Writing with Scrivener: A Hopeful Tale of Disappearing Tools,Flatulence, and Word Processing Redemption

There is no writing without technology. Although we are highly aware of writing's mediated nature when asked to learn new writing technologies either as individuals or as a society, we most often ignore these technologies, allowing them to disappear from our consciousness. Not paying attention to our tools can, however, have dangerous consequences. It becomes easy to forget the political, economic, and random forces that influence our choice of technology. Using personal narrative, I explore this tangled relationship between the disappearance of our tools, tool standardization, tool (dis)abilities, and tool design. I tell the story of my four-year-old son's journey to literacy and my discovery of a new type of writing software called Scrivener. Reading the story of Scrivener's development empowered me: I came to see myself as an active participant in the creation of my writing technologies, and I learned to identify when the discomforts of technology should not be ignored. I use these narratives to argue for a posthumanist view of our relationship with technology, a view in which boundaries between humans and technology are blurred, and I offer suggestions on how to adopt a posthumanist perspective toward writing tools in our composition classrooms.     

A Coalgebraic Semantics for Epistemic Programs

This paper gives a fresh look at my previous work on “epistemic actions” and information updates in distributed systems, from a coalgebraic perspective. I show that the “relational” semantics of epistemic programs, given in [BMS2] in terms of epistemic updates, can be understood in terms of functors on the category of coalgebras and natural transformations associated to them. Then, I introduce a new, alternative, more refined semantics for epistemic programs: programs as “epistemic coalgebras”. I argue for the advantages of this second semantics, from a semantic, heuristic, syntactical and proof-theoretic point of view. Finally, as a step towards a generalization, I show these concepts make sense for other functors, and that apparently unrelated concepts, such as Bayesian belief updates and process transformations, can be seen to arise in the same way as our “epistemic actions”.     

The posthuman grant application

Online grant applications are commonly seen as a generic form of writing, one that maintains consistency and style from writer to writer. In this article, I challenge that perception, instead presenting a view of the online grant application as a posthuman writing tool whose influence can vary immensely according to the characteristics of the writer. This view is based on interviews conducted with applicants to the National Science Foundation, especially their experiences with NSF's application Web site, FastLane. Working on the assumption that FastLane is a tool designed to aid in composition, my participants’ variety of use connects the posthuman influence of Web sites such as FastLane with current interpretations of rhetorical agency.     

“Tryin to make a dolla outa fifteen cent”: Teaching composition with the Internet at an HBCU

Drawing upon nearly a decade of experience, I describe the challenges and advantages of teaching composition with the Internet at Howard University; I also explore the implications for other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). First, I discuss the digital divide that has made it so difficult for many HBCU faculty members and students to access the Internet for composition courses. Next, I describe how students and I succeeded in harnessing the Internet not only to practice high-level writing skills but to “do cultural work”: to establish online “safe houses” for African American English, to collaborate with White North Americans and Black South Africans, and to publish Afrocentric material on the Web. In closing, I identify the pedagogical strategies that turned the Internet into a productive tool for the students in my writing courses.     

‘Because it’s boring, irrelevant and I don’t like computers’: Why high school girls avoid professionally-oriented ICT subjects

The current paper details results from the Girls and ICT survey phase of a three year study investigating factors associated with low participation rates by females in education pathways leading to professional level information and communications technology (ICT) professions. The study is funded through the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Grants Scheme. It involves a research partnership between Education Queensland (EQ), industry partner Technology One and academic researchers at (affiliation removed for review purposes). Respondents to the survey were 1453 senior high school girls. Comparisons were drawn between Takers (n = 131) and Non Takers (n = 1322) of advanced level computing subjects. Significant differences between the groups were found on four questions: “The subjects are interesting”; “I am very interested in computers”; “The subject will be helpful to me in my chosen career path after school”; and “It suited my timetable”. The research has demonstrated that senior high school girls tend to perceive advanced computing subjects as boring and they express a strong aversion to computers.     

Computation and Intentionality: A Recipe for Epistemic Impasse

Searle’s celebrated Chinese room thought experiment was devised as an attempted refutation of the view that appropriately programmed digital computers literally are the possessors of genuine mental states. A standard reply to Searle, known as the “robot reply” (which, I argue, reflects the dominant approach to the problem of content in contemporary philosophy of mind), consists of the claim that the problem he raises can be solved by supplementing the computational device with some “appropriate” environmental hookups. I argue that not only does Searle himself casts doubt on the adequacy of this idea by applying to it a slightly revised version of his original argument, but that the weakness of this encoding-based approach to the problem of intentionality can also be exposed from a somewhat different angle. Capitalizing on the work of several authors and, in particular, on that of psychologist Mark Bickhard, I argue that the existence of symbol-world correspondence is not a property that the cognitive system itself can appreciate, from its own perspective, by interacting with the symbol and therefore, not a property that can constitute intrinsic content. The foundational crisis to which Searle alluded is, I conclude, very much alive.     

