Author: Michael J. Kramer

FYI: Data, Democracy and the Human Story

Michael J. Kramer

From https://www.ilhumanities.org/events/data-democracy-and-the-human-story-a-conversation-with-members-of-deep-lab/

DATA, DEMOCRACY AND THE HUMAN STORY: A CONVERSATION WITH MEMBERS OF DEEP LAB

In the post-Snowden age of big data, what are the arts and humanities for?

The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry
The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry

In the first installment of our series, “Data, Democracy and the Human Story,” we examined how data science is shedding new light on “human” topics, like romantic attraction and racial bias. Now, join us as we discuss the ways that the arts and humanities might provide a way to negotiate some of the critical contemporary issues raised by technology.

In the second installment of this series, we’ll talk with three members of Deep Lab, a collaborative group of cyberfeminist researchers, artists, writers, engineers and cultural producers engaged in ongoing critical assessments of contemporary digital culture.

Simone Browne, Ingrid Burrington, and Allison Burtch will discuss how their work as artists, critics and members of the Deep Lab collective engages with issues of privacy, security and surveillance. We’ll also release the first issue of a three-volume chapbook set accompanying the program series, including new work from Allison alongside contributions from Simone, Ingrid and selected Chicago-area artists. Join us for a free copy of this limited-edition publication and an engaging, interactive conversation.

This program is co-sponsored by the Loyola University Chicago School of Communication, presented in conjunction with their Fifth Annual International Symposium on Digital Ethics, and is supported in part by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

NOTE: This free public event is open to all ages, but a valid photo ID is required. For more information, or if you require accessibility accommodations to participate in this program, contact Simon Nyi at 312.422.5586 or simon.nyi@ilhumanities.org.

MORE ON THE DEEP LAB PARTICIPANTS

Simone Browne headshot

Simone Browne is Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies (affiliated) at the University of Texas at Austin. She researches and teaches in the areas of Surveillance, Social Media, Social Network Sites, and Black Diaspora Studies. Professor Browne’s book manuscript, Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness examines surveillance with a focus on slavery, biometric information technology, airports, borders, and creative texts.

Ingrid Burrington headshot

Ingrid Burrington writes, makes maps, and tell jokes about places, politics, and the weird feelings people have about both. She’s currently a fellow at the Data and Society Research Institute, where she coordinates the Magic and Technology Working Group. She lives on a small island off the coast of America.

Allison Burtch headshot

Allison Burtch is a writer, teacher and maker. She helps run the School for Poetic Computation, where she teaches “Critical Theory of Technology: Politics, Utopia and Code.” She is currently working on a small ultrasonic hardware device that protects smart phone users from passive audio surveillance, built in part while a resident at Eyebeam, the leading art and technology center in the United States.

Allison’s recent work, the “log jammer,” creating a safe space in nature, was featured in Wired and many other publications. She’s collaborated on such projects as the Dumb Store – a mobile app store for dumbphones, co-organized Prism BreakUp at Eyebeam Art & Technology Center and the Drones and Aerial Robotics Conference at New York University, and was a lead researcher for Maya Lin’s online memorial What is Missing?. She has spoken internationally at conferences and universities.

Images of speakers from the Deep Lab website.

Presenting the Past: Using Technology to Enhance Learning in Lecture and Discussion

Michael J. Kramer

Presenting the Past: Using Technology to Enhance Learning in Lecture and Discussion
Wednesday, November 11, 12PM (Lunch), 12:30 – 1:50 PM (Workshop)
Harris 108

YouTube videos, PowerPoint, or Canvas – almost all of us have adopted some form of technology in our courses. But are we using that technology properly and effectively? Are there other resources in the growing field of digital humanities that could also aid student learning?

On Wednesday, November 11, the History Department, with support from the Teagle Foundation and the Searle Center’s Graduate Teaching Fellows program, will present a lunch workshop to begin to answer those questions. All History faculty and graduate students are invited to attend the event, which will feature the following presentations:
– Professor Michael Kramer, History Department, will discuss his course on Digitizing Folk Music History, which examines new digital platforms to explore the history of folk music
– Matthew Taylor, Northwestern’s Multimedia Learning Center, will present tips for using new technology in our courses and introduce some of the resources offered by the MMLC
– Matthew June, Graduate Teaching Fellow, History Department, will explore the utility of videos in student learning and assessment as well as the basics of using video technology

Following the presentations, there will be time for questions, answers, and discussion. All of those who have experience with similar technologies are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts.

Whether you are interested in using new digital sources to elevate a discussion section or simply want to play a YouTube video on PowerPoint without having to first watch a car commercial, this workshop will be of interest to all History faculty and graduate teachers. Please join us on Wednesday, November 11. Lunch will be served at 12PM. The workshop presentations will begin at 12:30PM.

