The "Looking Back" Column in Computer

These files downloaded from IEEE Computer Society magazine Computer by J.W. Cupp. This table of contents file is adapted from the original table of contents files; the "Looking Back" files are a synthesis of the published column and the author's originals, with hyperlinks adjusted as necessary. Please read the copyright notice at the end of each file. Copyright requirements remain in force.

. Overview: the IEEE Computer Society's 50 Years of Computing anniversary site online!

• Vol. 29, No. 1, January 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 2, February 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 3, March 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 4, April 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 5, May 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 6, June 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 7, July 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 8, August 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 9, September 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 10, October 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 11, November 1996
• Vol. 29, No. 12, December 1996

• The History of Computing page by J.A.N. Lee, University of Virginia. He was until recently Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing and past chair of the IEEE Computer Society History of Computing Committee Dr. Lee edited the Looking Back column from which these pages were created.
• The Ada Gallery, a collection of pictures of Ada King (nee Byron), Countess of Lovelace (1815-1852). Also included is a brief biographical sketch of her life and accomplishments (from the AIMS Education Foundation) and a sketch of the development of the Ada programming languages (from the Ada Information Clearinghouse).
  I'm still collecting pictures. If you have any to add, I would appreciate your .
• Key Dates in the history and future of information processing (as compiled in Computers and Information Systems, 1994-1995 Edition, by Sarah E. Hutchinson and Stacey C. Sawyer © 1994 RICHARD D. IRWIN, INC.).
• A good overview history of the Internet is presented in this profile from IEEE's magazine Spectrum. Architects of the Net of Nets by John Adam. The Internet is the supreme product of the supremely productive collaboration of Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf, the prime movers among hundreds of contributors. They started working together more than 25 years ago.
• Another angle on the history of the Internet is provided by considering the government's role in getting it started (which was substantial). This Personal Computing column is from the October, 1996 issue of the Communications of the ACM.
• No true history of mechanical calculation could be complete without acknowledging the existence of the abacus. Here's an overview of that device along with a completely functional on-screen abacus. This comes from Luis Fernandes, of Ryerson University, who gives his permission to use and explore.
• Some people love him, some hate him: regardless of whether you agree, here is what software engineering expert and outspoken critic David Parnas has to say on the topic of studying software engineering.
• He couldn't have known how right he was! While presenting his senior project, CIS alum Jacob Phillips (IWU '2001) gave the entire history of computing on one Power Point^TM slide. J.A.N. Lee would have been proud!
• History in near-real time ... here's an overview of the Linux mascot "Tux" and how he came to be. This story courtesy of Steve J. Baker. Be sure to visit his home page and especially check out his humor section.

Copyright (c) 1996 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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