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Histories of Computing in Oceania Conference

Feb 23, 2022 AEDT

Virtual Paper Development Conference

Watch the conference recording


Call for papers

The virtual conference is based on the theme of histories of computing in Oceania, in line with the upcoming special issue of the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. The region of Oceania includes Australasia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. To date, the history of computing in this vast and relatively lowly populated region is underrepresented, notwithstanding recent efforts to expand the geographical scope of the history of computing. The geographical characteristics of Oceania have facilitated the development of innovative, interesting (and often unique) patterns of information and knowledge exchange. For instance, despite limited interaction with work undertaken overseas, Trevor Pearcey built CSIR Mark 1, the first digital stored program computer in the world that played music, in Australia between 1947-49. Nonetheless, representations of these important contributions made to the history of computing in Oceania in the academic discourse are still scant.

For the virtual conference we are seeking the submission of extended abstracts on the broader theme of the special issue. The conference seeks to expand on the currently sparse discourse on the history of computing in Oceania. For an overview of some of the existing literature please look at the selective bibliography below. We endeavour to document a history currently often only published in grey literature. Examples of topics include but are by no means limited to:

  • Historical, post-colonial, and regional perspectives on the development, appropriation, and use of computing technologies in Oceania;
  • The regional, national, or transnational politics of computing and telecommunications;
  • Exploration of multinational versus local initiatives;
  • National and international transfer of technologies, knowledge, and people;
  • Critical analyses of the development of computing education;
  • Studies of community computing, ICT4D, and the role of NGOs; and
  • Histories and critical analyses of digital initiatives that involve Indigenous people.

Important dates

Submission of Extended Abstracts: Tuesday 14 December, 2021

Notification of Acceptance: Friday 14 January, 2022

Date of Virtual Conference: Wednesday 23 February, 2022

Submission

Conference attendance is based on the acceptance of an extended abstracts of about 1,000 words in length. Extended abstracts should discuss your research topic, outline your research approach and provide some preliminary findings.

Please use the provided template Word for your submission.

Submissions are due on 14 December, 2021 by email to: janet.toland@vuw.ac.nz and sebastian.boell@sydney.edu.au.

The list of references below is only indicative and intended to help you connect your work to the aleady existing though sparse scholarly literature on the history of computing in Oceania. There is no expectation that you have to cite any of the literature below, it merely serves as possible guidance.

  • Beard, M., & Pearcey, T. (1984). The Genesis of an Early Stored-Program Computer: CSIRAC. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 6(2), 106–115. https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.1984.10014
    This paper as well as McCann and Thorne (2000) below provide an introduction into the history of the first computer in Oceania, the CSIR Mk1 later after an upgreade renamed into CSIRAC. The authors of this paper are the team that designed and build CSIR Mk1.

  • Carpenter, B. E. (2020). The First Computer in New Zealand. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 42(2), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.2020.2990647
    This paper is on the debate over the first computer in New Zealand, and a good example of the use of archival materials for research.

  • Cullen, R., & Hassall, G. (Eds.). (2017). Achieving sustainable e-government in Pacific Island states (Vol. 27). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
    This edited book contains a number of chapters that discuss topics such as  ICT infrastructure, ICT in education and mobile technologies. It is not an historical book but it does provide useful background information.

  • McCann, D. A., & Thorne, P. G. (Eds.). (2000). The last of the first: CSIRAC: Australia’s first computer. University of Melbourne, Dept of Computer Science and Software Engineering. https://cis.unimelb.edu.au/about/csirac/last-of-the-first
    This paper as well as Beard  and Pearcey (1984) provide an introduction into the history of the first computer in Oceania, the CSIR Mk1 later after an upgreade renamed into CSIRAC.

  • Newman, K. (2008). Connecting the Clouds: The Internet in New Zealand, Activity Press
    https://www.nethistory.co.nz/
    This book was commissioned by Internet NZ and written by journalist Keith Newman. It gives an in-depth account of the development of the Internet in New Zealand.

  • Philipson, G. (2017). A Vision Splendid: The History of the Australian Computing. https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-publications/ACS-ebook-2017_A-Vision-Splendid_The-History-of-Australian-Computing.pdf
    This book commissioned by the Ausralian Computer Society providea a good overview on the history of computing in Australia. It is freely available for download and provides references to furter resources.

