- Members - lists.sigcis.org

Call for papers: Computers & Society
by Rebecca Slayton 16 Jul '16

16 Jul '16

Dear Colleagues, I write in my capacity as the history area editor for Computers & Society, to invite you to submit historical work that you might like to have published there. Computers & Society is the quarterly newsletter of the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computers and Society (SIGCAS). Both SIGCAS and its newsletter began in 1970, and the digital version is currently being redesigned with a more modern look that aims to reach a broader audience. Publishable materials can include full-length articles (up to 5000 words), short pieces (2000 words), and commentaries (1000 words); graphs and tables count as 200 words. Articles longer than 5000 words will occasionally be accepted and most likely published in parts. You can submit a wide range of materials for publication, including original research, opinion pieces, and book reviews. You keep the copyright for anything published in Computers & Society, and therefore can publish it elsewhere. You can also republish work that has already been published elsewhere. In either case, however, ACM retains the right to publish/distribute the article. Articles published in SIGCAS are reviewed internally prior to publishing, but do not go through the formal peer review process. To be considered for publication in the September 30, 2016 newsletter of Computers & Society, please send submissions to me (rs849(a)cornell.edu<mailto:rs849@cornell.edu> ) by August 15. Computers & Society also accepts articles on a rolling basis, and you are welcome to send materials for consideration in future issues at any time. If you have any questions, please let me know and I'd be happy to discuss by e-mail or phone. Best, Rebecca Rebecca Slayton Assistant Professor, Cornell University Department of Science & Technology Studies Judith Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies Uris 130C | Fax 607-255-6044

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computing pioneer Bob Fano has died
by Dave Walden 16 Jul '16

16 Jul '16

http://www.eecs.mit.edu/news-events/media/robert-fano-computing-pioneer-and…

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Strachey 100 - celebration - November
by Cliff Jones 14 Jul '16

14 Jul '16

This November marks 100 years since the birth of Christopher Strachey. We are holding a symposium to celebrate his life and research in Oxford on Saturday 19th November. There will also be an exhibition of material from the Strachey archive on Friday 18th November, followed by a banquet dinner at Hertford College on the evening of Friday 18th November. For more information and to register for attendance, please go to http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/strachey100/. ------------------------------- Christopher Strachey (1916–1975) was a pioneering computer scientist and the founder of the Programming Research Group, now part of the Department of Computer Science at Oxford University. Although Strachey was keenly interested in the practical aspects of computing, it is in the theoretical side that he most indelibly left his mark, notably by creating with Dana Scott the denotational (or as he called it, ‘mathematical’) approach to defining the semantics of programming languages. Strachey also spent time writing complex programs and puzzles for various computers, such as a draughts playing program for the Pilot ACE in 1951. He developed some fundamental concepts of machine-independent operating systems, including an early suggestion for time-sharing, and was a prime mover in the influential CPL programming language. Strachey came from a notable family of intellectuals and artists, perhaps most famous for Christopher’s uncle Lytton, a writer and member of the Bloomsbury group. We will be marking the occasion of 100 years since Christopher Strachey's birth on Saturday 19th November 2016, three days after his birthday, with a symposium of invited speakers. The morning will look back at Strachey’s life and works from a historical and technical perspective, and the afternoon will concern the future of Strachey-inspired theoretical computer science at Oxford University. There will also be a display of related archival material on Friday 18th November for anyone interested, and a banquet dinner at Hertford College on the evening of Friday 18th November. Hope to see many of you there. Best, Cliff Jones

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Review essay on history of algorithms
by Maarten Bullynck 14 Jul '16

14 Jul '16

Dear SIGCIS-members, A while ago there was a thread on methodologies developed in other branches of the history of science that could be useful to the history of computing. For the last 20 years much work has been done on the history of algorithms, mostly within the history of mathematics, and quite some interesting new ideas and methods have come from this rich and vibrant field. On the occasion of a new edition of a 1995-book on the history of algorithms (that is now a bit old-fashioned), I wrote an essay review that gives an overview on what has been happening these last 20 years. The essay review just appeared in Historia Mathematica and can be freely downloaded until September 2nd using this link, http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1TNB117f6j-t2L I hope this may be useful to some list members. best regards, Maarten Bullynck Département de mathématiques & histoire des sciences Université Paris 8

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Facebook Group -- The Real History of Online
by sigcos＠bobf.frankston.com 07 Jul '16

07 Jul '16

As an FYI … I’m member of this group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1081760928537189/?fref=nf) If you’re interested in joining it send me a note or do whatever it takes to join a private Facebook group.

