing/software > studies and infrastructure—stronger than ever! Read more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > > *The Early History of the History of Computing: * > *An Oral History Project* > The first concerted efforts to study the history of computing came in the > late 1970s, more than 40 years ago. Some of the main practitioners of that > era have died (e.g., I. Bernard Cohen, Bernard Galler, and Henry Tropp), > and many of the other participants from that era are at retirement age or a > few years beyond. Read more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > > * From the Archives* > There has been a great deal of forward momentum amongst the research > community as pandemic restrictions at many institutions begin to lift and > it has been a busy spring and early summer for researchers at CBI. Read > more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > > *CFP - Automation by Design* > > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > *Automation by Design* is a global, interdisciplinary, virtual CBI > symposium on the politics and culture of digital automation. We welcome > papers in a broad range of fields across the humanities and social > sciences. Read more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > > *Zachary Loeb Named New Tomash Fellow* > We are delighted to announce that Zachary Loeb is the incoming 2021-2022 > Erwin and Adelle Tomash Fellow. His dissertation will be a social and > technical examination of the “much-maligned” Year 2000 (Y2K) crisis. Read > more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > *UMN IDFs Exemplifying and Enriching CBI’s Interdisciplinary Mission * > The University of Minnesota-wide Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship > (IDFs) Program is a tremendous resource for furthering interdisciplinary > engagement in doctoral research at the university. It provides $25,000 > doctoral fellowships to ABD students to partner with a research center > within the University of Minnesota. Read more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > > *Norberg Grantees, 2021* > The Norberg Travel Grant Program is an annual competition that supports > talented scholars visiting CBI to use our archival collections. It is named > after and supported by donors and endowed funds in honor of Professor > Arthur L. Norberg, CBI’s Founding Director. Read more. > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > Subscribe to Bits & Bytes > <cbi@umn.edu?subject=I%20would%20like%20to%20receive%20Bits%20%26%20Bytes%20from%20CBI> > Forward to a Friend > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > [image: Facebook] > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > [image: Website] > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > [image: Twitter] > <https://umn.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac86934aa6cefdac2c4dcaa2e&id=…> > [image: Email] <cbi(a)umn.edu> > *Copyright © 2021 Charles Babbage Institute, All rights reserved.* > You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. > > *Our mailing address is:* > Charles Babbage Institute > Andersen Library, University of Minnesota > 222 21st Ave S Ste 211 > Minneapolis, MN 55455-4400 > > >

1 0

Instructions (Technology and Language Call for Contributions)
by David Nofre 10 Jul '21

