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Call for Papers: Workshop "Algorithmische Wissenskulturen? Der Einfluss des Computers auf die Wissenschaftsentwicklung" München, 12.10.2017 – 14.10.2017
by Alberts, Gerard 28 May '17

28 May '17

Dear Colleagues, even if the Munich Workshop will be German-spoken, you will want to know about, and may want to participate in, our workshop Cultures of Algorithmic Knowledge. It focuses more specifically on the impact of computers in the realm of the sciences. Hope to see you in October, Gerard Alberts Workshop: Algorithmische Wissenskulturen? Der Einfluss des Computers auf die Wissenschaftsentwicklung Datum: Do.,12.10.2017 – Sa.,14.10.2017 Ort: Deutsches Museum, München Organisation: Ulf Hashagen (Deutsches Museum/ LMU München) Rudolf Seising (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena/Deutsches Museum) Gerard Alberts (Universität Amsterdam) Gabriele Gramelsberger (Universität Witten-Herdecke) Bewerbungsschluss 15.06.2017 Url http://www.deutsches-museum.de/forschung/aktuelles/tagungen/2017/ Call for Papers: Lange vor dem Aufkommen der „Digital Humanities“ und dem „Big Data“-Hype hat der Computer begonnen, die Wissenschaften zu revolutionieren. Dieser Prozess setzte Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts ein und hat sich in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten nicht nur erheblich beschleunigt, sondern grundlegende methodische Veränderungen in den Wissenschaften mit sich gebracht. Inzwischen hat diese Entwicklung in unserer gegenwärtigen Wissenschaftswelt eine derartige Bedeutung gewonnen, dass die Europäische Union im Jahr 2013 die Vision von „Digital Science“ in das Programm „Horizon 2020“ integrierte und dabei von einer “radical transformation of the nature of science“ sprach. Schon seit der Herausbildung des modernen Wissenschaftssystems im 19. Jahrhundert existierten in Teilen der Natur- und Technikwissenschaften weit ausgeprägte algorithmische Wissenskulturen. Dies galt vor allem für die Astronomie und Geodäsie, die als empirische Wissenschaften neben Theorie und Datenerhebung durch Beobachtung bzw. Experiment auch über eine ausgebildete Rechenkultur verfügten, die als dritte grundlegende Methode für die Erklärung und Vorhersage von Naturphänomenen diente. Die Entwicklung von algorithmisierten numerischen Methoden war für die Wissenschaftler zentraler Teil ihrer disziplinären Agenda. Die Anwendung der Rechenverfahren wurde mehr und mehr institutionalisiert und dabei menschlichen Rechnern – im englischen Sprachraum auch als human computers bezeichnet – übertragen, die die Massendaten („Input“) auswerteten und für Vorhersagen („Output“) nutzten. Als Hilfsmittel dienten papierne Datenbanken (Tafelwerke), aus denen die Rechner neue papierne Datenbanken (Tafelwerke) als wissenschaftliche Publikationen erzeugten. Im frühen 20. Jahrhundert setzte eine Mechanisierung dieser Verfahren ein, bei der Rechenmaschinen von human computers genutzt bzw. deren Aufgaben gänzlich durch Hollerithmaschinen erledigt wurden. Dem Aufkommen maschinenbasierter Rechenkulturen folgte bald ihr Aufstieg in anderen Wissenschaftsfeldern wie Meteorologie, Klimatologie, Hydrologie, Statistik, Ballistik und Luftfahrtwissenschaften. Die Erfindung des Computers in den 1940er Jahren scheint zunächst keine breitenwirksamen und systematischen Veränderungen in den algorithmischen Wissenskulturen ausgelöst zu haben. Erst in den 1960er Jahren setze ein allgemeiner Prozess ein, der zu einer breiten Verwendung des Computers in den Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften führte, wobei dieser zunächst als äußerst schnelle, programmierbare Rechenmaschine Verwendung fand. In den folgenden Jahrzehnten wuchs die Bedeutung von algorithmischen Wissenskulturen in den einzelnen Disziplinen teilweise enorm stark an – bis hin zu Disziplinen wie den Klimawissenschaften, die auf der Verwendung von Computern basieren. Dieser wissenschafts- und technikhistorische Workshop will sich den Fragen widmen, welche grundlegenden und methodischen Veränderungen der Computer in der Wissenschaftspraxis und im Agenda-Setting der einzelnen wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen mit sich brachte, und wie er algorithmischen Wissenskulturen in einzelnen Disziplinen transformierte bzw. neuartige algorithmische Wissenskulturen entstehen ließ. Allgemeiner ließe sich fragen, wie der Computer als Maschine, Werkzeug und Medium die Entwicklung der Wissenschaften beeinflusst hat. Welche neuen methodischen Möglichkeiten der mathematischen Modellierung, der Simulation und der Datenanalyse resultierten daraus? Wie ist das Phänomen der Computersimulation historisch einzuordnen? Kann sie heute quasi als „dritter Weg“ neben Theorie und Experiment in den Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften angesehen werden? Inwieweit ist der Algorithmus das wissenserzeugende Element in dieser Entwicklung? Wir laden wissenschaftshistorische, technikhistorische, wissenschaftssoziologische sowie wissenschaftsphilosophische Beiträge ein, die algorithmischen Wissenskulturen und die Veränderungen der Wissenschaften durch den Computer im 20. Jahrhundert thematisieren. Die zeitliche Perspektive grenzen wir in der Regel ein auf die historischen Entwicklungen vom frühen 20. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart ein. Erbeten werden bis zum 15. Juni 2017 Exposés in einem Umfang von maximal 5.000 Zeichen (zu richten an r.seising(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de<mailto:r.seising@lrz.uni-muenchen.de> und an U.Hashagen(a)lrz.uni-muenchen.de<mailto:U.Hashagen@lrz.uni-muenchen.de>). Für Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer mit einem akzeptierten Vortrag kann eine Reisekostenunterstützung in Aussicht gestellt werden. Vorgesehen ist, auf der Basis der Vorträge im Jahr 2018 einen konzeptionell möglichst geschlossenen Band mit ausgewählten, qualitativ hochwertigen Beiträgen in einem renommierten Wissenschaftsverlag zu publizieren. Daher soll auf dem Workshop eine ausführliche inhaltliche und methodische Diskussion der Beiträge und des Gesamtkonzepts erfolgen.

