- Members - lists.sigcis.org

Bletchley Park WWII archive to go online
by Bernardo Batiz-Lazo 05 Jun '10

05 Jun '10

Might be of interest - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10239623.stm Best wishes Bernardo University of Leicester (UK)

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Conference - From Practice to Results in Logic and Mathematics, Nancy (France), June 21-23, 2010
by Sandra Mols 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Apologies for crossposting Dear colleagues Please find enclosed information regarding the forthcoming conference "From Practice to Results in Logic and Mathematics", which is to take place on June 21-23 in Nancy, France. This conference is not a computing conference and will include papers coming mostly from philosophy. Still some of you may find it interesting in relation to some papers related to Turing and also to the so-called field of 'experimental mathematics' in which activities are partly made of making proofs using computer systems... Detailed information on the conference can be found from the following weblinks: Booklet: http://filex.univ-nancy2.fr/recup?k=5wl5UP1IEALcOqHlgVx Poster: http://filex.univ-nancy2.fr/recup?k=FVZN9mL1JMeEF0FdlQz Registration (free of charge) is now open through the following link: http://www.univ-nancy2.fr/poincare/colloques/formulaires/form_fprlm2010.html. Hoping that this will be of interest and possibly to meeting you at the event, With best regards Sandra Mols ************** "I do not like experts [...] They are our goalers. [...] Experts are addicts. They solve nothing! They serve whatever system hires them. They perpetuate it. When we are tortured, we shall be tortured by experts. When we are hanged, experts will hang us. Did you not read what I wrote? When the world is destroyed, it will be destroyed not by its madmen but by the sanity of its experts and the superior ignorance of its bureaucrats." Yakov Saveleyev, The Russia House by John le Carré, 1990

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Technological Innovation in Retail Finance
by Bernardo Batiz-Lazo 26 May '10

26 May '10

- Apologies as previous message was sent with wrong subject heading! BBL 2010/5/26 Bernardo Batiz-Lazo <bbatiz64(a)googlemail.com> > > Dear all > A heads up to a forthcoming title in Routledge's International Studies in > Business History. Of course, I have a vested interest and would appreciate > any pre-order or actual order from your library. > Best > Bernardo > (University of Leicester) > > > ------------------------------ > *Technological Innovation in Retail Finance<http://tandf.msgfocus.com/c/13TRk9oVQYVNvoxmVM> > * > International Historical Perspectives > Edited by *Bernado Batiz-Lazo*, *J. Carles Maixé-Altés*, *Paul Thomes* > > Read More <http://tandf.msgfocus.com/c/13TRkyDgMMKaMzhFIz> | Recommend to > Librarian <http://tandf.msgfocus.com/c/13TRkXRBIAyy3K1Yvm> > > This edited volume offers a new and original approach to the study of > technological change in retail finance. Documenting developments in the US > alongside case studies from Mexico and Western Europe, Technological > Innovation in Retail Finance addresses the variety of financial institutions > that populated the markets for retail finance. It offers a massive research > base reflecting not only breadth of contributor interests, but also a unity > of purpose that comes from several workshops and comments on each other's > work. > > Technological innovation had a major role in the shaping and developing of > administrative procedures, routines, and capabilities in organizations > offering retail financial services. Indeed, with the exception of > contemporary case studies for the UK, the current ‘state of the art’ in the > study of the computerization of financial services from an historical > perspective is overwhelmingly focused on developments in the USA. This > volume overcomes the usual bias towards the so called ‘Atlantic continuity’ > in the understanding of technological change related to applications of > information and telecommunication technologies (ICT) by offering a number of > sources of distinctiveness. It shows when and how technological change > altered the competitive intensity in the markets for retail finance. > > October 2010 | Hardback: 978-0-415-88067-1 > > ------------------------------ > [image: cover] <http://tandf.msgfocus.com/c/13TRln5WEomVkUMhi9> * > *These books are part of our *Routledge International Studies in Business > History*series. To view all the titles click here<http://tandf.msgfocus.com/c/13TRnOtYfdfaZXg60T> >

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Introducing the IT History Society Honor Roll
by Jeffery Stein 26 May '10