10 Jul '21

Dear all, This recent call for contributions for a new special issue of /Technology and Language/ on "Instructions" could be of interest to members of this list. Best, David -------- Doorgestuurd bericht -------- Onderwerp: Instructions (Technology and Language Call for Contributions) Datum: Sat, 10 Jul 2021 00:05:42 +0000 Van: Nordmann, Alfred <alfred.nordmann(a)TU-DARMSTADT.DE> Antwoord-naar: Nordmann, Alfred <alfred.nordmann(a)TU-DARMSTADT.DE> Aan: MERSENNE(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK The third issue of Technology and Language has just appeared, and with it a new call for contributions. Individual papers and the whole issue are freely available: https://soctech.spbstu.ru/en/issue/3/ <https://soctech.spbstu.ru/en/issue/3/> "Forensic Examinations: Terms and Techniques" – not from the point of view of semiotics and a theory of traces but by way of forensics scientists who consider the dimensions of “technology and language” in their empirical research. (Also, four contributed papers with topics ranging from the philosophical reflection of language as technology and molecular writing to a psychological theory of the regulation of human behavior in a digital environment, and finally the didactic value of plurilingual courses in University curricula). New Call for Contributions: Instructions. Do technical processes unfold as instructed in that they execute a program or in that their parts perform prescribed motions? But what is a program anyhow, be it a computer program or the program of a musical concert or wedding - or is the notion of ‚instruction‘ too narrow here? Can the blueprint for a device be compared to the notation of a choreography? Inversely, do technologies instruct the behavior of users in that they establish a script which users need to follow? - And what is instruction in the first place: Does the case, for example, of language instruction follow a technical paradigm as well? The June 2022 special issue of „Technology and Language“ will be dedicated to thesequestions. Inquiries are welcome now, the final deadline for submissions is February 15, 2022. (Guest editors: Jens Geisse and Marcel Siegler) Technology and Language invites interdisciplinary explorations at the interface of technology and language - contributed papers in English or Russian are welcome at any time. Other calls: Technology and the Media Environment of the Information Society (expressions of interest until July 23, 2021): Social networks and communication systems, new modes of reading and writing stand for the disruptive effects of digital and cyber-technologies on practices of communication and expression not only in the internet but also in traditional media. Possible topics include 1) nudging, disinformation, and technologies for the manipulation of behavior and consciousness, 2) the digital language of intelligent environments, 3) information technologies in social engineering environments and technocracies, 4) cognitive technology and sociolinguistic practice. (Guest editor: Olga Shipunova) Technology as Language - Understanding Action in a Technical Condition (Deadline: September 21, 2021): The philosophy of technology and language meets theories of action. Actions are understood in reference to reasons and causes which are formed in a social setting. The hermeneutics of action takes on a further dimension, however, when technical agency and technological activity are brought into play. Of particular interest are the symbols and tools of labor as knowledge is translated into action. Another focus is on technology and semiosis or the technical generation of the signs and sign systems that structure and constrain action – especially interesting and problematic in the age of self-learning technical systems. (Guest editor: Alexander Nesterow) Robot Constructions (Deadline January 10, 2022: The word) "robot" is a Czech invention. As the word traveled to English speaking areas and from there to other languages and cultures, did the robot on this journey become something else? For robots and AI, more generally, we want to explore how they are imagined, defined, described, comprehended, constructed or even misunderstoodbefore and after they become a technological reality – how they are constituted in language, how cosmopolitan or intercultural they are. We are hoping for contributions from linguistics, philosophy, cultural and gender studies, history of technology, STS, and literature. (Guest editor: CHENG Lin) Queries, suggestions, and submissions can be addressed to soctech(a)spbstu.ru or to Daria Bylieva (bylieva_ds(a)spbstu.ru)and Alfred Nordmann (nordmann(a)phil.tu-darmstadt.de) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from the MERSENNE list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=MERSENNE&A=1 <https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=MERSENNE&A=1>

1 0

History of Aerospace Computing, Museum Curator at NASM
by Ceruzzi, Paul 08 Jul '21

08 Jul '21

This is one of three curatorial positions that have opened at the National Air and Space Museum. Paul Ceruzzi Curator Emeritus National Air and Space Museum There are two listings on USAJOBS.gov, one for federal employees, one open to the public: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/606618800 - MPA (current and former federal employees) https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/606854200 - DEU (public) Responsibilities Duties of the GS-11 and GS-12 are the same. At the GS-11 level there is closer supervision of the work completed. * Conduct independent technical research on the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance resulting in publications in peer-reviewed journals or books * Serve as a curator to include managing and interpreting artifacts associated with the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance. * Develop exhibits, especially as related to the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance. * Prepare technical reports in writing as well as oral presentations to the staff and public and digital outreach on the Museum and its collection. * Foster relationships across the organization to enhance attention to the history of computing, including design, technology, culture, and historical significance. For a federal job application, you have to be both precise and inclusive. Any experience, paid or unpaid, counts. So volunteer work can be listed to demonstrate experience and skill. But applications have to include all requested material or they will not be included in the body of applicants that the SME Panel will get to sort. So, if it says to include the dates, including both month and year, for employment as well as rate of pay and hours worked, for each job listed under experience, then the application has to have all of that information included or it will not be forwarded. Margaret A. Weitekamp, Ph.D. (she/her) Curator and Department Chair | Department of Space History Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum | Washington, D.C. P 202.633.2416 | E weitekampm(a)si.edu<mailto:weitekampm@si.edu> | IgniteTomorrow.si.edu

1 0