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New CBI Newsletter (Spring 2017, Vol. 39:1)
by Charles Babbage Institute 25 May '17

25 May '17

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Temporary Closure of SIGCIS List
by Andrew Russell 25 May '17

25 May '17

Dear SIGCIS Community, Earlier this evening, what members of the SIGCIS Executive Committee were available convened over the Internet to make a determination regarding the SIGCIS listserv. We are all saddened that we witnessed, in a matter of hours, a deep unraveling of this community. We have elected to temporarily close the listserv while we internally debate how to address the concerns raised by this incident. The members(a)SIGCIS.org list is now set to moderate and hold all incoming messages. The SIGCIS Officers will he holding a discussion about the list's scope and policies in the coming days. Andy Russell SIGCIS Chair

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SIGCIS list acceptable use policy
by Andrew Russell 25 May '17

25 May '17

Dear colleagues - The SIGCIS mailing list has hundreds of subscribers, and has an Acceptable Use Policy posted at http://www.sigcis.org/?q=node/14 <http://www.sigcis.org/?q=node/14>. It’s not perfect, but we all agreed to it when we signed up for the list. Please note #5 under “Topics NOT suitable for posting to members(a)SIGCIS.org <mailto:members@SIGCIS.org>” which, I think, speaks for itself: 5. Extended, open-ended discussion on a specific topic. It would be better to send an initial expression of interest to the entire members(a)SIGCIS.org list. If initial replies suggest an interest in further discussion, then the SIGCIS Web Infrastructure Officer (e-mail admin(a)sigcis.org <mailto:admin@sigcis.org>) will be happy set up a specialized venue for further discussion, such as an online discussion forum or an opt-in email list for people interested in the specific topic. Thank you, Andy Russell SIGCIS Chair

