Even better would be to have the history of computing embedded in academic computing programs. Physicists learn about Newton, and chemists learn about Lavoisier, so why shouldn't computer scientists learn about Babbage, Turing, and Von Neumann?
I am curious where physicists learn about Newton or chemists about Lavoisier as part of the required academic corriculum. I did a physics degree with little exposure to Newton. There is a current in both science and history of science which on the contrary suggests that a science and its history are and even should be independent disciplines (should the history of science be rated X? ie will it corrupt the scientist's mind?). I am pretty sure the utility of history of science to current science is a live controversy. As a historian of science (with a BSc in Physics) I tend to think history of science has something to contribute to science, but the claim can be tricky to defend. I suspect a debate on the utility of the history of computing to current computing practice is likewise complex and requires effort. -- Yours Truly, Allan Olley, PhD http://individual.utoronto.ca/fofound/ On Thu, 10 Nov 2016, Len Shustek wrote:
At 09:59 AM 11/10/2016, McMillan, William W wrote:
I thought you might like to hear the following. In a meeting with a small software company in Ann Arbor that emphasizes user-centered, agile development, a colleague and I asked what subjects should be included in an academic program in interaction design. The firm's chief designer, who also has a programming background, said that the most important course would be history of computing!
Even better would be to have the history of computing embedded in academic computing programs. Physicists learn about Newton, and chemists learn about Lavoisier, so why shouldn't computer scientists learn about Babbage, Turing, and Von Neumann?
My frustration teaching computer architecture at Stanford in the mid-1990s with a required syllabus that avoided history led me to start a museum nearby, because I knew I wouldn't be able change the curriculum. If you are interested in the story of how that happened, see http://s3data.computerhistory.org/atchm/documents/Personal_Reflections_on_th... which is referenced in my blog article on the Computer History Museum's 35th [sic] anniversary. http://www.computerhistory.org/atchm/computer-history-museum-celebrating-35-...
-- Len _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org