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About: Mai Sugimoto
by Mai Sugimoto 28 May '09

28 May '09

Dear Sigcis members, I joined the list several months ago but I did not introduce myself yet, so I would like to do it now: I am Mai Sugimoto, a Ph.D student of Kyoto University in Japan. I have been studying about Claude Shannon, and recently I began to do research about Calvin Mooers. I would like to reassess the achievement of Shannon. Also I am interested in what electorical engineering people thought about "information" during 1940s and 1950s. Now I am doing my dissertation research at Charles Babbage Institute till the end of this August. Best, Mai Sugimoto ----- Mai Sugimoto Ph.D Student, Program of Philosophy and History of Science, Kyoto University, Japan nix.pura(a)gmail.com

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URL for workshop submission and details
by Thomas Haigh 27 May '09

27 May '09

Further to the last message, If you are now fired up to submit for the workshop, but can't find last week's message never fear. Details and URLs for online submission are at www.sigcis.org/?q=workshop09 Brent leveraged our fancy Drupal content management system to make a very nice online interface for the meeting. The regular deadline is June 22. Tom

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SIGCIS Workshop - Grad student travel funding deadline approaches
by Thomas Haigh 27 May '09

27 May '09

Hello everyone, It was great to see the CFP for the very first SIGCIS workshop go out last week. We already have a lot of interest, and the team is working hard to make sure that it is memorable for the right reasons. Although the theme is "Mike Mahoney and the Histories of Computing(s)" this encompasses pretty much any history of computing topic - so don't feel put off if your work does not directly relate to Mahoney. This is the first SIGCIS workshop, but we hope it will become an annual event and eventually fill the need for a regular international academic meeting in the history of computing to supplement the various national and special topic workshops that come and go. As mentioned earlier, the deadline for SHOT and SIGCIS graduate student travel funding applications is approaching. (Reminder: details are at http://www.sigcis.org/?q=node/55. Apply to SHOT via http://www.historyoftechnology.org/awards/travelgrants.html but send an email to secretary(a)sigcis.org asking for consideration for our supplemental funds). To help graduate students interested in the workshop we are offering expedited review of proposals if they are received by the end of TOMORROW, Thursday May 28. You will hear back in time to meet the deadline for funding applications. We're particularly interested in submissions of work in progress and dissertations in progress. The dissertations in progress session is an idea copied from the Business History Conference, where I personally found it very useful. You would pre circulate an actual or draft dissertation proposal and then make a short presentation with lots of time for discussion back and forth on framing, sources, organization, possible issues, etc. This might be particularly valuable in history of computing since you probably have between one and zero experts in the field on the faculty in your graduate program. So benefiting from the early input of a group of specialists could greatly strengthen the dissertation and draw your attention to ideas, resources and previous work you might otherwise miss. The works in progress session would also be very suitable for graduate students, as you can get helpful and immediate feedback on a chapter or draft article. We can only run these sessions if we get enough submissions to fill them, and I'm keen to see the workshop take advantage of its more intimate and friendly scale so do things that would be impossible in the larger context of the main conference. So please do consider contributing to them. Tom Haigh www.tomandmaria.com/tom

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IT history at BSHS 2009
by James Sumner 27 May '09

27 May '09

Dear listmembers The annual conference of the British Society for the History of Science is in Leicester at the beginning of July. Not so much computing or IT as in 2008 (and I have my eighteenth-century hat on this time), but you may wish to note Session 11 on technologies and users, featuring Tom Lean and Ian Martin, and Sandra Mols in Session 8. More generally, the twentieth century is particularly well represented this year. Anyone interested should note that the deadline for reduced-rate registration is very close (Saturday 30 June). --- The 2009 BSHS Annual Conference will take place at Stamford Hall, University of Leicester, from Thursday 2 - Saturday 5 July 2009. The conference programme includes parallel themed sessions, plenary lectures, education and outreach activities, and a conference dinner at the National Space Centre. Full details, including provisional programme and online registration form, are available at <http://www.bshs.org.uk/conferences/annual-conference/2009-leicester>. --- Best James

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About: Carolyn Kane
by Carolyn Kane 26 May '09