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ATM 50th anniversary - looking for an author
by Jonathan Coopersmith 25 May '17

25 May '17

theconversation.com is looking for a short piece on the ATM. If interested, read on and contact Jeff Inglis. I recommend writing for it -- the editing makes me look like a good writer and the articles are placed widely. RFP: ATM machine technology - for good and bad. With the 50th anniversary of the first automated cash machine approaching (on June 27), we’re looking for a scholar of cybercrime and cybersecurity who could explain how ATMs work, how they have developed over time, and how criminals have used various types technology (such as skimming) to steal money from banks and their customers. *Jeff Inglis* *Science + Technology Editor, The Conversation US *E: jeff.inglis@ theconversation.com *T*: @jinglis <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_jinglis&d=…> *V*: +1.617.356.7837 625 Massachusetts Ave Jonathan Coopersmith Professor Department of History Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-4236 979.845.7151 979.862.4314 (fax) Latest article: https://theconversation.com/what-fax-machines-can-teach-us-about-electric-c… *FAXED. The Rise and Fall of the Fax Machine* (Johns Hopkins University Press) is the co-recipient of the 2016 Business History Conference Hagley Prize for best book in business history.

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History of gendered terms, e.g., "motherboard"
by Wylie, Caitlin Donahue (cdw9y) 25 May '17

25 May '17

Dear all, Do you know of any studies of gendered language in computing? I’m intrigued by the way today’s engineers throw around words like “motherboard” and “daughterboard”, and also “master” and “slave”, without being aware of how those words sound to non-engineers (like me). I’d be interested in learning about historical or sociological studies. Thank you! All the best, Caitlin Wylie _______________________ Caitlin D. Wylie, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Program in Science, Technology and Society University of Virginia wylie(a)virginia.edu<mailto:wylie@virginia.edu> http://www.eands.virginia.edu/faculty-staff/wylie/

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Discipline-Specific Debates in Oral History?
by Laine Nooney 24 May '17

24 May '17

Hi all, In a moment of cosmic timeliness, I'm currently revising an article on oral history practice as it relates to my work in videogame history. There's obviously a wealth of information on generalist approaches to oral history, or more specific methodological lenses (feminist, postcolonial), to provide lit review. But in writing, I've been wondering if there's any scattering of literature that might constitute something like discipline-specific engagement with oral history (understanding that "the discipline" here ranges from history of technology and science to STS to media studies to library science, etc.). For some reason, in the history of computing and games particularly, there can be a lingering attachment to interpreting oral history sources as unmediated vessels of their own experience, even though this has been roundly debunked by oral history scholarship going back to the mid-1970s. Is it the complexity of technical systems, an extension of their presumed objectivity and rationality, that keeps certain interviewers and historians working in this mode? Are there other issues specific to our shared domains that might form the basis of a reading list on this subject? I would be grateful for any references and readings members of the group could direct my way. Best, Laine -- Laine Nooney www.lainenooney.com DM <http://dm.lmc.gatech.edu/> @ LMC <http://lmc.gatech.edu/> @ GT <http://www.gatech.edu/> Assistant Professor

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] History of gendered terms, e.g., "motherboard"
by Brian L. Stuart 24 May '17

