STS.461

History and Social Study of Computing

3-0-9 units · Graduate

Examines the history and social study of computers. Introduces students to the core and canonical literature in this area while also providing the opportunity to read and discuss more recent works from multiple disciplines.

Fall 2005 · Integrating Doctoral Seminar on Emerging Technologies

Topics

Uncertainty
On Handling Messy Complexity
The Engineering Mindset
Bureaucratic Politics
Technological Forecasting
GPS for Selected Applications
Packet Switching for Data Communication
The Minicomputer
Supersonic Transport (SST)
Seldane to Allegra
The National Airspace System
Ubiquitous Computing: Analysis and Review of Collected Material from the Last Year

Readings

Simon, Herbert. “Rationality and Administrative Behavior,” and “The Psychology of Administration.” Chapters 4, and 5 in Administrative Behavior . 4th ed. New York, NY: Free Press, 1997. ISBN: 9780684835822.
Listed reading
Lec #: 2 · TOPICS: On Handling Messy Complexity · READINGS: Hughes, Thomas P. Rescuing Prometheus . New York, NY: Knopf, 2000. ISBN: 9780679739388.
Reading assignment
Some Powerful Dumb Ideas about Politics and Policymaking Allison, Graham, and Philip Zelikow. Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis . 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley Longman Inc., 1999, especially chapters 5, 6, and 7. ISBN: 0321033256.
Listed reading
Methods for Forecasting; Predictions for the Future; How have they Actually Worked? U.S. Office of Technology Assessment Reports
Listed reading
“Ballistic Missile Defense Technologies.” September 1985. ( PDF - 5.0 MB ) “Computer-Based National Information Systems: Technology and Public Policy Issues.” September 1981. ( PDF - 2.7 MB ) “Nuclear Power in an Age of Uncertainty.” February 1984. ( PDF - 9.0 MB ) ↗
Listed reading
Cuhls, K., and T. Kuwahara. Outlook for Japanese and German Future Technology: Comparing Japanese and German Technology Forecast Surveys . Heidelberg, Germany: Physica-Verlag, 1994. ISBN: 9783790808001.
Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: None Acad Year 2027-2028: G (Fall) Acad Year 2028-2029: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Sources

Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2005
MIT OCW calendar ↗
MIT OCW readings ↗
MIT OCW syllabus ↗
Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.