26 May '10

IT History Society May 18, 2010 The board of directors of the IT History Society is pleased to announce the latest addition to its website. The new entry is entitled the IT Honor Roll, a listing of living individuals that have made noteworthy contributions to the information technology industry. Please review the initial Honor Roll at http://ithistory.org/honor_roll/honor-roll.php. The seeded listing of about 100 individuals which can be sorted by alphabetical order or by two categories, a creator of history or a chronicler of history. We are asking you and your fellow professionals to submit nominations of honorees by using the online form at http://ithistory.org/honor_roll/fame-form.php. We do feel that that the list should exceed 100s of entries in a short period of time. If need be that you have several nominations and are short of time, you can email nominations to info(a)ithistory.org. The IT Honor Roll is intended to be a community effort of IT peers, historians, and archivist. It is not the intent of the IT History Society to create a list of honorees but only to collect them from the profession suggested nominees and host the results. The initial listing is a collection of honorees by some members in the interest in getting the list started. We do expect the list to rapidly grow by IT community nominations. Please take note that the IT Honor Roll is for living individuals. For individuals that have made a noteworthy contribution to the information technology industry and that have passed on please visit a section on the website entitled In Memoriam located at http://www.ithistory.org/memoriam/memoriam.php and to nominate entries please us the online form located at http://www.ithistory.org/memoriam/memoriam-form.php The current seeded list is sort of American centric and we would hope our fellow non US professionals will be able to nominate more honorees to the IT Honor Roll so the honor roll will be truly international. Once a suggested nominee is entered, the IT Honor Roll Committee, we appreciate their time in doing this, will review each entry. The committee consists of - Dr. Glenn Bugos - Moment LLC James Cortada - IBM Corporation Michael Geslowitz - IEEE History Center Dr. John Impagliazzo - Hofstra University Professor Martin Campbell-Kelly - Warwick University Jeffery Stein - Chairman, IT History Society Dr. Arthur Tatnall - Chairman, IFIP WG9.7 We look forward to your suggested nominees. The IT History Society is now on Twitter! <http://twitter.com/ithistoryorg> Best regards, Jeffery D. Stein Chairman (415) 435-7464 Tel (415) 435-6115 Fax http://www.ithistory.org IT History Society One Blackfield Drive Suite 331 Tiburon, CA 94920 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Email that means Business, Every email, Every day! - LetterClick BrandMail(TM) found only at www.letterclick.net

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History of Computing @ the NSA
by Evan Koblentz 25 May '10

25 May '10

Not sure if this was posted already. Sorry if it's redundant. -ek http://www.governmentattic.org/3docs/NSA-HGPEDC_1964.pdf

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FW: [Shotnews] SHOT International Scholar Program - EXTENDED Deadline
by Thomas Haigh 24 May '10

24 May '10

See below for the call. This is a good program -- as I understand it the SHOT international scholars have a good chance of receiving travel money to come to SHOT, and of course something to boast about on their resumes. I knew a French scholar who was chosen back in the 1990s, but I think from the description that Western Europe is now excluded. I assume all of Asia, Eastern Europe and South America are "under represented" and so eligible. I don't remember any historians of computing taking part in this program, so it would be great to see a few SIGCIS people represented. Tom From: shotnews-bounces(a)historyoftechnology.org [mailto:shotnews-bounces@historyoftechnology.org] On Behalf Of shotnews(a)historyoftechnology.org Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 9:46 AM To: shotnews(a)historyoftechnology.org Subject: [Shotnews] SHOT International Scholar Program - EXTENDED Deadline SHOT International Scholar Program 2010 Call for Nominees Extended Deadline: 2 July 2010 Each year the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) selects up to four International Scholars for a two-year term. International Scholars receive a regular SHOT membership at no cost during their appointment and a subscription to the journal Technology and Culture. International Scholars also receive the highest priority when applying for travel funding to attend the SHOT annual meeting. Applicants must reside and work in underrepresented countries -- meaning outside of the U.S. and Western Europe -- at the time of their selection. The program accepts applications from graduate students up through senior scholars. International Scholars act as ambassadors for the Society in their countries and regions, both by informing the Society about the state and developments of the history of technology in their regions, and by helping to disseminate information about the Society and its activities. To inform the SHOT community about these matters, elected International Scholars to write at least one report for either the SHOT Newsletter or website. At each annual meeting, SHOT hosts a special gathering to welcome current International Scholars, introduce them to SHOT officers, and discuss the intellectual dimensions of the field that pertain to international research. How to apply To apply to the SHOT International Scholar Program, please send a copy of your CV and a letter to EACH member of the committee listed below AND to the SHOT secretary (shot(a)virginia.edu) The letter should include: * why you would like to be an International Scholar, * how you plan to advance the mission of the International Scholar Program (see http://www.historyoftechnology.org/international_scholars.html) * the current state of history of technology research in your home country and your home institution, and * how your research will enrich existing knowledge in the field. 2010 International Outreach Committee 1. Harro Maat (Harro.Maat(a)wur.nl) 2. Jin Hee Park (park0227(a)dongguk.edu) 3. Chandra Bhimull (cbhimull(a)colby.edu) 4. Dagmara Jajesniak-Quast (dagmara.jajesniak-quast(a)uni-erfurt.de) 5. Jahnavi Phalkey (j.phalkey(a)imperial.ac.uk) 6. Antonio Pérez Yuste (antonio.perez(a)upm.es !! Extended deadline for nominations: 2 July 2010!! If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Chair of the International Outreach Committee, Harro Maat (Harro.Maat(a)wur.nl) or the SHOT Secretary, Bernie Carlson (SHOTsecy(a)virginia.edu) Please do not send messages to shotnews(a)historyoftechnology.org as this address does not accept incoming messages. -- ____________________________________________________ "Using yesterday's technology to solve tomorrow's problems today" W. Bernard Carlson Professor of Science, Technology, and Society Professor of History Coordinator, Engineering Business Minor Department of Science, Technology, and Society School of Engineering and Applied Science University of Virginia 351 McCormick Road P.O. Box 400744 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4744 Email: wc4p(a)virginia.edu Voice: (434) 924-6113 (Work) or 984-6069 (Home) Fax: (434) 924-4306 or 975-2190 (Home) ____________________________________________________