24 May '17

I'll add a cautionary, yet amusing, anecdote related to the use of the parent/child metaphor with OS processes. Of course, the terms are indeed very descriptive and naturally follow their use in the hierarchical relationship in trees. However, even in an office full of engineers, exclaiming "My children are dying in the wrong order" will get you some pretty concerned and questioning looks. It's even worse when you talk about killing them... Yes, I did learn to use less dramatic phrasing after that. BLS -------------------------------------------- On Wed, 5/24/17, Paul N. Edwards <pne(a)umich.edu> wrote: Interesting discussion. OED does not speculate on this connection; first use of “motherboard” it lists is 1965. It’s worth noting that some of the gendered terms in engineering are very clear and literal metaphors, not specifically human though definitely mammalian. “Mother ship,” like “motherboard,” refers to a larger thing from which smaller, but similar dependent units (smaller ships, subsidiary circuit boards) are launched, to which they are attached, and from which they draw sustenance (fuel, electricity). “Female” and “male” connectors refer to sockets and plugs respectively, also quite literal, also not particularly human but mammalian. This is not to say that such metaphors aren’t sometimes deployed in objectionable, human-oriented ways, but it would be silly to ignore their value as readily understood descriptors of physical structure and/or relationships. Best, Paul On May 24, 2017, at 9:43 , mike willegal <mike(a)willegal.net> wrote: My guess is that the term, Motherboard, was derived from the term Mothership, which is still in common usage by the general population, and according to several online dictionaries originated in the 19th century. Note that when techs and engineers refer to Motherboards, they normally use the gender neutral pronoun, "it". cheers,Mike Willegal On May 23, 2017, at 1:51 PM, Mark Priestley <m.priestley(a)gmail.com> wrote: Hi Caitlin, I'm not sure if this is the sort of thing you're looking for, but some CS pioneers were rather keen to use the master-slave metaphor to talk about human-computer relations. Eg: Jack Good reported that: "Turing used to refer jocularly to people who are forced to do mechanical operations as slaves." Bardini quotes Engelbart: "Think ahead to the day when computer technology might provide for your very own use the full-time services of a completely attentive, very patient, very fast symbol-manipulating slave who has an IQ adequate for 95% of your today's mental tasks." And there's this unfortunate Newsweek caption about Harry Huskey. I think probably links back to earlier tropes about robots: eg in Capek's RUR, the rebellious robots are precisely slaves. I've got an unpublished conference paper I wrote a few years back about this which I could dig out if you're interested. Cheers, Mark ...

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Final CfP HaPoC-4, Brno
by Liesbeth De Mol 24 May '17

24 May '17

Dear all, please find below the final call for papers for HaPoC-4, best wishes, Liesbeth De Mol ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// LAST REMINDER The deadline for submission of short and extended abstracts to the 4th International Conference on the History and Philosophy of Computing 4-7 Oct 2017 Brno (Czech Republic) https://hapoc2017.sciencesconf.org/ is extended to MAY 31st, 2017. Please submit yours at: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=hapoc2017 Notifications of acceptance are expected in July. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] A response to a SIGCIS Command Line panel session presentation on PLATO (Gerardo Con Diaz)
by Meryl Alper 24 May '17

24 May '17

I would like to amplify the thorough responses of Mar, Nathan, and Con, and express my own thoughts on this particular paragraph in the Medium post: "To judge how people communicated in an online forum in 1974 through an extremely narrow gender-studies lens of 2017 not to mention a lens that is accustomed to looking at the world of today where billions of people spend many of their waking hours online, an online world where norms and customs about online behavior, including notions of what to expect from others online, have long been established and etched into unspoken law (but are still widely ignored), is to mischaracterize how things were in the historical period under examination, and ends up potentially misleading present-day people hoping to gain some insight into the history of PLATO." I encourage the author of the Medium post to invest the time in understanding "an extremely narrow gender-studies lens of 2017" beyond a Wikipedia page or single SAGE handbook. Both the breadth and pre-1970s legacies of gender studies might become more readily apparent. Regards, Meryl Alper -- *Meryl Alper* Assistant Professor Department of Communication Studies Northeastern University Holmes 217 m.alper(a)northeastern.edu merylalper.com Author, *Giving Voice: Mobile Communication, Disability, and Inequality* (MIT Press <https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/giving-voice>, Amazon <https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Voice-Communication-Disability-Inequality/dp/…> )

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