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software in univ admin, admissions, budgets, research mgmt 1970-2020
by Sharon Traweek 15 Sep '19

15 Sep '19

Dear SIGCIS colleagues, from whom I have learned so much, Awkwardly, I have some large queries over a large time span (1970-2020). I am seeking information on decision making about the digital resources used in university administration, admissions, budgeting, and research management since the 1970s. Much that I have found (and witnessed) concerns decisions among a very limited set of products and then deployment strategies about the selected products, rather than what I am seeking: reflections and analysis of why only some kinds of existing products were investigated, rather than developing new resources based on the distinctive features of universities. First, I would welcome counter-examples. My preliminary inquiries suggest that much in use by universities is * based upon “customer relationship management” (CRM) platforms developed during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and * were first designed for industry, then as the management ideas and practices on which they were based became outdated, the older products were then marketed to governments, and finally re-marketed to universities, with limited modifications. I do see national and regional variation in these processes. I would appreciate information about any engagements with or historical research on either of these decision processes * among software design groups to redeploy and market older products to new sectors, or * among universities to adapt older products, rather than develop new products specifically for their administrative processes. When I began asking these questions I assumed there would be much research already done on these processes; perhaps it is indeed there and I have missed it. I would appreciate any suggestions. Sincerely, Sharon Traweek Gender Studies/History, UCLA http://www.genderstudies.ucla.edu/faculty/sharon-traweek<https://exchange2010.ss.ucla.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=zvqfx1SvB9Oi5PmUkMQOHJ…> Access some of my publications at https://ucla.academia.edu/STraweek<https://exchange2010.ss.ucla.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=MyAq2tZ6yYDVtZY7VgdsAh…> https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-traweek-a257668<https://exchange2010.ss.ucla.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=uzkN9PkMi8bLatbAzYgZQT…> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sharon_Traweek<https://exchange2010.ss.ucla.edu/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=jraQLuoJLfTYMn-Z8oqyEO…> Those sites need updating ...

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Percy Ludgate, Irish Computer Pioneer
by Brian Randell 15 Sep '19

15 Sep '19

Hi: In recent years Dr Brian Coghlan, who is in charge of Trinity College’s very impressive and extensive John Gabriel Byrne Computer Science Collection (https://www.scss.tcd.ie/SCSSTreasuresCatalog/) has led a small enthusiastic informal group of people energetically researching the life and work of Percy Ludgate (1883-1922),. Percy Ludgate is the first person known to have followed in Charles Babbage’s footsteps. Many years ago I had stumbled across a reference to his work. I published an account of my attempt to find out about him and had reprinted, in my book The Origins of Digital Computers: Selected Papers (Springer-Verlag 1973), the one detailed published account of his Analytical Machine that I had found he had written. I had done little further investigation thereafter, until I was contacted by Brian, almost three years ago. Since then I have been a minor contributor to the work of Brian and his team, and am greatly impressed by the amount of further information they have found about Ludgate and his family. Brian gave a fascinating summary account of the team's research at the recent West Cork History Festival. An mp4 video of his presentation as well as other relevant documentation, is at: https://www.scss.tcd.ie/SCSSTreasuresCatalog/miscellany/TCD-SCSS-X.20121208… A PDF of his Powerpoint presentation can be found at: https://www.scss.tcd.ie/SCSSTreasuresCatalog/miscellany/TCD-SCSS-X.20121208…. This details all the information that has been found about Ludgate and his family, and lists numerous outstanding queries. Needless to say, help in answering any of these queries will be very welcome. Cheers Brian Randell — School of Computing, Newcastle University, 1 Science Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5TG EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 208 7923 URL = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/people/profile/brianrandell.html

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SIGCIS members/Historians of Computing in/near Bangalore
by David C. Brock 12 Sep '19

12 Sep '19

I was curious to know of SIGCIS members or historians of computing in or near Bangalore? +++++++++++++++ David C. Brock dcb(a)dcbrock.net 40 Russell Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 Mobile: 413-522-3578 Skype: dcbrock Twitter: @dcbrock

