ACM Opens First 50 Years Backfile

This is arguably one of the most important archives of computer science and engineering information available. And 50 years of it is now free. Get out there and play while educating yourself on things you didn’t know were ancient history!

  • brombek
    1·
    3 years ago

    If the ACM is rewarded for releasing some of the most important papers in CS/Eng. history to the public for free, they will be motivated to release more.

    That is not how companies work. They do things because it is better for their base line, not because they fees some moral “reward” that they will seek further in future. They can be motivated by regulation, not applaud. They did not write this papers, some scientists did. They released stuff up to the dot-com bubble - a lot has changed in computer science since then, that they will keep around for next 50 years probably.

    I am happy that they did release what they did, since I said “cool” in my post - that was not in sarcastic way. But the bigger problem is still there - most of science (in this case computer) is behind paywall that not everybody can afford to jump. We should keep focus on the main problem when they do this stunts.

    • ttmrichterOP
      1·
      3 years ago

      They do things because it is better for their base line, not because they fees some moral “reward” that they will seek further in future.

      Who said anything about a moral reward?

      They can be motivated by regulation, not applaud.

      Please show me the regulation that motivated this 50-year dump.

      I am happy that they did release what they did, since I said “cool” in my post - that was not in sarcastic way.

      Of course it wasn’t, and neither are you backpedaling from this. Note that I’m absolutely not being sarcastic. Really.

      But the bigger problem is still there - most of science (in this case computer) is behind paywall that not everybody can afford to jump. We should keep focus on the main problem when they do this stunts.

      You know you can let things go out of focus for a bit, just to let people feel good a while before going back into the fight, right?

      No, of course you don’t. You’re young and stupid. I was pretty much the same way when I was 16. But you go ahead and fight tooth and nail 24×7 over every little thing, offering no respite and never actually enjoying (and more importantly, never actually letting anybody else enjoy) gains made along the way. I’m sure you’ll be just fine and your approach won’t even slightly undermine the cause you purport to serve.

      Again, I’m absolutely not being sarcastic in the slightest.

      • brombek
        2·
        3 years ago

        OK, I am sorry about this. I should have written:

        Great, I am happy that this massive dump of research documents is now free for all to access. I wish they will release the next 22 years soon as well, by themselves, as the last 22 years are the most interesting research (lots has changed after the dot com boom).

        Anyway, I wish that research was not behind paywalls as it is today and that people of all backgrounds that have access to basic computer and internet connection could help progress the state of computer science (computer science requires very little money otherwise to participate in). Perhaps some regulation will be needed in the future to help this to happen as companies that make lots of monies as gatekeepers are not sufficiently motivated.