MMLC Workshops

Michael J. Kramer

“Data, Databases, and Elizabeth Taylor”

Thursday, October 29,  2 – 4pm  -or-
Friday, October 30,  3 – 5pm
RSVP online:   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/18955613751
An introductory workshop to understanding and organizing data, modeling data relationships. Topics discussed: Excel, CSV, Data Schemas

“Visualizing Data”

Thursday, November 19,  2 – 4 pm  -or-
Friday, November 20,  3 – 5 pm
RSVP online:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/18955774231​
An introduction to 4 key data visualization techniques: numerical analysis, text analysis, geographic mapping, and network graphing.

Please RSVP online or email info@mmlc.northwestern.edu

BANCROFT LIBRARY – U.S. HISTORY SCENE FELLOWSHIP IN DIGITAL HISTORY

Michael J. Kramer

The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley and U.S. History Scene are pleased to announce competitions for a new fellowship: The Bancroft Library-U.S. History Scene Fellowship in Digital History.

http://www.ushistoryscene.com/uncategorized/digitalhistoryfellowship/

The aim of this fellowship program is to familiarize scholars with emerging digital technologies and digital archival collections, including the digital publication of original scholarly research. The fellowship will introduce history graduate students to specialized skills, methods, and professional networks for conducting digital research using online digital primary source collections at the Bancroft Library, aimed at innovating K-12 history education and curriculum development.

Eligibility for Awards:

The fellowship is designed to support qualified doctoral students in the humanities or social sciences from any recognized institution of higher education in the United States.

Size of Awards:

The fellowship will include a stipend of $1500 to support 6-8 weeks of research and writing to be paid by the Bancroft Library at U.C. Berkeley directly to the fellow. Residency at the Bancroft Library is not required.

Scope of Eligible Projects:

Fellows will advance digital research practices with primary sources housed at Bancroft Library, identify new sources that should undergo digitization for public access, and receive peer-reviewed digital publishing training through U.S. History Scene for public education. The fellowships will result in digital publication of articles and curriculum plans related to their research topics to be presented on the Bancroft Library and U.S. History Scene websites. This is a virtual fellowship, allowing scholars a flexible schedule through telecommuting to participate (although residency at the Bancroft Library is welcomed). To accommodate this flexibility, primary sources will be digitized and sent to researchers directly from the Bancroft Library for their research use.

Topics that fellows might explore include:

  • Native American life and culture
  • Pacific exploration, maritime history, and empire
  • Mapping and settling the West
  • Missions and cross-cultural exchange
  • The Gold Rush
  • Overland trails
  • Mormons in the U.S. West
  • Mexican-American War, Civil War, & Reconstruction in California
  • Native and African American Slavery in the Early American West
  • Formation of National Parks
  • The U.S. home front during World War I & II
  • Organized Labor & Unionization
  • Environmental History / Natural Disasters
  • Railroads and Transportation History
  • Water, Oil, and Mining
  • Land Grant Acts
  • The Great Depression & Dust Storms
  • The Great Migration
  • Major social movements of the 20th century: Civil Rights, Black Power, Chicano Movements, Feminism & the Women’s Movement, Disability Rights, GLBT Rights
  • The West in the Cold War
  • Chinese Exclusion
  • Japanese Internment
  • Role of military & the federal government
  • Mass Culture in the U.S. West
  • Frontier & Western Mythology

Applying for Awards:

Applicants should submit a C.V. and a research statement indicating the scope and purpose of their proposed research, identifying relevant holdings of The Bancroft Library that will support their research. The digital application form, along with documentary evidence of current enrollment at a college or university, and two letters of recommendation must be sent by June 10, 2014 to editors@ushistoryscene.com. Awards will be announced June 24, 2014.

For all questions please e-mail:

Rhae Lynn Barnes, US History Scene at: rlbarnes@ushistoryscene.com

Mary W. Elings, Bancroft Library at: melings@library.berkeley.edu

FYI: Music + Computation, 6/13/14

Michael J. Kramer

While I would prefer that the language be slightly different—for goodness sake, can’t computer science gently entwine (or something like that) with the social sciences, humanities, and arts rather than penetrating them?—there are some fascinating talks going on over in the MEAS EECS Dept. That said, the language used to describe this series seriously bespeaks the need for the digital humanities as an ethical and cultural way of addressing the serious questions raised by statements such as: “A new way of thinking—computational thinking—is emerging as a fundamental way of understanding and reimagining the entire world. It envisions all processes as computations and attempts to develop an understanding and technological mastery from this perspective.” Is this really a world we want? — Michael

The McCormick School of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science invites you to the