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AOIR Pre-conference "404 History Not Found" erratum
by Camille Paloque-Berges 07 Jul '16

07 Jul '16

Dear Sigcis members, To avoid any confusion, we need to clarify a couple things regarding the previous message about the history pre-conference at AOIR 2016. 1. The *only* way to register for AOIR 2016 is through the website here: http://members.aoir.org/event-2243123 2. On the registration form, you will have the chance to indicate you interest in one or more of the pre-conference workshops 3. There is no accept/reject process for the "404 History Not Found" pre-conference workshop. Everyone registered for AOIR 2016 is welcome to attend. If you would like to present a challenge you are facing in your own research, we ask that you submit a short description in advance to help us plan the day's activities. Please send to camillepaloqueberges@gmail and driscollkevin(a)gmail.com The deadline for early bird registration is August 1. Don't delay: http://members.aoir.org/event-2243123 With aopologies for the confusion, Camille and Kevin. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Camille Paloque-Berges <camillepaloqueberges(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 8:29 AM Subject: AOIR Pre-conference "404 History Not Found" To: members(a)lists.sigcis.org Cc: driscollkevin(a)gmail.com Dear colleagues, We invite scholars and practitioners to join us for a pre-conference workshop about history and memory in internet studies to be held on October 5th in Berlin under the title "404 History Not Found: Challenges in Internet History and Memory Studies". This will be held at the Association of Internet Researchers (AOIR 2016). Attendees will be invited to participate in three hands-on, interactive sessions organized around core research challenges in net history: (1) theory and epistemology, (2) materials, sources, and methodology, and (3) mediation and transmission. ** Warning: All potential presenters should be registered by July 20 ** Submission process : Anyone can submit as a presenter (with abstract) or an attendee (no abstract necessary). Both will be involved actively, through sharing problems, tips and solutions. Rather than whole case studies or paper presentations, each session will address specific challenges facing one or more participants: theoretical paradoxes, methodological dead-ends, and demonstrations of born-digital artifacts. Through a series of activities, participants will be asked to take positions, brainstorm solutions, and identify common themes. To register for the workshop or to propose a specific challenge for discussion, please fill out the form here: http://goo.gl/forms/cZMqbGmDVGnOXKpw1 Throughout the day, we will be developing a set of concrete outcomes to be shared with the wider community. These outcomes will include a timeline of key moments in net history, an agenda of "common problems" linking together the various projects, and a set of recommended resources to support researchers and teachers in AOIR who wish to incorporate net histories into their work. For a more detailed description of the workshop, see: http://aoir.org/aoir2016/preconference-workshops/#history Facilitators: - Kevin Driscoll (University of Virginia, USA) - Camille Paloque-Berges (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, France) Hoping to see you in Berlin next Fall, Camille <http://aoir.org/aoir2016/preconference-workshops/#history> -- Lab for the History of Techno-Sciences (HT2S) Conservatoire national des arts et métiers Associate researcher at CNRS' Institute for Communication Sciences (ISCC) Paris, France.

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AOIR Pre-conference "404 History Not Found"
by Camille Paloque-Berges 07 Jul '16

