November 2007 - Vol. 50 No. 11

Features

Opinion Editorial pointers Nov 1 2007

Editorial Pointers

Unlike many of the sciences, where experimentation and theory go hand-in-hand, computer science generally has taken a different approach, viewing theory as the driving force and experimentation too often as a postscript. But there is a growing faction of CS researchers working to change that modus operandi, calling for higher visibility for experimental computer science […]

Diane Crawford

Computing Applications

News News track Nov 1 2007

The percentage of patents filed by foreigners living in the U.S. has tripled in the last decade, yet the tight cap on permanent visas may force entrepreneurs back home to create rival companies in China, India, and elsewhere. The Associated Press reports that researchers from Harvard, Duke, and New York University have published an analysis […]

CACM Staff

Architecture and Hardware

Opinion The profession of IT Nov 1 2007

The Choice Uncertainty Principle

It is impossible to make an unambiguous choice between near-simultaneous events under a deadline. How can computations choose reliably?

Peter J. Denning

Computing Applications

Practice Practical programmer Nov 1 2007

A Research Project with Important Practitioner-Oriented Findings

Exploring a standard that, in the end, "...fails to achieve its objectives and be useful to its users."

Robert L. Glass

Computing Applications

Opinion President's letter Nov 1 2007

The Rewards of ACM’s Awards

I recently had the pleasure of hosting ACM’s Annual Awards Banquet in San Diego—a splendid event honoring some of computing’s brightest innovators and their brilliant accomplishments. The gathering celebrated their efforts and how they have expanded the knowledge of computer science, helped educate new members of our community, and supported the technology field as well […]

Stuart I. Feldman

Computing Applications

Opinion Viewpoint Nov 1 2007

Stop the Numbers Game

Counting papers slows the rate of scientific progress.

David Lorge Parnas

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

Only experimentation can confirm or refute the relevance of theory and established practices.

Dror G. Feitelson

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

Experimental Algorithmics

Theoretical questions and motivations, combined with empirical research methods, produce insights into algorithm and program performance.

Catherine C. McGeoch

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

Empirical Studies to Build a Science of Computer Science

We learn to develop software by building, testing, and evolving models.

Victor R. Basili and Marvin V. Zelkowitz

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

Experience-Driven Experimental Systems Research

The most direct way toward understanding whether PlanetLab and other such systems serve their purpose is to build, deploy, and use them.

Larry Peterson and Vivek S. Pai

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

Workloads (Creation and Use)

Workloads are used to estimate and measure system performance, but the results are only as good as the workloads and models being used.

Alan Jay Smith

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

TREC: Continuing Information Retrieval's Tradition of Experimentation

Large-scale test collections drive improvement in search technology to help users find information in free text.

Ellen M. Voorhees

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Experimental computer science Nov 1 2007

How DARPA Structures its Robotics Programs to Improve Locomotion and Navigation

Research teams use common robots and machine learning to teach the robots outdoor navigation and locomotion skills.

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Nov 1 2007

What Motivates Wikipedians?

In order to increase and enhance user-generated content contributions, it is important to understand the factors that lead people to freely share their time and knowledge with others.

Oded Nov

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Nov 1 2007

Information Life Cycle Management

A new framework, created to enhance information life cycle management by clarifying the relationship between value-at-risk and total cost of ownership, helps IT managers build a winning storage environment.

Paul P. Tallon and Richard Scannell

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Nov 1 2007

Does Data Warehouse End-User Metadata Add Value?

Many data warehouses are currently underutilized by managers and knowledge workers. Can high-quality end-user metadata help to increase levels of adoption and use?

Neil Foshay, Avinandan Mukherjee, and Andrew Taylor

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Nov 1 2007

The Impact of Size and Volatility on IT Project Performance

Studying the factors influencing project risk.

Chris Sauer, Andrew Gemino, and Blaize Horner Reich

Computing Applications

Practice Nov 1 2007

Making Knowledge Work in Virtual Teams

"I've been working in computers for years, and only the simplest stuff works 90% of the time."---A virtual team leader reflecting on technology facilitation.

Dominic M. Thomas, Robert P. Bostrom, and Marianne Gouge

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Nov 1 2007

Drivers of Price Premium in E-Markets

How price sensitivity influences online customers' purchase decisions.

Hee-Woong Kim and Yunjie Xu

Computing Applications

Opinion Hot links Nov 1 2007

Top 10 Downloads from ACM’s Digital Library

Communications of the ACM Volume 50, Number 11 (2007), Pages 97-97 Hot links: Top 10 downloads from ACM’s digital library Diane Crawford Table of Contents Tables Back to Top Tables Table. The Top 10 Most Popular Papers from ACM’s Refereed Journals and Conference Proceedings Downloaded in August 2007 Table. Top 10 Most Popular Magazine and […]

Computing Applications

Opinion Inside risks Nov 1 2007

Risks of E-Voting

Electronic voting has spread throughout the U.S. and the world without sufficient attention to reliability, security, or transparency. Today’s e-voting systems use proprietary code, and vendors have often asserted the confidentiality of this code when independent reviews of certified systems were requested. This confidentiality conflicts with the transparency required for public elections. In order to […]

Matt Bishop and David Wagner

Computing Applications

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