Cooperation without deliberation: A minimal behavior-based approach to multi-robot teams

While terminology and some concepts of behavior-based robotics have become widespread, the central ideas are often lost as researchers try to scale behavior to higher levels of complexity. “Hybrid systems” with model-based strategies that plan in terms of behaviors rather than simple actions have become common for higher-level behavior. We claim that a strict behavior-based approach can scale to higher levels of complexity than many robotics researchers assume, and that the resulting systems are in many cases more efficient and robust than those that rely on “classical AI” deliberative approaches. Our focus is on systems of cooperative autonomous robots in dynamic environments. We will discuss both claims that deliberation and explicit communication are necessary to cooperation and systems that cooperate only through environmental interaction. In this context we introduce three design principles for complex cooperative behavior—minimalism, statelessness and tolerance—and present a RoboCup soccer system that matches the sophistication of many deliberative soccer systems while exceeding their robustness, through the use of strict behavior-based techniques with no explicit communication.     

Teaching with technologies: A reflexive auto-ethnographic portrait

This reflective article chronicles the process of my development as a writer, a learner, a teacher, and a researcher who happens to engage the practices of writing, learning, teaching, and researching with emerging technologies. Using a colonial metaphor that captures my initial exposure to school-based literacies, I demonstrate how a colonial pattern permeates current dynamics of technology used both in and out of schools. I use this frame to raise issues and ask questions about teaching with technologies in socially just and responsible ways.     

21 CFR Part 11: How Does it Affect Laboratory Automation Software Developers?

Just what is “21 CFR Part 11”?Do I need to consider it when designing lab automation software? Sure, I store data electronically, but my “official” copy is a signed hardcopy stored in my documentation control system, so Part 11 doesn't apply to me, right?These and similar questions are being asked with increasing frequency during the development process for both off-the-shelf and custom lab automation software. This article presents a brief overview of the FDA regulation concerning the use of electronic records and electronic signatures and a guide for software analysts and developers.     

Realization of STEP-NC enabled machining

A STEP-compliant CNC machine tool that demonstrated a G-code free machining scenario is presented. The aim of this research is to showcase the advantages of, and evaluate, STEP-NC—a new NC data model—by implementing it in a legacy CNC system. The work consists of two parts: retrofitting an existing CNC machine and the development of a STEP-compliant NC Converter called STEPcNC. The CompuCam's motion control system is used for retrofitting the machine, which is programmable using its own motion control language—6K Motion Control language and capable of interfacing with other CAPP/CAM programs through languages such as Visual Basic, Visual C++ and Delphi. STEPcNC can understand and process STEP-NC codes, and interface with the CNC controller through a Human Machine Interface. It makes use of STEP-NC information such as “Workplan”, “Workingstep”, machining strategy, machining features and cutting tools that is present in a STEP-NC file. Hence, the system is truly feature-based. The Application Interpreted Model of STEP-NC has been used.     

It's more than just use: An exploration of telemedicine use quality

“Simply saying that more use will yield more benefits without considering the nature of this use (and context) is clearly insufficient” [W.H. DeLone, E.R. McLean, The DeLone and McLean model of information system success: a ten-year update, Journal of Management Information Systems 19 (4) (2003) 9–30, p. 16]. Our research specifies the use quality construct in the context of a mission critical system deployment—namely, the use of medical video conferencing for patient exams. The product of this field study is a socio-technical framework for use quality in telemedicine service encounters. We also propose generalized categories (which may extend across domains) for identified attributes, provide a comparative overview of patient and provider perspectives, and discuss the effects of and remedies for selected attribute deficiencies.     

Applying New JIT—Toyota's global production strategy: Epoch-making innovation of the work environment

In order to strengthen management technology strategy, the author has recently developed a new management technology principle, New JIT, based on TMS, TDS, TPS and TQM-S. In developing “Global Marketing” that can win the global competition for quality and cost, the key for domestic and foreign companies is to successfully achieve “Global Production” that enables simultaneous production start-up (the same quality and production at optimal locations) throughout the world. This paper analyzes and proves the significance of strategically applying New JIT—a global production strategy activity called AWD6P/J—for epoch-making innovation of the work environment, as verified at Toyota. While many vehicle assembly shops depend on a young, male workforce, innovation in optimizing an aging workforce is a necessary prerequisite of TPS—a production strategy of New JIT. Elements necessary for enhancing work value and motivation, and work energy, including working conditions and work environment (amenities and ergonomics), were investigated through objective survey and analyzed from labor science perspectives.     

A scientific psychologistic foundation for theories of meaning

I propose, develop and defend the view that theories of meaning — for instance, a theory specifying the logical form or truth conditions of natural language sentences — should be naturalized to scientific psychological inquiry. This involves both psychologism — the claim that semantics characterizes psychological states — and scientific naturalism — the claim that semantics will depend on the data and theories of scientific psychology. I argue that scientific psychologism is more plausible than the traditional alternative, the view that a theory of meaning is a priori. After defending scientific psychologism against several objections, I offer a speculative proposal that shows how a theory of meaning can be integrated into scientific psychology.This essay is a descendant of part of my MIT doctoral dissertation. Thanks to Ned Block, Noam Chomsky, Jim Higginbotham and Bob Stalnaker for their comments and criticisms on earlier versions, and for helpful discussion of the issues.     

