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From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Shobita Parthasarathy Sent: 22 June 2004 14:50 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Cultures of Programming, AoIR pre-conference workshop > >Apologies for cross-postings. Please forward this announcement to anyone >who might be interested. > >We will be holding a preconference workshop, entitled "Cultures of >Programming: Hackers, Crackers, and Openness" at the upcoming >Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) conference, "Internet >Research 5.0: Ubiquity", 19-22nd September 2004. For more information on >the conference, see (http://www.sussex.ac.uk/cce/aoir/index.html). > >This workshop will provide space for its participants to examine >different aspects of hacker and cracker cultures, with an eye towards >understanding how the history of computing, the identity and narratives >of the hacker/cracker, and the material practices associated with them >help to constitute current developments. It will be held on Saturday, >September 18, from 1-6pm. The day will include both presentations and >round-table discussions. > >Please contact either of the workshop organizers if you are interested >in participating (for email addresses see below). Participants will be >asked to provide a 2-5 page position paper which will be circulated >before the workshop. > >For more information, see below or go to >http://www.sussex.ac.uk/cce/aoir/conference.html. > >Internet Research 5.0 >Pre-conference workshop >Cultures of Programming: Hackers, crackers and openness >Organizers: > >Daniel Pargman, Ph.D., Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden ><[log in to unmask]> >Matt Ratto, Ph.D., Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science, >Amsterdam, The Netherlands <[log in to unmask]> > >The concept of "ubiquity" - the theme of this year's AoIR >conference - is connected in many ways to the ideal of "open >computing". Both open and ubiquitous computing are predicated on the >development and commodification of standards and the construction of >large-scale computing infrastructures. Equally, both dreams of computing >carry similar connotations of users as technologically savvy individuals >able to repurpose their built environments in novel ways. A key aspect >of both dreams, then, is the culture and identity of the hacker, seen as >the ultimate user. In addition, ubiquitous and open computing is also >confronted with the nightmare of the cracker, the unscrupulous >individual able to manipulate and use computing infrastructures for >their own benefit. > >With the emergence of free and open source software (FOSS) - most >notably the Linux operating system - hackers and hacker culture has >during the last decade gained a renewed prominence in the eyes of the >business world and of the larger public. But the notion of the hacker >stretches back to the early days of general-purpose computing and it has >in the subsequent decades morphed and changed in different directions. >There have been both positive and negative evaluations of hackers and of >hacking; some have understood hacking as a productive blend of the >roles of technology producer and user, while others have focused on how >hacking skills are used to break the copy protection of software, to >invade computer systems and to commit crimes. This activity, known as >cracking, is often differentiated from the more mainstream notion of >hacking although it shares many of the same practices. > >A better understanding of the various identities and practices >associated with the idea of "the hacker" can help us address how >cultures of computing are formulated and maintained. Understanding >hacker cultures - their history, motivation, and material practices - >can help us gain insights not only to the history of computing, but also >a better understanding of what is happening right now and what will >happen on the Internet and in computing in the near future. > > >Dr Matt Ratto >Networked research and digital information >KNAW-Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science >Joan Muyskenweg 25 >Postbus 95110 >1090 HC Amsterdam >The Netherlands >tel: (31)(20)462-8719 >fax: (31(20)665-8013 >http://www.niwi.knaw.nl/en/nerdi2/toon > >Dr Matt Ratto >Networked research and digital information >KNAW-Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science >Joan Muyskenweg 25 >Postbus 95110 >1090 HC Amsterdam >The Netherlands >tel: (31)(20)462-8719 >fax: (31(20)665-8013 >http://www.niwi.knaw.nl/en/nerdi2/toon ************************************************************************************ Distributed through Cyber-Society-Live [CSL]: CSL is a moderated discussion list made up of people who are interested in the interdisciplinary academic study of Cyber Society in all its manifestations.To join the list please visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/cyber-society-live.html *************************************************************************************