12/10/2009 Social History of Ideas Social History of Ideas Historians have a rich appreciation of ideas like Historians have a rich appreciation of ideas like Democracy Democracy How the Computer Became How the Computer Became Progress Progress Whiteness Whiteness Liberty Liberty Information Technology Information Technology Manliness Manliness These ideas are These ideas are These ideas are These ideas are Powerful Powerful Thomas Haigh Thomas Haigh Have significance and power to historical actors Have significance and power to historical actors The Haigh Group & The Haigh Group & Slippery Slippery University of Wisconsin University of Wisconsin – – Milwaukee Milwaukee Multiple definitions Multiple definitions Change over time Change over time thaigh@computer.org thaigh@computer.org Enlisted and reshaped by many different groups Enlisted and reshaped by many different groups www.tomandmaria.com/tom www.tomandmaria.com/tom Unwilling to use as neutral analytical categories Unwilling to use as neutral analytical categories Information and Historians Information and Historians Information Today Information Today Almost all businesses have a “Chief Information Almost all businesses have a “Chief Information My argument: Information is a similar idea My argument: Information is a similar idea Officer” Officer” We need a social history of information We need a social history of information Some have dozens. Some have dozens. The computing department is usually called The computing department is usually called Mostly there isn’t one. Mostly there isn’t one. “Information Systems Division” “Information Systems Division” Information Systems Division Information Systems Division Nunberg, Klein, Bowker have done relevant work Nunberg Klein Bowker have done relevant work Nunberg, Klein, Bowker have done relevant work Nunberg Klein Bowker have done relevant work Computers are usually called “Information Computers are usually called “Information We should be careful about how we use the We should be careful about how we use the Technology” Technology” concept to frame our own questions concept to frame our own questions Corporate IT staff are called “Information Corporate IT staff are called “Information Information concepts naturalize a certain view of the Information concepts naturalize a certain view of the System Specialists” and similar titles System Specialists” and similar titles world… world… “Informatics Schools” address IT applications “Informatics Schools” address IT applications Will return to at the end. Will return to at the end. Information as a Site of Information as a Site of The Information Cluster The Information Cluster Expertise Expertise Information Information Technology Trust me I’m a…. Trust me I’m a…. Professionals Information Professions/technical occupations requires a Professions/technical occupations requires a Society Information demarcated object of expertise demarcated object of expertise Workers Information (fuzzy concept) Which is social constructed Which is social constructed Information Information Systems Computers Creation of a subjective world in which nature and Creation of a subjective world in which nature and Schools (tangible technology) validity of expertise is self validity of expertise is self- -evident evident (“I Schools”) Information Science How/why/when does information become such a How/why/when does information become such a Informatics site within business & management? site within business & management? Information Retrieval The Information Business 1
12/10/2009 Information Was About Informing Information Was About Informing “Information as a Thing” “Information as a Thing” Title of a paper by information scientist Michael Title of a paper by information scientist Michael OED shows word “Information” used back OED shows word “Information” used back Buckland, distinguishing Buckland, distinguishing to 1450 to 1450 Information as process (informing) Information as process (informing) Root is in act of “Informing” Root is in act of “Informing” Information as knowledge (known by someone) Information as knowledge (known by someone) g g ( ( y y ) ) For your information on a memo “For your information” on a memo “For your information” on a memo For your information on a memo Information as a thing (synonym for fact/data) Information as a thing (synonym for fact/data) Tourist information office Tourist information office rd meaning is My claim is that 3 rd My claim is that 3 meaning is US Constitution: President “give Congress US Constitution: President “give Congress information of the state of the Union” information of the state of the Union” New New (Analyzed by Geoff Nunberg (Analyzed by Geoff Nunberg – – “Farewell to “Farewell to Now dominant Now dominant the Information Age”) the Information Age”) Inseparable from computer technology Inseparable from computer technology First popularized as a site of expertise First popularized as a site of expertise 1910-1950 2: No discussion of information as concept or site of expertise. 1950s 3: Information Theory 4: Management Business Computer (1 st appears in Computer Information use called generation Engineering. Systems "Electronic Data computers) concept spreads Processing" (1959-68) 2: The Absence of “Information” 2: The Absence of “Information” 1960s 5: Data Base (2 nd & 3 rd Concept generation Spreads (early In Business Prior to 1950 In Business Prior to 1950 computers) 1960s & 1970s) 1970s 1970s 6: Information Society 6: Information Society 7: Information 7: Information MIS as new name MIS as new name (online Concept Spreads Technology for computer dept applications) Concept Spreads 1980s 8: Chief (Networks, Information Officer PCs) & Information Systems or IT Dept 1990s W.H. Leffingwell W.H. Leffingwell Leffingwell, from 1925 textbook Leffingwell, from 1925 textbook Leader of Scientific Office Leader of Scientific Office Management Movement Management Movement 1910s 1910s- -1930s 1930s Influenced by Taylor Influenced by Taylor Expert on office systems and Expert on office systems and Expert on office systems and Expert on office systems and technologies technologies Tried to create new profession Tried to create new profession of Office Manager of Office Manager Broad authority over Broad authority over administrative systems and administrative systems and procedures procedures Supervision of all clerical workers Supervision of all clerical workers 2
12/10/2009 The Power of File Cards The Power of File Cards “… Acme visible records force their owners “… Acme visible records force their owners to use the facts to use the facts - - profit by them, save profit by them, save money by them, stop losses before they money by them, stop losses before they y y y y , , p p y y get started…. Its successful operation in get started…. Its successful operation in your business will be automatic…” your business will be automatic…” (Advertisement for Acme file cards, System (Advertisement for Acme file cards, System magazine 1932) magazine 1932) Advertisement from System Magazine, mid-1910s 3: Information Theory and 3: Information Theory and Computer Engineering Computer Engineering in the 1950s in the 1950s Systems, Facts Systems, Facts – – NOT “information”, IT, information systems, etc NOT “information”, IT, information systems, etc 1910-1950 2: No discussion of information as concept or site of expertise. Information in the 50s Information in the 50s 1950s 3: Information Theory 4: Management Business Computer (1 st appears in Computer Information use called generation Engineering. Systems "Electronic Data computers) concept spreads Processing" “Information Theory” “Information Theory” – – fashionable & novel fashionable & novel (1959-68) 1960s 5: Data Base during late 1940s, early 1950s during late 1940s, early 1950s (2 nd & 3 rd Concept generation Spreads (early computers) 1960s & 1970s) 1970s 6: Information Society 7: Information MIS as new name (online ( li Concept Spreads C t S d Technology T h l for computer dept f t d t applications) Concept Spreads 1980s 8: Chief (Networks, Information Officer PCs) & Information Systems or IT Dept 1990s 3
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