History of Information Systems

1
History of Information Systems

• Panel Presentation
• IFIP Working Group 9.7
• History of Computing

2
Presenters

• John Impagliazzo (Hofstra)
• Overview of IFIPs efforts in the history of
  computing
• George Kasper (Richmond)
• ACM and MIS
• Joyce Currie Little (Towson)
• Early experiences and IS curricula
• Elias Awad (Virginia)
• The early days of information systems
• John A.N. Lee (Virginia Tech)
• Audience Participation

3
What is IFIP?

• International Federation for Information
  Processing
• IFIP is a non-governmental, non-profit umbrella
  organization for national societies working in
  the field of information processing.
• It was established in 1960 under the auspices of
  UNESCO as an aftermath of the first World
  Computer Congress held in Paris in 1959.
• Today, IFIP has several types of members and
  maintains friendly connections to specialized
  agencies of the UN system and non-governmental
  organizations.
• Technical work, which is the heart of IFIP's
  activity, is managed by a series of Technical
  Committees.

4
IFIP Structure

• Membership
• 48 full members
• 3 corresponding members
• 11 affiliate organizations
• Technical Committees (12)
• Working Groups (76)
• International Conferences (65)

5
Technical Committee 9 (TC9)

• Relationship between Computers and Society
• Computers and Work (WG 9.1)
• Social Accountability (WG 9.2)
• Home Oriented Informatics and Telematics (WG 9.3)
• Social Implications of Computers in Developing
  Countries (WG 9.4)
• Applications and Social Implications of Virtual
  Worlds (WG 9.5)
• Information Technology Misuse and The Law (WG
  9.6)
• History of Computing (WG 9.7)
• Women and Information Technology (WG 9.8)

6
Working Group 9.7 (WG 9.7)

• History of Computing
• Founded by JAN Lee in 1992
• Chair from 1992 to 2000
• Created a spirit of computing history worldwide
• Sponsored Pioneer Day at IFIP World Congress
• New Chair
• John, Yours truly
• Make computing history interesting
• Sponsor meetings
• Sponsor conferences
• Participate in conferences

7
Aims of WG 9.7

• Provide a central vehicle for information
  interchange regarding the methods and techniques
  of historio-graphy, especially as related to the
  opportunities for the studies of contemporary
  history.
• Provide expertise for the design, implementation
  and operation of archives and displays related to
  the history of information processing.
• Encourage the development of national archives.
• Develop a program of Pioneers' Days" which
  recognize the contribution of pioneers and
  anniversaries of major events.
• Identify pioneers worthy of an appreciation and
  distinction and make "IFIP Pioneer Awards".
• Develop publication plans for histories of
  Information Processing.
• Promote the inclusion of historical modules in
  appropriate curricula. 

8
Scope of WG 9.7

• The history of computing and informatics with a
  view to providing the impetus to preserve the
  records and artifacts of information processing
  inventions, practices and activities throughout
  the world under the auspices of IFIP and its
  constituent organizations.
• One special focus is the socio-historical context
  and consequences of Information Technologies. 

9
Events of WG 9.7

• Past Pioneer Days at IFIP Computer Congresses
• World Conference on Computers in Education
• 2001 July, Copenhagen, Denmark
• As we speak
• ISECON 2001
• World Computer Conference 2002 (WCC 2002)
• Montreal, 26-31 August
• Computing History of the Nordic Countries
• 2003, Trondheim, Norway
• Computing History of Russia
• 2004