07 Jul '16

Dear colleagues, We invite scholars and practitioners to join us for a pre-conference workshop about history and memory in internet studies to be held on October 5th in Berlin under the title "404 History Not Found: Challenges in Internet History and Memory Studies". This will be held at the Association of Internet Researchers (AOIR 2016). Attendees will be invited to participate in three hands-on, interactive sessions organized around core research challenges in net history: (1) theory and epistemology, (2) materials, sources, and methodology, and (3) mediation and transmission. ** Warning: All potential presenters should be registered by July 20 ** Submission process : Anyone can submit as a presenter (with abstract) or an attendee (no abstract necessary). Both will be involved actively, through sharing problems, tips and solutions. Rather than whole case studies or paper presentations, each session will address specific challenges facing one or more participants: theoretical paradoxes, methodological dead-ends, and demonstrations of born-digital artifacts. Through a series of activities, participants will be asked to take positions, brainstorm solutions, and identify common themes. To register for the workshop or to propose a specific challenge for discussion, please fill out the form here: http://goo.gl/forms/cZMqbGmDVGnOXKpw1 Throughout the day, we will be developing a set of concrete outcomes to be shared with the wider community. These outcomes will include a timeline of key moments in net history, an agenda of "common problems" linking together the various projects, and a set of recommended resources to support researchers and teachers in AOIR who wish to incorporate net histories into their work. For a more detailed description of the workshop, see: http://aoir.org/aoir2016/preconference-workshops/#history Facilitators: - Kevin Driscoll (University of Virginia, USA) - Camille Paloque-Berges (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, France) Hoping to see you in Berlin next Fall, Camille <http://aoir.org/aoir2016/preconference-workshops/#history>

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Forbes speculates that Peter Thiel may be underwriting Ayyadurai's lawsuit
by Thomas Haigh 05 Jul '16

05 Jul '16

Interesting news updates. The Times this morning reported speculation that the lawsuits of Hulk Hogan and others against Gawker were underwritten by someone intent on bankrupting the company. The report suggests that Hogan’s case is being pursued in a very unusual way, designed to maximize the hit to Gawker rather than the size of the award. It notes that “Several legal experts said that it was particularly unusual for a plaintiff using a lawyer being paid on a contingency basis not only to turn down settlement offers (several sizable settlements were proffered by Gawker) but also to pursue a strategy that prevented an insurance company from being able to contribute to a settlement.” Also that “Mr. Harder has brought two new cases against Gawker that seem puzzling. One is a defamation case on behalf of Shiva Ayyadurai, who claimed to have invented email. Gawker had written an article challenging his argument, similar to an article from The Washington Post and others on the same topic.” http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/24/business/dealbook/gawker-founder-suspects… Now Forbes reports that Hogan’s case is underwritten by Peter Thiel, the guy who was paying people to drop out of college. Ayyadurai’s lawsuit is filed by the same lawyer as Hogan’s, but according to Forbes “It is unclear if Thiel is helping to fund Ayyadurai or Terrill’s cases against Gawker.” https://archive.is/5G63D. Best wishes, Tom NB: If you haven’t been following all this, for background see www.sigcis.org/ayyadurai <http://www.sigcis.org/ayyadurai> and www.tomandmaria.com/tom/emailgrab <http://www.tomandmaria.com/tom/emailgrab> .

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Tom Haigh on Bachman and IDS
by McMillan, William W 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Hello, historians, elders, geeks, and lurkers. FYI, Tom Haigh discusses Charles Bachman and his development of the Integrated Data Store in Historical Reflections in the new issue of Communications of the ACM. Well worth reading, and suitable, I think, for assigned reading in even a lower-level database class or a related humanities class. I'm no DB wiz, but I've never had much affection for the relational DB model or the data world it imposes on us. I realize that efficiency trumps affection in data processing, but, coming way back from a psych and AI perspective, I am put off by the jettisoning of explicit semantic relations in data models. My take is that Bachman was more designing in the spirit of the latter. The relational model came thundering down the track and pushed semantic modeling off into the obscure byways. Nowadays, the NoSQL movement is growing like topsy as the likes of Amazon and Google bump into limitations imposed by balky, clunky, industrial-grade relational models. Maybe we're circling back in some sense to the elegantly-crafted database designs of Bachman, like some modern timepieces are eschewing boring blinking digits and reprising the art of past ages (search "Shinola watches Detroit" [1]). To the Americans on the list, Happy Independence Day! To the Brits, (Happy | Condolences on) Brexit Day! - Bill [1] Shameless promotion of my beloved Detroit.

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Cortada, All the Facts Book Discount
by James Cortada 30 Jun '16

30 Jun '16

Oxford University Press has just authorized a 30% discount on my book, All the Facts: A History of Information in the United States since 1870. If you wish to obtain a copy use the following: Order online at *www.oup.com/us <http://www.oup.com/us> *with promotion code AAFLYG6 to save *30%*! I hope this helps address the pricing concern some of you expressed to me. Thanks for the help so many of you have given me over the years in this and other projects. James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada(a)umn.edu 608-274-6382

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