26 May '09

Dear Sigcis, I have just joined the list and I would like to introduce myself: Carolyn Lee Kane is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University where she is currently writing her dissertation on “Synthetic Color: Electronic Signal Processing & The Reconfiguration of Perception at the End of the Twentieth Century.” This project investigates the role of electronic, computer generated color in electronic art made from the post-war period through the present. Her research fields include philosophy, aesthetics, and new media history and theory. For more information: https://files.nyu.edu/clk267/public/ Best, Carolyn -- Carolyn Lee Kane PhD Candidate Media, Culture, and Communication 239 Greene St. 7th Floor New York University clk267(a)nyu.edu https://files.nyu.edu/clk267/public/

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Invitation to a (German-speaking) workshop on the history of computing at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, 10. July 2009, on the occassion of the 65. birthday of Hartmut Petzold
by Ulf Hashagen 26 May '09

26 May '09

Rechnende Maschinen Ein Kolloquium zum 65. Geburtstag von Hartmut Petzold Deutsches Museum 10. Juli 2009, 9.30 19.30 Uhr Programm Eröffnung: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Heckl (Deutsches Museum) Einführung: Dr. Ulf Hashagen (Deutsches Museum) 1. Sitzung: Von Rechenmeistern, Rechengeräten und Rechenmaschinen (9.30-13.00 Uhr) Sitzungsleitung: Prof. Dr. Helmuth Trischler (Deutsches Museum) a) Prof. Dr. Menso Folkerts (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München): Das Verhältnis zwischen Rechenmeistern und Universitätsmathematikern im späten 15. und 16. Jahrhundert. b) Prof. Dr. Joachim Fischer (Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung München): Analoge Rechengeräte und -maschinen. c) Prof. Erhard Anthes (PH Ludwigsburg): Zur Einführung des logarithmischen Rechenstabes im deutschen Bildungswesen. 2. Sitzung: zur Entwicklung des Computing (14.30-17.30 Uhr) Sitzungsleitung: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Wengenroth (TU München) a) Dr. Ulf Hashagen (Deutsches Museum): Rechnen für die Wissenschaft: Scientific Computing im deutschen Wissenschaftssystem. b) Dr. Gerard Alberts (Universiteit Amsterdam): Metaprogrammierung: Zum historischen Begriff der Software. c) PD Dr. Rudolf Seising (European Centre for Soft Computing): Vom Harten Rechnen zum Soft Computing. 3. Sitzung: Rückblicke und Ausblicke (18.00.-19.30 Uhr) Sitzungsleitung: Dr. Oskar Blumtritt (Deutsches Museum) a) Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Hellige (Universität Bremen): Die Aktualität von Hartmut Petzolds Sozialgeschichte des Computing. b) Dr. Hartmut Petzold (Deutsches Museum): 20 Jahre mechanische und elektronische Informationstechnik im Deutschen Museum. Ein kurzer Rückblick. Schlusswort: Prof. Dr. Helmuth Trischler (Deutsches Museum) Anschließend: Abendessen (20.00 Uhr) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- Veranstaltungsort: Deutsches Museum, Bibliotheksbau, Seminarraum der Institute Anmeldung: Bitte per E-Mail anmelden bei Frau Andrea Walther mit dem Hinweis: O Für das Kolloquium O Für das Abendessen E-Mail-Adresse: a.walther(a)deutsches-museum.de Tel.: 089-2179280 (vormittags) Organisation: Forschungsinstitut des Deutschen Museums (Dr. Ulf Hashagen, Prof. Dr. Helmuth Trischler) in Verbindung mit der GI- Fachgruppe Informatik- und Computergeschichte der Gesellschaft für Informatik (Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Hellige, Univ. Bremen) ------------------------------------------------------------ Dr. Ulf Hashagen Deutsches Museum Forschungsinstitut für Technik- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte Museumsinsel 1 80538 München Germany Tel.: +49 (0)89-2179-453 Fax.: +49 (0)89-2179-239 Email: u.hashagen(a)deutsches-museum.de

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Invitation to Workshop on "IT in Shaping Organizations", 8-9 June 2009
by Lars Heide 24 May '09

