April 2007 - Vol. 50 No. 4

April 2007 issue cover image

Features

Opinion Editorial pointers Apr 1 2007

Editorial Pointers

As much as the idea of abstraction concerns the simplification of the complex, for some it is often a concept simply too complex to grasp. The cover image, for example,…

Diane Crawford

Computing Applications

Opinion Forum Apr 1 2007

Stop Chasing the AI Illusion

The last time I was as delighted by an article in Communications as I was by Peter Naur’s "Turing Lecture: Computing Versus Human Thinking" (Jan. 2007)…

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

News News track Apr 1 2007

All space missions wrestle with producing enough power to complete their projects while restricting the weight of generators, batteries, and solar arrays onboard. Now,…

CACM Staff

Computing Applications

Opinion Digital village Apr 1 2007

Hiding Data, Forensics, and Anti-Forensics

Delving into the digital warrens for concealing data.

Hal Berghel

Computing Applications

Opinion The profession of IT Apr 1 2007

Mastering the Mess

We frequently find ourselves immersed in intransigent situations whose resolution demands a disruptive innovation. There are useful strategies for these situations.

Peter J. Denning

Computing Applications

News ACM honors distinguished members Apr 1 2007

ACM Honors Distinguished Members

ACM has three distinct member grades to recognize the professional accomplishments of its members. The list of those members recognized as ACM Fellows in 2006 was…

CACM Staff

Computing Applications

News Call for nominations for advanced member grades in ACM Apr 1 2007

Call For Nominations For Advanced Member Grades in ACM

ACM has three distinct member grades to recognize the professional accomplishments of our members: Senior Member recognizes those ACM members with at least 10 years of…

CACM Staff

Computing Applications

News Apr 1 2007

Proposal to Dissolve SIGAPL

The SGB EC brought forward a motion to dissolve SIGAPL, the Special Interest Group on the APL and J Languages based on an insufficient level of activity. The SGB EC…

CACM Staff

Computing Applications

Opinion Viewpoint Apr 1 2007

Flow in Games (and Everything Else)

A well-designed game transports its players to their personal Flow Zones, delivering genuine feelings of pleasure and happiness.

Jenova Chen

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Is Abstraction the Key to Computing?

Why is it that some software engineers and computer scientists are able to produce clear, elegant designs and programs, while others cannot? Is it possible to improve…

Jeff Kramer

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

How to Avoid Disappointment By Design

Avoid market failure by aligning system performance with stakeholder expectations.

Dorit Nevo and Michael R. Wade

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Consumer Support Systems

The interaction between businesses and their customers is ripe for the next leap, and it will require a collection of technologies to build new organizational structures…

Levent V. Orman

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Designing Data-Intensive Web Applications For Content Accessibility Using Web Marts

Developing technology to increase the accessibility of Web sites.

Stefano Ceri, Maristella Matera, Francesca Rizzo, and Vera Demaldé

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Analysis of Active Intrusion Prevention Data For Predicting Hostile Activity in Computer Networks

Using a generic and reliable model to anticipate future attack scenarios.

Ido Green, Tzvi Raz, and Moshe Zviran

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Managing Risk in Offshore Systems Development

The benefit of low-cost labor must be weighed against the risk of missed deadlines, dissatisfied users, and failure to reduce development costs.

S. Sakthivel

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Inconsistencies and Disconnects

The gap between the perception and reality of the technology skills of first-year college students raises questions about the role of state curriculum standards.

Jeffrey A. Stone and Elinor Madigan

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

Investigating Value-Based Decision Bias and Mediation: Do You Do as You Think?

Individual perspectives reflect one's innate value structure and have direct bearing on how one examines problems, classifies information, and makes decisions. The…

Dianne J. Hall and David Paradice

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Research and Advances Apr 1 2007

What Are People Searching on Government Web Sites?

A study of search activity on the Utah.gov Web site.

Michael Chau, Xiao Fang, and Olivia R. Liu Sheng

Computing Applications

Opinion Hot links Apr 1 2007

Top 10 Downloads from ACM’s Digital Library

Communications of the ACM Volume 50, Number 4 (2007), Pages 93-94 Hot links: Top 10 downloads from ACM’s digital library Diane Crawford Table of Contents Tables…

Computing Applications

Opinion Technical opinion Apr 1 2007

Does Telecommuting Improve Productivity?

Seeking solid evidence of demonstrable productivity gains.

E. Sonny Butler, Cheryl Aasheim, and Susan Williams

Computing Applications

Opinion Inside risks Apr 1 2007

Risks of Virtual Professionalism

The software engineering and online gaming communities have been rocked by the conviction in a Texas court of an Icelandic programmer for crimes committed in the secret…

Jim Horning

Computing Applications

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