Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
August 2009
From The Eponymous Pickle
Not Interested in Lugging Another Device
People like me who read a lot but are not interested in buying, maintaining and lugging yet another device are interested in multipurposing our smart phones as readers. I have now seen many Kindles being used, but still don't…
From Apophenia
Twitter: "pointless babble" or peripheral awareness + social grooming?
Studies like this one by Pear Analytics drive me batty. They concluded that 40.55% of the tweets they coded are pointless babble; 37.55% are conversational; 8.7% have "pass along value"; 5.85% are self-promotional; 3.75% are…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Business Theories are Useful?
Are business theories all a waste of time? A book review in the HBR blog. I agree in the sense that theories cannot be used directly as blueprints for success. They are best used as studies of operation, not as predictive…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Target-Amazon Divorce
An interesting look at the recent Target-Amazon divorce in Storefrontbacktalk. Suggests that the reasons are to maintain Target's unique identity. I would think it results in far less presence for Target online.
From The Eponymous Pickle
A Physicist Looks at Time Travel
In Slate: Time-Traveling for Dummies, A physicist looks at The Time Traveler's Wife, By Dave Goldberg. Also a favorite subject of mine. I read the book but have not seen the movie. See also Niven's laws, which also take an intriguing…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Single Screen Measurement
From Adage: Many of the big players mobilize to create a single measurement across all marketing screens. An excellent idea, the devil will be in the details. No response from AC Nielsen as yet.
From Computer Science Teachers Association
Connecting Colleges & High Schools
It's hard to believe that summer is almost over and classes will be starting soon for most of us. I'd like to introduce myself to the blog - I am Dave Reed, the new College Rep on the CSTA Board of Directors. I am computer …
From The Noisy Channel
Why Does Google Hold Back On Faceted Search?
From Daniel Lemire's Blog
Picking a Web Page at Random on the Web
To do statistics over the Web, we need samples. Thus, I want to know how to pick a Web page at random, without making much effort. If you are Google or Microsoft, it is easy. But what about the rest of us? And what if I want…
From The Noisy Channel
From BLOG@CACM
What Does a Computer Scientist Do?
About a potentially radical redevelopment of the computing curriculum in Scotland
From The Eponymous Pickle
Articulated Flapping Wing Aircraft
Another one of those long talked about developments. Using the means that insects and birds use to fly. The world's frst successtul test flight of a nano air vehicle. As they usually say, much work still to be done. With…
From BLOG@CACM
Impact, Not Indicators or Artifacts
It is worth remembering that our field grew from the confluence of mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, psychology, information theory and management and a host of other disciplines. The founders were radicals and iconoclasts…
From The Eponymous Pickle
GS1 DataBar Implementation Extended
The GS1 DataBar final implementation for coupons has been delayed until January 1, 2011. A polling of retailers indicated that required hardware and software would not be ready until then. More on GS1 DataBar.
From The Noisy Channel
UIE Virtual Seminar on Faceted Search
From The Noisy Channel
An Able Grape at the Helm of Twitter Search
From The Eponymous Pickle
Wireless Sensors: Motes
New on networks of wireless sensors. Notably IBM's Mote runner. More on motes. The idea has been around for some time. It has been suggested that artificial intelligence applications should be leveraged by large networks of…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Is Branding Dead?
Interesting Roger Dooley post on the relevance of branding? Do our brains say that branding is still very relevant? Not dead? I would also say so, our intelligence uses all sort of short-cuts and complexity decreasing means to…
From Computer Science Teachers Association
Arbotics Workshop Provides New Tools to Engage Students
Summertime is a time to rest after a long school year. It's also a time to rejuvenate and breathe new life into your teaching by accessing professional development opportunities.
I had the opportunity to attend a two-day workshop…From ACM-W supporting, celebrating and advocating for Women in Computing
A German Kiwi in BerlinAmbassador: Annika Hinze, New Zealand
It is an interesting thing to visit your country of origin after severalyears. The New Zealand ambassador has just completed a six monthsecondment to the Humboldt University in Berlin.Just as in other countries, women in computer…
From CERIAS Blog
From Awesome to Fair Programmer: An improvement
Before I had a degree in computer science, I thought that I was an awesome programmer. After I got my Master's degree, I thought I was just good. I didn't hesitate to launch myself into large projects. I discussed vulnerabilities…
From The Eponymous Pickle
A and P Introduces Clipless Coupons
One of the oldest US retail grocery companies has introduced digital coupons.
From Wild WebMink
links for 2009-08-11
See how far "organic" has been hijacked by the food industry, to the point that the popular view of 'organic' ignores its…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Meijer Using Online Games
Meijer is using online games ' ... Meijer tries out online games to attract back-to-school shoppersMidwest chain retailer Meijer Inc. launched an interactive game on its web site, dubbed Back To School Scramble that it credits…
From The Noisy Channel
Lots of Search News Today!
From Return 42;
The other side of the table: Peter Seibel
This issue of The other side of the table is a little bit out of schedule, mostly because of today's review of Peter Seibel's new book Coders at Work. Not only was he kind enough to provide me with a digital version of the book…
From U.S. Public Policy Committee of the ACM
USACM Comments on Government Website Policy on Web Tracking Technologies
In response to a request for comment from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, today USACM submitted comments on how federal government websites should use web tracking technologies. These technologies include, but are…
From The Computing Community Consortium Blog
GROE Forum in Brighton, England a Major Success
Twenty researchers met in Brighton, England July 4th and 5th for the Forum to Envision the Future of Learning.
From Computer Science Teachers Association
Building Partnerships and Creating Community
Building community partnerships can impact a computer science program in many ways - seen and unseen. And there is motivation for such relationships on the part of community organizations such as colleges and businesses, as well…
From Wild WebMink
links for 2009-08-10
Apple appears to be going through exactly the same transition - from underdog to overlord - that Microsoft so spectacularly failed (from an ethical standpoint) to navigate…