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Documentation of AOL in mid-1990s
by Avery Dame-Griff 12 Sep '19

12 Sep '19

All, I've had limited locating these on my own, so I wonder if anyone has any suggestions: Are there archives (official or community-based) of documents related to America Online, especially during its mid-1990s boom? I'm especially interested in two things: A) Guides/Community Leaders' day-to-day practices around policing offensive content and B) AOL's relationship to independent community-oriented content providers (including compensation rates, contracts, etc.). Some documentation of Guide practices and policies exists, but there's almost nothing about the latter - it's my suspicion most users didn't even know some forums were run by independent contractors. Thanks in advance, Avery Dame-Griff -- Avery Dame-Griff Lecturer, Communication Studies/Women and Gender Studies (Spring 2020) Gonzaga University Curator, Queer Digital History Project <http://queerdigital.com/> averydame.net <http://www.averydame.net/> avery.dame(a)gmail.com

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Members Digest, Vol 55, Issue 6
by Ceruzzi, Paul 11 Sep '19

11 Sep '19

SIGSALY: I did a blog post a while ago about SIGSALY, using an image I got from the NSA. Not sure if you can use it, but you can pull the image off the blog: Unfortunately we were unable to get rights for the image I found of Grandmaster Flash using the twin turntables. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/gps-%E2%80%93-hollywood-actres… Paul Ceruzzi ________________________________ From: Members <members-bounces(a)lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of members-request(a)lists.sigcis.org <members-request(a)lists.sigcis.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 4:35 PM To: members(a)lists.sigcis.org <members(a)lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Members Digest, Vol 55, Issue 6 Send Members mailing list submissions to members(a)lists.sigcis.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigc… or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to members-request(a)lists.sigcis.org You can reach the person managing the list at members-owner(a)lists.sigcis.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Members digest..." Today's Topics: 1. SIGSALY photos? (Bernard Geoghegan) 2. Re: SIGSALY photos? (Roberts, Sarah) 3. Documentation of AOL in mid-1990s (Avery Dame-Griff) 4. Re: Documentation of AOL in mid-1990s (Roberts, Sarah) 5. Re: Documentation of AOL in mid-1990s (Avery Dame-Griff) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2019 14:11:13 +0200 From: Bernard Geoghegan <bernardgeoghegan2010(a)u.northwestern.edu> To: <members(a)SIGCIS.org> Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] SIGSALY photos? Message-ID: <1EF07B64-8360-4D00-A990-98E8E7F991EE(a)u.northwestern.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Dear Colleagues, Can anyone recommend sources to get images of the SIGSALY cryptography machine, preferably from the 1940s (as opposed to a re-staging years later)? I?ve tried contacting the Crypto Museum, no answer, and there are images on Wikipedia of imperfectly documented provenance. However, I also think I?ve seen a few figures around over the years that aren?t circulating online?I can?t quite remember where, though. I?d like to find hi-res images that I can get good and solid clearance to republish. Tips? Best, b -- Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan Senior Lecturer in the History and Theory of Digital Media Chair of the UG Assessment Board, Digital Culture https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.bernardg.com&da… Department of Digital Humanities King's College London The Strand Building Room S3.08 WC2R 2LS Office: +44 (0)20 7848 4750

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Postdoctoral opportunity at Cornell
by Rebecca Slayton 10 Sep '19