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new issue of the Charles Babbage Institute (CBI) Newsletter [2nd try]
by Thomas Misa 24 May '10

24 May '10

Please find below the link/URL to the new issue of the Charles Babbage Institute (CBI) Newsletter (Spring 2010, Volume 32, Number 1). http://www.cbi.umn.edu/newsletter.html * * * * * * The CBI Newsletter is published semi-annually. If you wish to have your email address removed from the notification list, please send an email message to cbi(a)umn.edu with "newsletter unsubscribe" in the subject line.

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Analogue computing (forthcoming book)
by tmisa＠umn.edu 21 May '10

21 May '10

I see that Springer's **NEW** series in the History of Computing has a forthcoming title (apologies if this circulated already): Charles Care, Technology For Modelling: Electrical Analogies, Engineering Practice, and the Development of Analogue Computing (History of Computing) Historians have different views on the core identity of analogue computing. Some portray the technology solely as a precursor to digital computing, whereas others stress that analogue applications existed well after 1940. Even within contemporary sources, there is a spectrum of understanding around what constitutes analogue computing. To understand the relationship between analogue and digital computing, and what this means for users today, the history must consider how the technology is used. Technology for Modelling investigates the technologies, the concepts, and the applications of analogue computing. The text asserts that analogue computing must be thought of as not just a computing technology, but also as a modelling technology, demonstrating how the history of analogue computing can be understood in terms of the parallel themes of calculation and modelling. The book also includes a number of detailed case studies of the technology's use and application. Topics and features: discusses the meaning of analogue computing and its significance in history, and describes the main differences between analogue and digital computing; provides a chronology of analogue computing, based upon the two major strands of calculation and modeling; examines the wider relationship between computing and modelling, and discusses how the theme of modelling fits within the history of analogue computing; describes how the history of analogue computing evolved through a number of stages of use; presents illustrative case studies on analogue modelling in academic research, oil reservoir modelling, aeronautical design, and meteorology. General readers and researchers in the field of history of computing – as well as history of science more generally – will find this book a fascinating insight into the historical use and evolution of technology. The volume provides a long-needed historical framework and context for these core computing technologies. Dr. Charles Care is a senior software engineer at BT and an Associate Fellow at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Warwick, UK.

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Analogue vs. Digital
by NOVEMBER, JOSEPH 19 May '10

19 May '10

Thanks, Debbie and Nathan, for the publicity and the kind words! The dissertation covers the development and use of LINC through 1965. I suspect it would indeed be helpful reading to anyone examining the A vs D controversies surrounding work with the machine (a wonderful research topic, by the way). Among other things the LINC was a superb analog-to-digital converter, and its ease of use laid bare many of the problems associated with digitizing analog data. LINC was also specifically designed with neurophysiologists in mind, and many of the controversies that cropped up in the late 1960s have roots (with which the LINC's developers were familiar) going back to early 1950s. Besides the dissertation, I published a brief introduction to LINC in Endeavour (Joe November, "LINC: biology's revolutionary little computer," Endeavour Volume 28, Issue 3, September 2004, pages 125-131). I am happy to send a PDF of the dissertation or the article to anyone who requests it. I am traveling, however, so it make take a few days for me to honor such a request. Joe Joseph November Assistant Professor Department of History University of South Carolina 212 Gambrell Hall Columbia, SC 29208 november(a)sc.edu

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review of Lars Heide's book on Punched Cards
by Ceruzzi, Paul 17 May '10

17 May '10

I reviewed Lars Heide's book more favorably: Review of Lars Heide, Punched-Card Systems and the Early Information Explosion, 1880-1945, in the Journal for the American Society for Information Science and Technology 61/2 (Feb. 2010), p. 428 I can post the text of my review, but perhaps it would be more appropriate for you to find it online. Paul Ceruzzi ______________________ Original message from Tom: While I'm here: the guy who reviewed Lars Heide's book seemed rather grumpy! Or rather he didn't have any interest in the use and development of punched card technology except in as much as it might have had a major social impact. So let me add that it is well worth reading and is by far the broadest and deepest account so far published of the evolution of punched card machine applications over a range of countries and industries. In exploring the shaping of technology by users it is an excellent complement to JoAnne Yates' work on punched card use in the insurance industry. If you come across other reviews of interest to readers on the list please feel free to link or forward to our list. Tom

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