24 May '09

INVITATION TO WORKSHOP at Centre for Business History, Copenhagen Business School IT in Shaping Organizations 8-9 June 2009 This workshop discusses the role of IT in shaping business practices and organizations, how different ways or fashions emerged of organizing jobs and businesses and how this should be analyzed. It will be based upon presentations of selected cases across trades and countries, and two invited discussants will initialize the discussions. Information technology started entering business organizations in the early twentieth century, as corporate bureaucracies were established to harvest the advantages of scale and scope in big companies. Computers entered businesses since the late 1950s and provided greatly improved technical possibilities, but it proved complicated to establish a fruitful interaction between people, organization, and technology. Several ways or fashions emerged of organizing jobs and businesses but not a single best way across trades and countries. Information technology became an essential component in shaping business since the 1960s and, consequently, business history studies need to pay more attention it. Possible yields from studying the role of IT in business organizations can be seen from JoAnne Yates' study of the United States life insurance industry and from the work of a group of historians studying IT in banking. In contrast most business history studies of businesses for the last 50 years note the emergence of computers, but they do not analyze their role in shaping business practices and organizations. Organizer: Lars Heide, Centre for Business History, CBS Secretary: Jens-Christian Sørensen, Centre for Business History, CBS Registration by Tuesday, 2 June 2009 to Jens-Christian Sørensen, e-mail: jcs.lpf(a)cbs.dk<mailto:jcs.lpf@cbs.dk> Registration is gratis. Program: Monday 8 June 2009 12.00: Lunch. Location TBA 13.30 - 18.00 afternoon session (coffee break 15.30-16.00) Chair: Lars Heide Commentator: Nathan Ensmenger, University of Pennsylvania, USA Lars Heide: Welcome to the Workshop. Torkil Clemmensen, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark National and organizational styles in user interface design Jacob Nørbjerg, CBS The Quest for High Maturity, in a non-IDEAL world Robert Austin, Copenhagen Business School, DK. Research Commentary: Weighing the Benefits and Costs of Flexibility in Making Software. Toward a Contingency Theory of the Determinants of Development Process Design Lau Guldbrandt Dalgaard and Frederik Homann, Copenhagen Business School, DK. TexasPoker: Business Opportunities in the Shadow of Google 19.00: Dinner at CBS. Location TBA Tuesday 9 June 2009 09.00 - 12.00: Morning session Chair: TBA Lars Heide, Copenhagen Business School Punched Cards in German Management of Resources in the Second World War Commentator: David E. Nye, University of Southern Denmark Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, University of Leicester, UK >From cash machine to ATM: The development of on-line, real-time systems in British and Swedish savings banks, c.1967-1985 Commentator: Nathan Ensmenger, University of Pennsylvania, USA Joakim Appelquist, VINNOVA, Stockholm, SE Technical and Organizational Change in the Swedish Banking Sector 1975-2003 Commentator: Nathan Ensmenger, University of Pennsylvania, USA 12.00: Lunch 13.30 - 18.00 afternoon session (coffee break 15.30-16.00) Chair: TBA Commentator: David E. Nye, University of Southern Denmark Jonathan Aylen, Manchester University, UK. "You've got to roll with it": radical adoption of computers and changes to managerial routines at Llanwern steelworks, South Wales Gustav Sjöblom, Chalmars University of Technology, Sweden Computers in business - the Swedish way? Timo Leimbach, Karlsruhe, Germany. >From the flow of material to the flow of information - the challenge of computer systems and the development from MRP to ERP between1960s and 1990s Jeffrey Yost, University of Minnesota, USA The Evolving US Computer Services Industry as a Lens into Understanding Organizational Boundaries of IT Operations, 1955-1980 Lars Heide Associate Professor, Dr. merc. Centre for Business History Copenhagen Business School Porcelanshaven 18A DK-2000 Frederiksberg DENMARK Tel: +45 3815 3027 Mob: +45 2383 4840 Fax: +45 3815 3635

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Call For Papers: Michael Mahoney And The Histories of Computing(s)
by NOVEMBER, JOSEPH 22 May '09