CS+X Colloquium Series

Computer science penetrates all areas of thinking—even the social sciences, humanities, and arts. A new way of thinking—computational thinking—is emerging as a fundamental way of understanding and reimagining the entire world. It envisions all processes as computations and attempts to develop an understanding and technological mastery from this perspective. This colloquium series will help define the challenges and opportunities for both computer science and other disciplines as the scope and nature of computational thinking continue to evolve.
Next in the Series
Friday, June 13, 1 p.m., ITW Classroom

Dannenberg Roger Dannenberg
Professor, Schools of Computer Science, Art, and Music
Carnegie Mellon University

Music + Computation
“Automating Music Listening and Understanding”

New capabilities arise when we combine perception with computation: from Siri to face recognition, applications abound. Musicians have a long and close relationship with technology, so it should be no surprise that Music Understanding — the automatic recognition of pattern and structure in music — is not only an active research area but is delivering interesting applications for music education, music production, and music performance. Music understanding problems include (1) matching and searching symbolic and audio music sequences, (2) parsing music to discover musical objects such as sections, notes, and beats, and (3) the interpretation and generation of expressive music performance. I will demonstrate through examples some music understanding success stories, including commercial products and artistic ventures.

Roger B. Dannenberg is Professor in the Schools of Computer Science, Art, and Music at Carnegie Mellon University. His pioneering work in computer accompaniment led to three patents and the SmartMusic system now used by over one hundred thousand music students. He also played a central role in the development of the Piano Tutor and Rock Prodigy, both interactive, multimedia music education systems, and Audacity, the audio editor. Dannenberg is also known for introducing functional programming concepts to describe real-time behavior, an approach that forms the foundation for Nyquist, a widely used sound synthesis language. As a composer, Dannenberg’s works have been performed by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and at many festivals. As a trumpet player, he has collaborated with musicians including Anthony Braxton, Eric Kloss, and Roger Humphries, and performed in concert halls ranging from the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem to the Espace de Projection at IRCAM. Dannenberg is active in performing jazz, classical, and new works.

FYI: CS+X Colloquium Series

Michael J. Kramer

The McCormick School of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science invites you to the

 

CS+X Colloquium Series

 

Computer science penetrates all areas of thinking—even the social sciences, humanities, and arts. A new way of thinking—computational thinking—is emerging as a fundamental way of understanding and reimagining the entire world. It envisions all processes as computations and attempts to develop an understanding and technological mastery from this perspective. This colloquium series will help define the challenges and opportunities for both computer science and other disciplines as the scope and nature of computational thinking continue to evolve.

 

 

First in the Series

Wednesday, April 2, 2 p.m., ITW Classroom

 

McAfee Preston McAfee

Director, Google Strategic Technologies

 

Machine Learning + Economics

“Machine Learning in an Exchange Environment”

 

Machine learning involves very large regressions, with as many as a billion explanatory variables. Due to the scale, point estimates are typically used, so that common economic concepts like standard errors are ignored. The talk focuses on applications of ML in an exchange environment, as arises in internet advertising. The use of ML in an auction suggests several ways of improving ML: dealing with the winner’s curse, accommodating the inevitable prediction errors into pricing, and choosing a loss function appropriate to the application. In addition, it is shown that active learning strategies have modest payoffs.

 

Next in the Series

 

Please save the date for the upcoming lecture in this series.

 

Tuesday, April 29, 2 p.m., ITW Classroom

 

Cardelli Luca Cardelli

Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research

 

Programming Languages + Biology

“The Cell Cycle Switch Computes Approximate Majority”

 

This talk focuses on the insights that can be gained by combining the ‘dynamical systems’ and ‘reactive systems’ perspectives on biological systems, specifically focusing on how the cell cycle switch computes the well-known distributed systems algorithm: approximate majority.

FYI: Northwestern Computational Research Day – April 22, 2014

Michael J. Kramer

Northwestern Computational Research Day – April 22, 2014

 

The inaugural Northwestern Computational Research Day is being held on April 22, 2014. This event is hosted by NUIT, and sponsored in conjunction with the McCormick School of Engineering, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics), Northwestern University Library, and the Office for Research. It is an all-day, campus-wide event to showcase computational research at NU, as well as build a computational research community at NU.

 

Highlights of the Computational Research Day include research presentations from Northwestern faculty and faculty researchers, invited speakers, a panel consisting of Quest support, users, and the director of the Office of Research Development, Fruma Yehiely, and a poster session sponsored by CIERA. Please see the full agenda for further details on keynote speakers, and the day’s events.

 

Date: April 22, 2014

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Location: Norris University Center – Evanston Campus

 

http://www.it.northwestern.edu/research/about/campus-events/research-day/index.html