Book details of 'Architects of the Information Society: Thirty-Five Years of the Laboratory for Computer Science at MIT'

Title	Architects of the Information Society: Thirty-Five Years of the Laboratory for Computer Science at MIT
Author(s)	Simson L. Garfinkel, Hal Abelson
ISBN	0262071967
Language	English
Published	April 1999
Publisher	MIT Press

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The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'Architects of the Information Society: Thirty-Five Years of the Laboratory for Computer Science at MIT':

Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
Although concerned with MIT's seminal Project MAC and the subsequent Laboratory for Computer Science (LCS), this book is not a history as such. Instead, it comprises three essays describing the development of multiuser computing, the development of computer networking, and the resulting impact of computer networking on society and business. The concept of multiple access computing, multiuser computing, or time sharing involves a number of original technologies such as interrupts, security, virtual memory. In addition, the project spawned research in areas as diverse as operating system design, processor independent architectures, and software portability. While these topics are mentioned, they are not covered. Instead, the article concentrates on personal or personnel matters: who did what, or went where, or hated whom. There is interesting social history, but little technical record, and this lack may disappoint the technical audience. A similar style characterizes chapter two. In detailing the growth of local networking, for example, the work only tangentially touches on the unexpected desire for connection of the ARPANET's original IMPs (Interface Message Processors) to multiple machines at a single site, and the IMP redesign that was required. In fact, the coverage of many important aspects of networking, such as the development of the ARPANET and Ethernet, are presented in very sketchy terms. Chapter three is actually a grab bag of projects that have had LCS involvement over the years, such as voice interface processing, encryption, the World Wide Web, and artificial intelligence for medical work. In this section the book devolves almost completely into anecdote, with very little structure or analysis to the stories. As noted, the book is not a history. However, even as an anniversary celebration, the shortcomings are frustrating. I can fully sympathize with the feeling that modern companies unfairly take credit for technologies invented earlier, but LCS is not best promoted by ignoring other centres and groups, as seems to happen at times. While a number of the stories presented are interesting and little known, it is difficult to recommend this volume to other than die-hard computer history buffs. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1999
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Book description:

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Laboratory for Computer Science (LCS) has been responsible for some of the most significant technological achievements of the past few decades. Much of the hardware and software driving the information revolution has been, and continues to be, created at LCS. Anyone who sends and receives email, communicates with colleagues through a LAN, surfs the Web, or makes decisions using a spreadsheet is benefiting from the creativity of LCS members. LCS is an interdepartmental laboratory that brings together faculty, researchers, and students in a broad program of study, research, and experimentation. Their principal goal is to pursue innovations in information technology that will improve people's lives. LCS members have been instrumental in the development of ARPAnet, the Internet, the Web, Ethernet, time-shared computers, UNIX, RSA encryption, the X Windows system, NuBus, and many other technologies. This book, published in celebration of LCS's thirty-fifth anniversary, chronicles its history, achievements, and continued importance to computer science. The essays are complemented by historical photographs.