22 May '09

CALL FOR PAPERS Michael Mahoney And The Histories of Computing(s) SIGCIS History of Computing Workshop in Memory of Michael S. Mahoney Sunday, October 18, 2009, Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA The Society for the History of Technology's Special Interest Group for Computers, Information and Society (SIGCIS - www.sigcis.org) welcomes submissions for "Michael Mahoney And The Histories of Computing(s)," a daylong workshop on the history of computing in memory of historian Michael S. Mahoney. In keeping with Mahoney's broad historical perspective, we encourage submissions not only about computers themselves but also about the technologies and knowledge systems into which computers have been embedded as well as the societies in which they are used. Contributions directly related to Mahoney's work are welcome but not required. The keynote speaker, William Aspray, will discuss Mahoney's contribution to the development of the history of computing. The workshop will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on Sunday, October 18, 2009. It will occur on the final day of the annual SHOT meeting with sessions in the morning and afternoon. SHOT has reserved that day for SIG events and therefore the workshop will not overlap scheduled sessions and most other SHOT functions. It will be held at the same site as the SHOT meeting. SIGCIS encourages scholars of all levels and affiliations to participate. Organized sessions and individual papers are both welcome. In keeping with the conference theme contributions that address historiographic issues or situate work within a particular history of computing are particularly welcome. Individual contributions can fit one of a variety of formats. 1. Traditional 20 to 25-minute presentations followed by a question and answer session with the SIGCIS community. In this case a one-page abstract (maximum 400 words) will be reviewed and included in the electronic conference program. Abstracts should address the paper's topic, argument, evidence used, and contribution to the existing literature. A full version of the paper should be sent to the session commentator at least a week prior to the meeting. 2. Dissertation proposals. We hope to include a dissertations in progress session, in which individuals will present their ongoing dissertation work and seek feedback from the history of computing community. In this case submit an abstract of your dissertation proposal. The full proposal will be included in the electronic conference program if accepted. Participants will be encouraged to read this prior to the session. You will have five to ten minutes to introduce the material, leaving the bulk of time available for discussion. 3. Works in progress. This is your chance to receive informal and expert discussion of draft dissertation chapters, journal articles, or book chapters. Submit a one-page abstract (maximum 400 words) including discussion of the current state of the work and any specific kinds of feedback you are seeking. If your proposal is accepted you will need to supply the draft for discussion by 1 October for inclusion in the electronic program for the workshop. You will have five to ten minutes to introduce the material, leaving the bulk of time available for discussion. 4. Proposals in other formats are also welcome. For example round table discussions, demonstrations of software of interest to historians of computing, or "author meets critics" sessions. SHOT presenters are encouraged to apply but must present material significantly different from that presented in the main conference program. Submission Procedures Individual submissions should be made at http://www.sigcis.org/?q=workshop09a, and must include: 1. an abstract or dissertation proposal as described above. Paste this text into the web submission form. 2. a one-page curriculum vitae, including current e-mail addresses as a Microsoft Word or PDF document. Upload this via the web submission system. Use the filename AuthorLastName_vita. For example Smith_vita. Proposals for complete sessions should be made at http://www.sigcis.org/?q=workshop09b, and must include: 1. The name of the session and the names, email addresses and paper titles of the presenters, organizer, chair and commentator (if applicable) 2. a one-page description (maximum 400 words) of the session that explains how individual papers contribute to an overall theme 3. an abstract for each presenter in the form described above 4. for the each presenter and other participants (including commentator if used) a one-page curriculum vitae. Compile as one Word or PDF document and upload via the web submission system. Questions should be addressed to Joseph November [november(at)sc.edu] who is serving as program committee chair for the workshop. The deadline for proposals is June 22, 2009. Notifications will be sent by June 29, 2009. If you are a graduate student seeking travel funding please submit ASAP for expedited review because the SHOT deadline for funding is June 1. Workshop Organizers Joseph November, Program Committee Chair Jeffrey Tang, Local Arrangements Chair Brent Jesiek, Internet Infrastructure Thomas Haigh, SIG Chair

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Associate Professor, History and philosophy of mathematics and computer science, Aarhus University, Denmark
by James Sumner 21 May '09

