Nordic computing started with hardware development such as the BESK, DASK, NUSSE, ESKO and other machines.  From there it has evolved into all aspects of information technology development and use. When contemplating the past sixty years, a number of questions may be asked:

  • Why and how did we arrive to the position where we are now? Could we have done better or otherwise?
  • What, in the past, did we do well and which decisions were less fortunate?
  • What can we learn from the past? How should we continue in the future?

Consequently, the aim of this conference on Nordic computing history is

to re-examine our past and to extract experience and knowledge that we may use to make wiser decisions about future endeavours in developing and making use of information technology in the Nordic countries.

At large, the HiNC series of conferences provides a vehicle for bringing together Nordic collective memory regarding development of hardware and software as well as methodology and areas of usage of computers. However, while development of technology is fairly well documented, less is written about the development of its use and about the ways in which ICT usage and users are affected by the technical development. Therefore, HiNC3 will focus upon two themes.

  1. The application and use of ICT. Areas include

    • Private enterprise

      • Banking and finance
      • Commerce
      • Retail industries
      • Manufacturing
      • Transportation
      • Media and art
      • Industrial automation
      • Telecommunications

    • Public administration

      • (e-)Government and citizen participation
      • Health care
      • Schools and higher education
      • Archives, libraries and museums
      • Defense
    • The individual’s personal use
  2. How the conditions for the development and use of ICT systems have been affected by technical progress in areas such as:
    • Networks and decentralization
    • Software and systems development tools
    • Human computer interaction

The historical period that will be at the centre of attention at the conference covers the period from around 1970 until around 1995. This leads up to the beginning of the era of the internet and global networks.

Taking themes 1 and 2 above into consideration, the general conference topic areas include a wide range of aspects of computing. The following, non-exclusive list of anticipated paper topics may guide potential contributors.

  • Development of computing and working life
  • Development of computing and democracy
  • Development and exploitation of personal computing
  • Development and exploitation of network applications
  • Development and exploitation of office applications
  • Developments and exploitation of industrial applications
  • Development and exploitation of embedded computing
  • Development  and exploitation of management applications
  • Development and exploitation of computing in education
  • Development and exploitation of multimedia applications
  • Development and exploitation of software products for a market
  • Development of information systems theory and methodology
  • Development of  education and curricula
  • Development of systems development tools
  • Development of databases and data modelling
  • Development of systems development as an engineering discipline
  • Developments in software process assessment and improvement
  • Research achievements of historical interest
  • Interesting case studies and histories
  • Computer pioneers
  • Pioneering applications
  • Historical conflicts and their resolution
  • Artistic development work