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
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