21 May '09

Crossposted from mersenne, with Usenet-era apologies for duplication... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Associate Professor, History and philosophy of mathematics and computer science, Aarhus University, Denmark Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 18:19:31 +0200 From: Hanne Andersen <hanne.andersen(a)IVS.AU.DK> Reply-To: Hanne Andersen <hanne.andersen(a)IVS.AU.DK> To: MERSENNE(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK *Associate Professor in history and philosophy of mathematics and computer science * Department of Science Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark (http://www.ivs.au.dk) invites applications for a permanent position as Associate Professor beginning January 1, 2010. The Department of Science Studies forms part of the Faculty of Science, and is responsible for research and education in history and philosophy of science. The Department seeks a historian or philosopher of mathematics and/or computer science with significant publications and research interest within the fields of history and philosophy of mathematics and computer science broadly conceived. The requirements for a successful application are an strong record of research and teaching within history and/or philosophy of mathematics and computer science, and the ability to teach in English or Danish. Experience with academic administration and fund raising is desirable. Duties will include instruction at the undergraduate and postgraduate level within the fields of history and philosophy of mathematics and computer science, preferably including mandatory courses in philosophy of mathematics and computer science for undergraduate students in mathematics and computer science. The Department offers courses in philosophy of science for all science programmes. All courses are based on extensive use of historical and contemporary cases, and faculty members from the Department collaborate on developing the course format. The new Associate Professor is expected to participate actively in the strategic development of the departments research focus on studies of contemporary science. The Department is interested in developing new teaching initiatives in science studies. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in all aspects of the Department's activities and to be present on a daily basis. Applications must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching qualifications and management experience, all in 4 copies (see http://www.nat.au.dk/default.asp?id=7842&la=UK for the recommended level of detail). If the applicant wants other material to be considered in the evaluation (publications and other documentation of research and teaching qualifications, as well as management experience) such material must be clearly specified and must either be enclosed in hardcopy (3 copies) or must be available electronically. The Faculty refers to the Ministerial Order No. 92 of 15.02.2008 (http://science.au.dk/default.asp?id=7839&la=UK) on the appointment of teaching and research staff at the universities under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Unions. Applications should be addressed to The Faculty of Science, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and marked 212/5-292. The deadline for receipt of all applications is July 1, 2009, at 12,00 noon. For more information please contact the head of the department Keld Nielsen, Department of Science Studies, Building 1110, CF Moellers Alle, DK-8000 Aarhus C., Denmark; phone +45 8942 3540; e-mail: keld.nielsen(a)ivs.au.dk, or vice head of department Hanne Andersen, phone +45 8942 3514; e-mail: hanne.andersen(a)ivs.au.dk /Aarhus University offers a good and inspiring education and research environment for 35,000 students and 8,500 members of staff, who produce academic results of a high international standard. The budgeted turnover for 2009 amounts to EUR 700 million. The university's strategy and development contract are available at www.au.dk./

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New collection on (IT and other) standardization: History of Technology vol 28
by James Sumner 20 May '09

20 May '09

Dear all Listmembers may be interested in a new collection, edited by myself and Graeme Gooday (Leeds), entitled "By whose standards? Standardization, stability and uniformity in the history of information and electrical technologies". This is Volume 28 of the annual series _History of Technology_ (series editor: Ian Inkster), and carries a 2008 date. Alongside several chapters on electrical engineering and related topics, there are pieces by Laura DeNardis (Yale) on the post-IPv4 Internet addressing controversy; Frank Veraart (TU Eindhoven) on Basicode, the Dutch-originated lingua franca for hobbyist computing, used for radio software transmission in 1980s Europe; and myself on the roles of compatibility in the development of proprietary and PC-compatible microcomputer formats. Another contributor who will be familiar to many on this list is Andrew Russell (Stevens), who's also worked on IP/OSI issues -- his chapter here is from rather earlier in his research period, looking at AT&T's drastic standards-focused reaction to the 'telephone slug' racket in the 1920s. Full contents below. A preprint of the volume introduction, which is also intended as a a survey of relevant literature on standards and technological negotiation, is online at <http://www.jbsumner.com/offprints/2008-history-of-technology-intro.pdf> The volume's available now from Continuum. The international standing of the pound sterling being what it is, purchasers may be best served by going through the UK outlet: order page via <http://www.tinyurl.com/hot28>. The US order page is at <http://www.tinyurl.com/hot28us>. All comments welcome. Best regards James --- History of Technology Volume 28 Special Issue: By whose standards? Standardization, stability and uniformity in the history of information and electrical technologies ISBN: 9780826438751 Table Of Contents Introduction: does standardization make things standard? James Sumner and Graeme Gooday IPv6: standards controversies around the next-generation Internet Laura DeNardis Standardization across the boundaries of the Bell System, 1920-1938 Andrew L Russell Morality, locality and 'standardization' in the work of British consulting electrical engineers, 1880-1914 Stathis Arapostathis Perceptions, standardization and closure: the case of artificial illumination Chris Otter Standards and compatibility: the rise of the PC computing platform James Sumner Basicode: co-producing a microcomputer Esperanto Frank Veraart Battery birds, 'stimulighting' and 'twilighting': the ecology of standardized poultry technology Karen Sayer ---

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