  • Reinfelds, J. E. (1989). Anecdotes: The First Port of UNIX. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 11(3), 208–210. https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.1989.10025
    This paper provides a good example of the kind of accounts we seek to capture for the virtual conference and the special issue. It dispells the myth that the first UNIX port to a different architecture was undertaken in the US, highlighting the importance of contributions made in Oceania.

  • Tatnall, A. (2013). The Australian Educational Computer That Never Was. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 35(1), 35–47. https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.2012.16
    This paper provides a good example of the kind of accounts we seek to capture for the virtual conference and the special issue. It investigates the use of computer for education in Australia during the 1980s.

  • Tee, G. J. (1983). The Heritage of Charles Babbage in Australasia. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 5(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.1983.10006
    This paper provides a good example of the kind of accounts we seek to capture for the virtual conference and the special issue. The article shows that many important resources on the history of computing related to Charles Babbage’s work are held in Australia and New Zealand.

  • Toland, J. (2021). Consortium Computing and Time Slicing in the Banking Sector: Databank Systems Limited New Zealand 1966 to 1976. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 43(2), 18–29. https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.2020.3007065
    This paper looks at the unique arrangement New Zealand’s five main trading banks came to in the 1960s, agreeing to put competion aside in order to share scarce computing resources. It provides an example of how computing was succesfully adapted to address local circumstances.

  • Toland, J. (Ed). (2021). From Yesterday to Tomorrow: 60 Years of Tech in New Zealand, Information Technology Professionals https://history.itp.nz/
    A collection of three books commissioned by Information Technology Professionals New Zealand (formerly New Zealand Computer Society) for their 25th anniversary in 1985, their 50th anniversary in 2010 and the 60th anniversary in 2020. Chapters are authored by academics and practitioners and cover a diverse range of topics from computing education to cybersecurity to IT in the public sector to Māori in IT. Worth checking as chapters give a good overview of many different topics.

Oral History of Control Data in Australia
In November 2013, Charles Babbage Institute (CBI) director Tom Misa conducted a series of oral history interviews with 13 former employees of Control Data Australia (1963-89) including the details of each person’s career, before and after working for Control Data. Topics that are common to many of the interviews include Trevor Robinson’s key role in organizing Control Data Australia; the early computer sales in Australia to the Bureau of Census and Statistics, Department of Defence, Postmaster General, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Bureau of Meteorology, and several prominent Australian universities. Control Data Australia did business data processing for such large concerns as Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP), Telstra, and others. A distinctive emphasis was its work in developing computer systems for race-track betting for the state of Victoria’s Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) as well as for other Australian states and New Zealand. Other topics include relations with Control Data’s headquarters in Minneapolis, business data processing, data centers, database management, networking and Cybernet, and projects done in several Far East countries. Interviews were conducted with Richard Bament, John Baxter, Ron G. Bird, Tony Blackmore, Lyle Bowden, Marcel Dayan, Ian Downie, Julie James, George Karoly, John O’Neil, Garry Pearce, Rob Robertson, and Bruce Wilson.

Full transcripts of all interviews are available for download from the CBI.

History of ICT in Australia oral history project [sound recording].
The National Library of Australia has archived a set of 9 lengthy biographical interviews. The NLA  project features a series of interviews with academics, innovators and researchers who were influential in the early development of ICT (Information Communications Technology) in Australia. The project covers the technical, historical and social aspects of this technology.Recorded from 6 Nov. 2012- [ongoing]. No transcripts are available, but a summary of key topics in the interview is provided. Six of the recordings are freely accessible online.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/174155308?keyword=ICT%20australia%20%22oral%20history%22

New Zealand Computer Society Siver Jubilee oral history project
In 1985, 14 interviews were conducted with New Zealand Computer Society members, recordings are held in the National Library in Wellington. They are not available online, though some short excerpts from the interviews are at the end of From Yesterday to Tomorrow https://history.itp.nz/ in the Annex – A Few of the First.

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/35828717?search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=new+zealand+computer+society+oral+history