Communications of the ACM
The opinion archive provides access to past opinion stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
October 2013
From ACM Opinion
Rage Against the Algorithms
When was the last time you read an online review about a local business or service on a platform like Yelp?
From ACM Opinion
The Lessons of Aaron Swartz
On the day after Aaron Swartz's death in January, President Reif and I spoke about how MIT might respond to the breaking news of his suicide.
From ACM Opinion
What the Future of Sports Games Should Look Like
What is realism?
From ACM Opinion
How to Manage Your Digital Afterlife
After their son's suicide, one Wisconsin couple was desperate for answers.
From ACM Opinion
Putting 'quantumness' to the Test
What is a quantum computer?
From ACM Opinion
Frax App Brings Fractal-Exploration Glory to iOS
In 1983, intrigued by an article on fractals, I wrote a program to display the Mandelbrot set on my family's TRS-80 Color Computer.
From ACM TechNews
The Science Author Clive Thompson Does Not Think Tech Is Ruining Your Mind
Technology writer Clive Thompson believes technology is improving human intelligence.
From ACM Opinion
Texan Creationism Showdown May 'contaminate' Textbook
If creationists in Texas get their way, high-school students throughout the U.S. could soon be reading biology textbooks that falsely cast doubt on the scientific validity of evolution.
From ACM Careers
Students Are 'hacking' Their School-Issued Ipads: Good For Them
Almost immediately after receiving their new school-issued iPads this fall, students in Indiana and in California (and probably elsewhere) managed to bypass the security on the devices, "hacking" them for "non-schoolwork" purposes…
From ACM Opinion
From Technology Executive to Counterterrorism Expert
Former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold has been anything but idle since stepping out of his role as computer technology czar, founding a controversial patent hoarding venture that is now among the world's largest owners of intellectual…
From ACM Opinion
Scientists Must Spearhead Ethical se of Big Data
The recent revelation that the National Security Agency collects the personal data of United States citizens, allies and enemies alike has broken the traditional erning the bond between science and society.
From ACM News
Your Digital Trail, And How It Can Be sed Against You
While the collection of private information by the National Security Agency is under scrutiny worldwide, a remarkable amount of your digital trail is also available to local law enforcement officers, IRS investigators, the FBI…
From ACM Opinion
Why Free Software Is More Important Now Than Ever Before
It is now 30 years since I launched the campaign for freedom in computing, that is, for software to be free or "libre" (we use that word to emphasize that we're talking about freedom, not price).
From Communications of the ACM
When Faster Is Slower
How the speed of modern tools may decelerate development.
From Communications of the ACM
The Naming of Hosts Is a Difficult Matter
Also, the perils of premature rebooting.
From Communications of the ACM
Controlling For Cybersecurity Risks of Medical Device Software
Medical device hacking is a red herring. But the flaws are real.
From Communications of the ACM
Beyond Efficiency
Esteem for efficiency should be tempered with respect for robustness.
From Communications of the ACM
Evaluating a Startup Venture
Considering the key elements of successful startups.