ComputerWorld to Publish JISE
John Corrigan of ComputerWorld has agreed to publish the Journal
of Information Systems Education (JISE). This agreement reestablishes a former partnership
that should place JISE on a sound footing following a period of inactivity. Mr. Corrigan
has recommended that certain items be added to the journal, such as a calendar of computer
education related events, announcements of EDSIG/AITP activities, a list of reviewers, and
promotional efforts including advertising for the publication.
Kevin Elder Named JISE Editor
By action of the EDSIG Board of Directors, Kevin Elder, Associate Professor of MIS at
Angelo State University in Texas and EDSIG Vice President, has been approved as Editor of
the Journal of Information Systems Education (JISE). He replaces Richard Glass. The EDSIG
Board wishes to thank Dr. Glass for his service to JISE over the years.
JISE Publication Schedule
EDSIG Vice President and JISE Editor, Kevin Elder, is planning a double issue scheduled
by late Spring using articles that have already been accepted. Authors of accepted papers
will be contacted and given the choice to publish their articles as is or to withdraw
them. Revised articles will be treated as new articles. Additional JISE issues will appear
later in the year.
EDSIG Financially Solvent
Treasurer Roy Daigle reported at the recent Board meeting that the EDSIG balance is
$8,302.29 with accounts payment of about $2,000. EDSIG is actively seeking grants for
organizational development from a number of sources. So far, conversations have been quite
encouraging. |
EDSIG Initiatives for 1998
The EDSIG Board plans several new initiatives for the current year. They
include:
- Reviewing and suggesting revisions, where appropriate, to the EDSIG Bylaws.
- Defining more clearly EDSIG's relationship to AITP and the Education Foundation.
- Pursuing an active publications schedule including a revitalized JISE and the EDSIG
Newsletter.
- Developing an EDSIG Web Page. Work is already underway on this project.
It is anticipated that several issues will be brought to the full EDSIG membership for
approval at the Annual Business meeting to be held at ISECON'98.
Historically Speaking
We probably all have at some point told our students about the brilliant
but eccentric father of the modern computer, Charles Babbage, and his failed
"Difference Machine." Nearly all the textbooks that mention this 19th Century
British scientist and computer pioneer attribute his failure to the technical limitations
of his age. But did you know that a team led by Doron Swade, curator of computing at
Britain's Science Museum, successfully constructed a working model of the Difference
Machine using only the materials and technology that were available to Babbage? The
machine was completed in time for Babbage's 200th birthday celebration on December 26,
1991. From this experience, Swade concluded that even the more ambitious "Analytical
Engine" also could have been built in Babbage's time.
And so, why did Babbage fail? Most likely the reasons were poor project management and
communications with his sponsors. The more things change, the more they stay the same! |