Strategy of information management (?)

Information management seems to be the “in” subject of the decade. However, it remains an elusive target. It is suggested that the problem lies in the assumption that we are dealing with information management, as of it were solely concerned with the supply of information. We argue that it would be more fruitful to think in terms of managing information technology, in view of its perceived increasing strategic interest to organizations. The subject is treated from both an historical and organizational perspective.For the time being, the ideal and reality still seem to be poles apart. On the one hand, we find that, despite a serious lack of sound insight, information technology has already been absorbed by most organizations; on the other hand, it is clear that for today's strategy, simple extrapolation does not suffice. We are learning how to bridge the gap in understanding, so that information technology may be actively exploited to strengthen whatever other activities an organization seems to find important for its competitive advantage.     

Strange Bedfellows: Human-Computer Interaction, Interface Design, and Composition Pedagogy

As digital interfaces increasingly mediate our access to information, the design of these interfaces becomes increasingly important. Designing digital interfaces requires writers to make rhetorical choices that are sometimes technical in nature and often correspond with principles taught in the computer science subfield of human-computer interaction. We propose that an HCI-informed writing pedagogy can complicate for both writing and computer science students the important role audience should play when designing traditional and digital interfaces. Although it is a subtle shift in many ways, this pedagogy seemed to complicate student understanding of the relationship between audience and the texts/interfaces they created: it was not just the “human” (beliefs, attitudes, values, demographics) or the “computer” (the software or hardware or other types of mediation) that mattered but rather the “interaction” between the two. First we explore some of the ways in which writing code and writing prose have merged and paved the way for an HCI-informed writing pedagogy. Next we examine some parallels between human-computer interaction principles and composition principles. Finally, we refer to assignments, student responses, and anecdotal evidence from our classes where an HCI-informed writing pedagogy drew—or could have drawn—student attention more acutely to various audience-related technical and rhetorical interface design choices.     

A Systematic Approach to Long-Term Planning for OA Implementation

Staying competitive in an uncertain, rapidly changing environment is a challenge for even the best-managed companies. Therefore, the energy and creativity of every worker must be enlisted to this end. Office automation (OA) can encourage this participation faster and more effectively than almost any other mechanism—and at a lower cost. OA has the potential to recruit each and every worker to use the technology in order to ask, “How can I do my job better?”     

Working relations of technology production and use

This paper explores the relevance of recent feminist reconstructions of objectivity for the development of alternative visions of technology production and use. I take as my starting place the working relations that make up the design and use of technical systems. Working relations are understood as networks or webs of connections that sustain the visible and invisible work required to construct coherent technologies and put them into use. I outline the boundaries that characterize current relations of development and use, and the boundary crossings required to transform them. Three contrasting premises for design-the view from nowhere, detached engagement, and located accountability — are taken to represent incommensurate alternatives for a politics of professional design. From the position of located accountability, I close by sketching aspects of what a feminist politics and associated practices of system development could be.I am deeply grateful to Phil Agre, Jeanette Blomberg, Andrew Clement, Mike Hales, Susan Newman, Leigh Star, Randy Trigg, and Ina Wagner for their careful readings and critical suggestions on earlier versions of this paper.     

If You are an InfoSec Professional,You Must Also Be an InfoSec Writer — Part I

On occasion, I receive E-mails about writing articles for some InfoSec-related trade magazine. Recently I received some E-mail from Reed Elsevier folks who publish this fine security newsletter as well as Network Security, Computers & Security, and Information Security Technical Report. They were looking my recommendations for article writers. So, I thought I would address the topic of writing on security-related topics. This first part will be about writing in general and about writing security-related articles — actually a ‘requirement’ for all InfoSec and security-related professionals. Part II will be about becoming a writer of security-related books.     

Adaptive Detection of Design Flaws

Criteria for software quality measurement depend on the application area. In large software systems criteria like maintainability, comprehensibility and extensibility play an important role.My aim is to identify design flaws in software systems automatically and thus to avoid “bad” — incomprehensible, hardly expandable and changeable — program structures.Depending on the perception and experience of the searching engineer, design flaws are interpreted in a different way. I propose to combine known methods for finding design flaws on the basis of metrics with machine learning mechanisms, such that design flaw detection is adaptable to different views.This paper presents the underlying method, describes an analysis tool for Java programs and shows results of an initial case study.     

Functional Differentiation of Computer Programs

We present a purely functional implementation of the computational differentiation tools—the well known numeric (i.e., not symbolic) techniques which permit one to compute point-wise derivatives of functions defined by computer programs economically and exactly (with machine precision). We show how the use of lazy evaluation permits a transparent and elegant construction of the entire infinite tower of derivatives of higher order for any expressions present in the program. The formalism may be useful in various problems of scientific computing which often demand a hard and ungracious human preprocessing before writing the final code. Some concrete examples are given.