Communications of the ACM
Innovation Is Overrated: A Provocation
Digital innovation is not working in the interest of the whole of society. It is time to radically rethink its purpose without…
From ACM Opinion
Apple's Big Win Over Samsung—what Does It Mean?
History buffs will note that Apple scored one of the most lopsided victories since Agincourt on Tim Cook's one-year anniversary as the company's CEO.
From ACM Opinion
The ncanny Valley of Internet Advertising
If you ask an Internet ad guy to defend himself—to explain why you, dear Web surfer, should feel comfortable letting him serve you ads based on everything you do...
From ACM Opinion
Giving In to the Surveillance State
In March 2002, John M. Poindexter, a former national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan, sat down with Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the director of the National...
From ACM Opinion
Our Favorite 'forgotten Tech'—from Beos to Zip Drives
We all know about the gadgets that get showered with constant praise—the icons, the segment leaders, and the game changers. Tech history will never forget the Altair...
From ACM Opinion
Christopher Soghoian
Christopher Soghoian sniffs out security holes and privacy shortcomings on the Web. Then he urges companies that are responsible—Google, AT&T, and Dropbox have...
From ACM Opinion
One Year In: What We've Learned About Ceo Tim Cook
When Tim Cook was named permanent chief executive of Apple a year ago Friday, most discussion centered on what Jobsian qualities and trademark values Cook didn't...
From ACM Opinion
New Guide from Eff: Keeping Your Site Alive
Denial of service attacks—flooding Web sites with traffic in order to make them unavailable to the public—have become an increasingly popular way to take down or...
From Communications of the ACM
Q&A: What Women Want
Harvey Mudd College president Maria Klawe talks about increasing the number of women who study computer science.
From Communications of the ACM
Seven Lessons From Bad History
Journalists, historians, and the invention of email.
From Communications of the ACM
Don't Feel Bad If You Can't Predict the Future
Wise experts and powerful machines are no match for chaotic events and human declarations. Beware of their predictions and be humble in your own.
From Communications of the ACM
Automated Prediction: Perception, Law, and Policy
A few predictions about predictions.
From Communications of the ACM
The Need to Balance Innovation and Implementation in Broadening Participation
Seeking to improve the process for writing and reviewing proposals for new educational programs.
From Communications of the ACM
Author Order: What Science Can Learn from the Arts
Some thoughts about author order in research papers.
From ACM Opinion
Why Apple Might Be Better Off Losing Its Patent Lawsuit
Could it be in Apple’s self-interest to lose its bitter court battle with Samsung?
From ACM Opinion
Forget the Desktop
Every morning I wake up too early, reach for my iPad, and scan the morning's tech headlines. This is a pathetic enough existence, but the Web sites I frequent aren't...
From ACM Opinion
Plagiarism, Defamation, and the Power of Hyperlinks
What do Fareed Zakaria, Jonah Lehrer, and Gawker Media have in common? In different ways, the incidents that have thrust all three into the news recently help to...
From ACM Opinion
Will the Next Election Be Hacked?
Two years ago, hackers gained access to an online voting system created by the District of Columbia and altered every ballot on behalf of their own preferred candidates...
From ACM Opinion
Five Things I've Learned from 20 Years of Email
It's been 20 years since I got my first-ever email address. Back then, I read email with a 2,400 bps modem. Today, emails reach me instantaneously on my phone whereever...
From ACM Opinion