10 Sep '19

Dear SIGCIS colleagues, Just sending a note to let you know about a postdoctoral position on the topic of cybersecurity expertise, broadly construed. Historical, sociological, ethnographic, and other empirical approaches are welcome. The text of the ad is copied below, and it can also be viewed online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/14478 Please forward widely. And any questions, feel free to let me know! Best, Rebecca Postdoctoral Research Position in Cybersecurity Expertise The Department of Science & Technology Studies, jointly with the Judith Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, invite applications for a postdoctoral research position focused on cybersecurity expertise, broadly construed. Anticipated start date is in August 2020, for a one-year appointment with possibility of renewal contingent on performance and funding availability. This position is funded by National Science Foundation grant 1553069, "Enacting Cybersecurity Expertise," and is supervised by Principal Investigator Rebecca Slayton. The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to pursue research that contributes to achieving project goals, but will have considerable latitude in defining specific areas of empirical focus. Potential focal areas could include, but are not limited to, the following examples: * How policymakers and regulators in electric or nuclear power sector attempt to acquire, maintain, or perform the expertise needed to design and enforce cybersecurity requirements; * The history of efforts to professionalize critical infrastructure cybersecurity expertise, whether nationally or transnationally; * The development and influence of transnational communities of experts, such as network operator or cybersecurity incident response networks; * Ethnographic studies of how specific critical infrastructure organizations attempt to bridge the divide between operational technology and information security. This list is only intended to be suggestive; many other possibilities exist. Responsibilities will include developing and refining research questions, identifying appropriate research sites, establishing relationships with informants, conducting interviews and observational research, gathering documentary evidence, analyzing results, publishing research in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting findings at professional conferences. The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to demonstrate leadership and independence, while also working collaboratively with the principal investigator to achieve research objectives. Required qualifications: Applicants should have earned a Ph.D. in a relevant field such as science & technology studies, anthropology, sociology, history, or information science, between August 2017 and August 2020. Competitive candidates will have successful record of empirical social scientific research in a topic relevant to critical infrastructure and/or information security, including publications and presentations and professional conferences. Application process: The following application materials should be submitted to Academic Jobs Online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/14478: * A cover letter articulating what you find interesting about the project, potential research foci, and relevant qualifications; * A curriculum vita; * A brief (less than 10,000 words) writing sample; * Names and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2020, and will continue until the position is filled. Cornell University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educator, committed to a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. Women and members of under-represented minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.Diversity and inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

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Deutsches Museum Scholar-in-Residence Program ( Application deadline: October 11, 2019 )
by Ulf Hashagen 09 Sep '19

09 Sep '19

Dear all, The Deutsches Museum in Munich has several attractive scholarships to offer research scholars interested in working for six or 12 months on projects involving the museum`s vast and heterogeneous collections. The scholarship programme is international and interdisciplinary in scope. There are myriad opportunities at the Deutsches Museum for innovative research into scientific processes and the changing cultures of technology. Founded in 1903, the museum's holdings comprise some 100,000 objects; an archive <https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/archives/> of 4,500 shelf metres including an extensive collection of scientific photographs, technical illustrations, trade literature and private papers; and a specialist research library <https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/library/> with 875,000 volumes, 5,000 journals, and an extensive collection of rare books on te history of science and technology. The museum's collections have evolved over the years, absorbing the instruments, books and archives of individual scientists and engineers as well as of companies and scientific institutions, and reflect bygone experimental systems and cultures of innovation. The unique structure of this collection enables scholars to develop innovative cross-disciplinary methods of research on the basis of texts, images and artefacts available on site and to engage in both the historical and archaeological exploration of science and technology. Applicants are invited to base their projects on the collections of the Deutsches Museum and to cooperate closely with museum staff on site when formulating their research proposals. Projects involving innovative approaches to artefact-oriented research are especially welcome. During their stay, visiting scholars will have daily contact with the museum´s curators, archivists and librarians (approx. 50 staff members) as well as members of the Münchner Zentrum für Wissenschafts- und Technikgeschichte <http://www.mzwtg.mwn.de/> (Munich Center for the History of Science and Technology; approx. 50 staff members). Scholarship holders will have their own workplace with a desktop computer and telephone, and the opportunity to reside temporarily in subsidized apartments of the museum complex insofar as these are available. They will present their research projects to colleagues at the beginning of their stay and will be expected to participate regularly in the museum’s and the Munich Centre’s Monday colloquium series and workshops. Pre-doctoral stipends: € 7,500 (six months) / € 15,000 (full year). Post-doctoral stipends: € 15,000 (six months) / € 30,000 (full year). Scholars at any level of seniority are eligible to apply, provided they have at least one university degree (Master or PhD). BA is not sufficient. There are no restrictions regarding nationality. All scholars are requested to make their own provisions for health insurance. The ability to read German is a prerequisite for the application (passive language skills). * Application deadline: *October 11, 2019* *Please send applications,* including: * completed application form (pdf-file <https://www.deutsches-museum.de/fileadmin/Content/010_DM/050_Forschung/Form…>, 20 kB or rtf-file <https://www.deutsches-museum.de/fileadmin/Content/TRASH/Form2012_SIRengl.rtf> 60 kB) * curriculum vitae * project description (3 to 5 pages) * two confidential references (can be sent directly by the referees) * to the following address:* Andrea Walther Coordinator of the Research Institute Deutsches Museum 80306 Munich Tel.: 00 49 (0) 89 2179-280 Fax: 00 49 (0) 89 2179-239 E-Mail: a.waltherdeutsches-museum.de Detailed information available upon request: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Vaupel (Email: e.vaupel(a)deutsches-museum.de) Best regards Ulf Hashagen -- PD Dr. Ulf Hashagen Leitung / Head Forschungsinstitut für Technik- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte / The Research Institute for the History of Science and Technology Deutsches Museum Museumsinsel 1 80538 München / Munich Germany Tel. +49/(0)89/2179-453 Fax +49/(0)89/2179-239 u.hashagen(a)deutsches-museum.de http://www.deutsches-museum.de/forschung/wissenschaftl-mitarbeiter/pd-dr-ul…

