Concerning the proposed Research Works Act, introduced in the U.S. Congress in 2011, Moshe Y. Vardi's "Editor's Letter" "Why ACM?" (Sept. 2012) left me a little confused as to Vardi's own position on both the law and open access.
Software Engineering and Programming Languages
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Levels of Abstraction; Pre-Teens and Career Choices
Mark Guzdial writes about the need for programming languages to support multimedia at all levels. Judy Robertson shares insights about 12-year-old students' lack of understanding about computer science.
Technical Perspective: High-Level Data Structures
This lifting of data structure thinking to the relational level has long inspired computer scientists. In "An Introduction to Data Representation Synthesis," the authors aim at elevating data structure programming to the relational realm.
A unique firsthand account of formative experiences with Alan Turing.
Drilling down to more detail on a computer screen, or moving out to see the context, is basic. But it's hardly simple and, after 20 years, innovations are still occurring.
Three breakthrough experiments involving photons have extended coherence times and indicated scalable production.
An Introduction to Data Representation Synthesis
We consider the problem of specifying combinations of data structures with complex sharing in a manner that is declarative and results in provably correct code.
The Essence of Software Engineering: The SEMAT Kernel
A thinking framework in the form of an actionable kernel.
Sender-Side Buffers and the Case For Multimedia Adaptation
A proposal to improve the performance and availability of streaming video and other time-sensitive media.
Two Apps Aim To Tell The Truth And Nothing But The Truth
Two new software tools — both works-in-progress — are being built to help online readers distinguish truth from BS.
What Does ‘Big Data’ Mean? (Part 3)
The "big velocity" use case is examined in this third post in a series on big data.
The Frankencamera: An Experimental Platform For Computational Photography
Progress in computational photography has been hampered by the lack of a portable, programmable camera with sufficient image quality and computing power. To address this problem, we have designed and implemented the Frankencamera.
Oracle v. Google: Are APIs Copyrightable?
Assessing the first phase of the trial based on claims that Google's Android platform infringes Oracle's Java-related copyrights and patents.
Decentralization Versus Centralization in IT Governance
It's not as simple as you might think.
Michael Stonebraker expects a substantial increase in the number of New SQL engines using a variety of architectures in the near future.
Disks from the Perspective of a File System
Disks lie. And the controllers that run them are partners in crime.
I sometimes think that, of all the disciplines, ours ought to be the most effective at adapting to the varied needs of users. For various physical limitations, we really should be able to configure our software to adapt. But the problem persists.
Major Update to ACM’s Computing Classification System
ACM has completed a major update of its Computing Classification System (CCS), which has served as the de facto standard for classifying the computing literature since 1964.
"Thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee," wrote the prophet Isaiah. This phrase has been popping into my mind as I have been following the recent raging discussions over the topic of MOOCs.
Functional Encryption: A New Vision For Public-Key Cryptography
Decryption keys allow users to learn a specific function of the encrypted data and nothing else.
Open-source chemistry software and molecular databases broaden the research horizons of drug discovery.
With the AEGIS system, the Mars Exploration Rovers can autonomously select, capture, and analyze images using onboard logic.
Shape the Future of Computing
ACM encourages its members to take a direct hand in shaping the future of the association. There are more ways than ever to get involved.
Get InvolvedCommunications of the ACM (CACM) is now a fully Open Access publication.
By opening CACM to the world, we hope to increase engagement among the broader computer science community and encourage non-members to discover the rich resources ACM has to offer.
Learn More