Founded in the mid-1980s, SIGCIS is the leading international group for historians with an interest in the history of information technology and its applications. Our primary activities include meetings held in connection with our parent society, the Society for the History of Technology; and a range of online resources hosted from this website.
Recent News
-
Mahoney Fund
The Fund SIGCIS established the Mahoney Fund in 2008, following a challenge by Ann Johnson to match her pledged giving in honor of historian of computing Michael S. Mahoney. The fund is the main capital reserve for the SIG, intended to provide a long-term income source and support for special projects. Money held in the…
-
Silicon Engine exhibit at the Computer History Museum in Mt View, CA
by Alan J. Weissberger On July 1st, the Computer History Museum (CHM) launched the Silicon Engine exhibit, which traces the history of semiconductors that led to the design of the first microprocessor- the Intel 4004. Very impressive artifacts from the CHM collection are displayed in a glass enclosed panel. The artifacts illustrate: early transistors, Jean…
-
About SIGCIS – History
Chairs of the SIG Years shown are the SHOT annual meetings on which the terms began. • 1987: Founding meeting – chair unknown.• 1988: William Aspray, Charles Babbage Institute• 1989: David K. Allison, Smithsonian Institution• 1990-91: Judy O’Neil, Charles Babbage Institute• 1992: Janet Abbate, University of Pennsylvania• 1993-2005: Paul Ceruzzi, Smithsonian Institution• 2005-2014: Thomas Haigh,…
-
ACM History Fellowship
The Association for Computing Machinery, founded in 1947, is the oldest and largest educational and scientific society dedicated to the computing profession, and today has members in more than 100 countries. To encourage historical research, the ACM History Committee announces a new program of short-term fellowships in ACM history. This year we plan to make…
-
The MIT Press Information Society Series — An Interdisciplinary Series on Technology, Law, and Society
Series Editors, Laura DeNardis and Michael Zimmer We are delighted to announce the formation of the MIT Press Information Society Series – an interdisciplinary series on technology, law, and society. The Information Society Series will address the social, legal, and policy implications of the Internet and new information technologies and will especially feature works from…
-
History of Computing Prominent at 3 Societies Conference
The 2008 Joint Meeting of the BSHS, CSHPS, and HSS (aka 3 Societies) held at Keble College, Oxford in July was the site of several talks and sessions of interest to SIGCIS. These included a session I organized, titled ‚”Computing Without Borders: How Information Technology Crossed and Redefined Disciplinary Lines‚” and two others, “Computing in…
-
Michael S. Mahoney has passed away
Renowned historian, and friend and colleague of many SIGCIS members, Michael S. Mahoney, died last night. Further information, including UPDATES, is posted below. UPDATE 7/28/08: Times of Trenton published an obituary, “Princeton University loses a ‘master teacher‘”. The Times article relays Angela Creager’s apt summary of Mike’s gifts as a teacher. UPDATE 7/26/08: Princeton University…
-
Call for Syllabi
One of the missions of SIGCIS is to create a repository of history of computing syllabi. The subject is taught all over the world, but there’s not enough interaction between those who teach it. What better way to start than to share the syllabi we’ve developed? If you would like to contribute yours to the…
-
Charles Babbage, ‘Irascible Genius,’ and the First Computer
(Doron Swade’s Computer History Museum Lecture on Charles Babbage and his Engines, May 10, 2008 at the Opening of the Babbage Exhibit at the Museum) Alan J. Weissberger IEEE Sr. Member and Program Chair IEEE ComSoc SCV Disclaimer: All opinions, inferences and conclusions expressed in the article are that of noted Babbage authority Doron Swade,…
-
May 30 U of M conference explores gender gap in computing professions
The University of Minnesota’s Charles Babbage Institute presents an international conference exploring the gender gap in computing on Friday, May 30, at the Charles Babbage Institute, Anderson Library, 222 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis. The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required for lunch and/or dinner. The conference, entitled History |…