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Call for panel participants (ICA): big data, infrastructures, platforms
by Ragan Glover 04 Sep '19

04 Sep '19

**apologies for cross-posting** Call for panel participants We are looking for participants for an International Communication Association 2020 panel submission that will engage with the tension between Open Science and big data use by infrastructures and platforms. ICA 2020 takes place in Gold Coast, Australia from May 21-25, 2020. More info can be found here. <https://www.icahdq.org/page/2020CFP> Our proposed panel will focus on open communication, big data, infrastructures, and platforms. While open communication initiatives value transparency, collaboration, and public knowledge, these goals are often at odds with capitalistic arrangements of big data collection. Scholarship examining big data notes the issues of privacy and surveillance (Andrejevic, 2007; Introna & Wood, 2004; Esposti, 2014); the concerns related to data divides and asymmetry of access (Andrejevic & Gates, 2014); and the dangers of utilizing opaque, inexplicable, and correlative big data outputs for forms of so-called objective decision making (boyd & Crawford, 2012; Tenner, 2018). Likewise, the scholarship on platform infrastructures suggests that while they deliver essential social / cultural resources, they also prompt a recentralization of the internet that threatens to funnel data into increasingly segmented silos (Plantin & Punathambekar, 2019; Srnicek, 2017). Noting this, Plantin, Lagoze, Edwards, and Sandvig (2018) indicate that a “fraught relationship...currently exists between the public-oriented Open Web and locked-in ‘walled gardens’” of platforms and infrastructures (p. 301). To better understand this relationship, we are looking for theoretical and methodological engagements with big data platforms and infrastructures that specifically attend to the complexities of closed and open access, digital inequalities and divides, and affirmative attempts at open data usage. If interested, please submit a 150-word abstract and presentation title via email to Justin Grandinetti and Ragan Glover-Rijkse at jgrandin(a)uncc.edu and rglove2(a)ncsu.edu by October 1st for consideration. Please note—panel submissions must adhere to ICA’s 2020 guidelines on gender balance, institutional diversity, and international collaboration. We will consider submissions and make decisions shortly thereafter. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to reading submissions! Timeline: - October 1st: submit an abstract if interested in joining this panel - October 5th: we will contact selections for participation - November 1st: deadline for finalized 150-word abstracts, 400-word panel rationale, and 75-word panel description for conference program References: Andrejevic, M., & Gates, K. (2014). Big Data Surveillance: Introduction. Surveillance & Society,12(2), 185-196. boyd, d., & Crawford, K. (2012). Critical Questions for Big Data: Provocations for a cultural, technological, and scholarly phenomenon. Information, Communication & Society, 15(5), 662–679. Esposti, S. (2014). When big data meets dataveillance: The hidden side of analytics. Surveillance & Society, 12(2), 209–225. Introna, L., & Wood, D. (2004). Picturing algorithmic surveillance: the politics of facial recognition systems. Surveillance and Society, 2(2-3), 177–198. Plantin, J., Lagoze, C., Edwards, P., & Sandvig, C. (2018). Infrastructure studies meet platform studies in the age of Google and Facebook. New Media & Society, 20(1), 293–310. Plantin, J.-C., & Punathambekar, A. (2019). Digital media infrastructures: pipes, platforms, and politics. Media, Culture & Society, 41(2), 163–174. Srnicek, N. (2017) Platform Capitalism. Malden, MA: Polity. Tenner, E. (2018). The Efficiency Paradox: What Big Data Can't Do. New York, NY: Knopf, Borzoi Books.

