CACM logo

opinion archive

RSS
Archives

The opinion archive provides access to past opinion stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.

Select a month and year of interest:

November 2009

Scientists and Engineers on Boards Will Keep Focus on the Long Term

Scientists and Engineers on Boards Will Keep Focus on the Long Term

Companies would likely have a longer-term perspective  if more scientists and engineers were included on their boards of directors or other leadership roles writes David A. Patterson, the Pardee Professor of Computer ScienceHarvard

How Secure Is Cloud Computing?

How Secure Is Cloud Computing?

The recent ACM Cloud Computing Security Workshop was the first event devoted specifically to the security of cloud computing systems. Speaker Whitfield Diffie, a visiting professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, says…

CIO Blast From the Past: 40 Years of Multics, 1969-2009

CIO Blast From the Past: 40 Years of Multics, 1969-2009

Four decades ago, Multiplexed Information and Computing Service (Multics), widely considered the basis of contemporary time-sharing systems, was first employed for information management at MIT. Professor Fernando J. Corbato,…

Securing India's Science Future

Securing India's Science Future

India is uniquely positioned to use technology for progress, but in the recent past has lagged behind in the quality and spread of science research, according to N. R. Narayana Murthy, chairman and chief mentor of Infosys Technologies…

Graphics Processing Technology Key to Unlocking IT Potential in Middle East

Graphics Processing Technology Key to Unlocking IT Potential in Middle East

Graphics processing units (GPUs) are now becoming instrumental in transforming key industries in the Middle East, as GPUs are poised to unlock groundbreaking capabilities in areas such as oil and gas exploration, health, finance…

Next Siggest Security Threat Will Be Cyber-Terrorism

Next Siggest Security Threat Will Be Cyber-Terrorism

The next biggest security threat may not be AK 47s or bomb blasts, but cyber terrorism. Terrorists can attack their enemy without stepping out of their home or country. Hence, cyber terrorism is more dangerous than any other…

Letter To The President

There is an interconnect between the IT education policy in a country and the economic growth experienced or expected. "Computation is the most powerful 'thing to think with,' " says Walter Bender, executive director of Sugar…

Generations Homo-Zapiens

Generations Homo-Zapiens

Information technology (IT) will become increasingly organic and humans will get closer to technology, predicts Eurotech Spa President and CEO Roberto Siagri. By 2012, businesses will use IT to set up their operations and assemble…

Revamping DARPA Is Vital to Preserving the U.S. Lead in IT

Revamping DARPA Is Vital to Preserving the U.S. Lead in IT

Government-funded basic and applied research at U.S. universities has been one of the pillars of the U.S. high tech sector. But at least in information technology, the model has been seriously weakened by changes that the administration…

Are Business Methods Patentable?

Are Business Methods Patentable?

How the U.S. Supreme Court's forthcoming decision in the Bilski v. Doll case is expected to affect existing and future software patents.

The Broadband Price is Not Right

The Broadband Price is Not Right

Developing an effective pricing index is essential to understanding the value of broadband connectivity.

On Public Service and Computer Science

On Public Service and Computer Science

Members of the computer science community should become more involved in public service by becoming program managers at federal agencies, the opportunities and benefits of which are outlined here.

An Interview with Ping Fu

An Interview with Ping Fu

Ping Fu, CEO of the digital shape sampling and processing company Geomagic, discusses her background, achievements, and challenges managing a company during a period of dynamic growth.

Usable Security: How to Get It

Usable Security: How to Get It

Why does your computer bother you so much about security, but still isn't secure? It's because users don't have a model for security, or a simple way to keep important things safe.

Steering Self-Learning Distance Algorithms

The concept of distance expresses the distortion measure between any pair of entities lying in a common space. Distances are at the very heart of geometry, and are ubiquitous…


About Communications | Join ACM External Link | Renew External Link | Subscribe External Link | Sign In | For Authors | For Advertisers External Link | Privacy | Site Map | Help | Contact Us

Copyright © 2009 by the ACM. All rights reserved.