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Research and Advances Dec 1 1991

Designing for cooperation: cooperating in design

This article will discuss how to design computer applications that enhance the quality of work and products, and will relate the discussion to current themes in the field of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Cooperation is a key element of computer use and work practice, yet here a specific “CSCW approach is not taken.” Instead the focus is cooperation as an important aspect of work that should be integrated into most computer support efforts in order to develop successful computer support, however, other aspects such as power, conflict and control must also be considered.
Opinion Dec 1 1991

Computing in a less-developed country

Almost all of the nations of Latin America are so-called less-developed countries (LDCs). But unlike many such countries elsewhere, quite a few have recently attempted to install more democratic, or at least less authoritarian, governments that are permitting greater freedom of expression and information and encouraging market-oriented economic developments. The latter include decreasing protectionism and moves toward the privatization of state enterprises such as telecommunications companies. Given the land area, natural resources, and populations involved, these developments are potentially of enormous international importance. The information technologies (IT) could be used to accelerate and reinforce these political and economic changes.
Opinion Nov 1 1991

Supercomputing policy links science and the “C” word

Competition, a concept nary whispered in pure science circles, might just have been the catalyst that finally drove the High Performance Computing and Communication (HPCC) policy over the Hill. It has taken many years, and countless government studies, to help legislators even comprehend and appreciate the potential of high-performance computing technology in the U.S. But toss in the competitive angle, and the story needs little translation.
Research and Advances Oct 1 1991

Digital media and the law

Over the past two years, I have written seven “Legally Speaking” columns and one feature article for Communications about legal issues affecting computing professionals. These writings have covered an array of legal topics including: criminal and civil liability for hackers who breach computer security systems; first amendment issues arising in computing or electronic publishing markets; intellectual property issues, such as patent protection for computer program algorithms; copyright protection for look and feel of user interfaces; what the user interface design field thinks about such protection, and various theories by which a firm might claim to own interface specification information for software systems.
Research and Advances Oct 1 1991

An ACM response: the scope and directions of Computer Science

The National Research Council's Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) chartered a two-year study on the scope and directions of computer science. As part of this study, ACM was asked to provide input on three important questions, the answers to which could have significant impact on the future direction of our discipline and profession.
Opinion Oct 1 1991

Could it have been predicted?

As everyone knows, the computer industry is passing through a period of great change. I was speaking recently to a senior executive in one of the large companies vigorously working to meet the developing situation. The question he posed was: “Could it have been predicted?”
Research and Advances Sep 1 1991

From under the rubble: computing and the resuscitation of Romania

How does an entire country return to life? The dictatorship of Nicolae and Elena Ceaucescu turned Romania into a political, social and economic wasteland that was vividly pictured in the world media after the overthrow of the Stalinist couple in December 1989. Their regime left the country in shambles: with an old or mangled physical plant, a currency worthless abroad and nearly worthless at home, a legacy of secret police abuses, terrible health and sanitary conditions, and a highly centralized, warped, and inefficient scientific and industrial infrastructure.
Opinion Sep 1 1991

How the Nintendo generation learns

Recently, I was chatting with my son, Daniel (age 7) about Nintendo. I asked him if he could bring it in to school for show and tell and he was horrified! “No,” he exclaimed, “that's not for learning.” Well, what do you, dear reader, think about that? Is Nintendo for learning? No one is watching/listening … go ahead … admit it … You don't really like Nintendo. (Of course, when you play Tetris, that is exercising problem-solving skills. Right.) And, afterall, you didn't use all that technology in school, and you learned just fine. So, why do “kids these days” need all this new multimedia technology, anyhow? That technology just makes it fun and easy to learn—it's just glitz. And as for calculators.....
Opinion Aug 1 1991

Private life in cyberspace

I have lived most of my life in a small Wyoming town, where there is little of the privacy which both insulates and isolates suburbanites. Anyone in Pinedale who is interested in me or my doings can get most of that information in the Wrangler Café. Between them, any five customers could probably produce all that is known locally about me—including a number of items that are well known but not true. me—including a number of items that are well known but not true.
Opinion Aug 1 1991

Revisiting computer security in the business world

In my first column (Communications, Apr. 1990) I discussed computer security in the business world. I remarked that whereas the military had always attached great importance to security, business managers regarded it as yet another demand on their budgets, and have required convincing about its importance. As a result, the military made most of the advances in research on computer security for a long time. They have evolved what is now a well-developed doctrine.
Opinion Jul 1 1991

Computers, ethics, and values

Comdex in Las Vegas is the largest North American trade show for personal computer users. The show, which is vast, provided me with many impressions. I jotted many of these in my notebook and will share some of them with you here.
Opinion Jul 1 1991

Notes from COMDEX

Finally, new and interesting ideas about documentation. It is kind of funny, really. Most documentation is written by technicians—not professional writers. And most technicians would include documentation among their top ten complaints regarding the software they use. Physician, heal thyself. This column describes ideas and suggestions from current literature on software documentation. I hope they will change the way you think about documentation. If you are in the software field, it is almost certain that you will have to write documentation, for either your peers or your users. If you are designing software, you owe it to those you serve to gain an enlightened attitude toward documentation, recognizing the interconnectedness of the software, its documentation, and the help system. Otherwise, you are not a “practical programmer.”
Opinion Jun 1 1991

From Washington: CEOs unite to influence U.S. technology policy

Verbal sparring over U.S. technology policy has persisted unabated for over one decade and two presidential administrations. As politicians, academicians, and industry representatives continue to volley policy virtues, the nation has watched its strong lead in the world's technology tournament slip another few notches. Industry observers lament that setting priorities, particularly in terms of R&D spending, has reached a turning point.

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