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Invitation to: Data & Society Welcome Week
by Executive Assistant 03 Sep '19

03 Sep '19

Hello, We are reaching out to invite you to our first Data & Society Welcome Week, a series of events on September 10 and 11, 2019 to introduce you to our organization, our community and our work. If you've never heard of us before, Data & Society <https://datasociety.net/> is a New York City based independent nonprofit research institute that advances public understanding of the social implications of data-centric technologies and automation. The week will feature a talk by Sareeta Amrute, Director of Research, and Research Analyst, Emanuel Moss. We will conclude with a Community Open House for a chance to interact with our researchers <https://datasociety.net/people/researchers/>, staff members <https://datasociety.net/people/staff/>, and discover upcoming opportunities. This is a great way for you to learn more about what we do and the multiple pathways into our expanding network. Come see how our scholars frame conversations about the implications of data-centric technologies and gain insights into Data & Society’s ongoing research initiatives and projects. [image: open-house-image.jpg] PATHWAYS FOR PARTICIPATION 1 [Research Talk] Toward a Language for Computing from/in the Global South, Or, How to Decolonize with a Slash Speaker: Sareeta Amrute <https://datasociety.net/people/amrute-sareeta/>, Director of Research Date & Time: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | 3-4 PM EST RSVP <https://welcomeweek_researchtalk.eventbrite.com/> * Please note that we have limited capacity and can only accommodate 25 attendees for this talk. 2 [Research Talk] The Promises and Limitations of the "Empirical Turn" in AI Ethics Speaker: Alexa Hagerty <https://anthropology.stanford.edu/people/alexa-hagerty>, Anthropologist & Founder of Dovetail Labs Hosted by: Emanuel Moss <https://datasociety.net/people/moss-emmanuel/>, Research Analyst Date & Time: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 | 1-2 PM EST RSVP <https://sgs_empiricalturn_aiethics.eventbrite.com/> * Please note that we have limited capacity and can only accommodate 25 attendees for this talk. 3 [Evening Event] D&S Community Open House Date & Time: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 | 5 - 8 PM EST RSVP <https://welcomeweek_openhouse.eventbrite.com/> Light refreshments and beverages will be served. ------------------------------ All Welcome Week events will take place at our office located at: 36 W 20th St. Floor 11 New York, NY 10011 For building entry please use the intercom to dial 011 and press “CALL”. ------------------------------ Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA, and members of other historically marginalized communities including people with disabilities are strongly welcome to attend and be a part of our growing community. Please check in with us if you have wheelchair accessibility needs at events(a)datasociety.net ------------------------------ We look forward to welcoming you to our space! If you have any questions about D&S Welcome Week please write to welcomeweek(a)datasociety.net. Sincerely, Sareeta Amrute, Director of Research Toyia Phillips, Human Resources Manager Data & Society datasociety.net 646-832-2038

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New Smithsonian Exhibit
by Kidwell, Peggy 01 Sep '19

01 Sep '19

Last week a new exhibit, “My Computing Device,” opened at the National Museum of American History. It shows computing devices from the slide rule to the Google glass as inventions, tools, property, and toys of individuals. For the online version, see https://americanhistory.si.edu/my-computing-device.

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