{"id":1197,"date":"2022-05-23T14:33:10","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T12:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/?p=1197"},"modified":"2022-05-23T14:33:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-23T12:33:10","slug":"upcoming-seminar-decoding-power-relations-in-computing-technologies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2022\/05\/upcoming-seminar-decoding-power-relations-in-computing-technologies\/","title":{"rendered":"Upcoming Seminar: Decoding Power Relations in Computing Technologies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-content-wrapper\"><p>This joint seminar features two perspectives on how power relations have become embedded in computer technologies. Beginning with the early history of computers, <a href=\"https:\/\/liberalarts.vt.edu\/departments-and-schools\/department-of-science-technology-and-society\/faculty\/janet-abbate.html\">Janet Abbate<\/a> examines how computers were metaphorically described as \u201cgiant brains.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brain imagery encouraged the public to believe that computers had remarkable powers, while simultaneously obscuring the skilled labor of human programmers (often women) who did much of the actual work. This metaphor helped to devalue human labor and also fed the illusion that autonomous machines, rather than the people who controlled them, were responsible for the results produced by computers.<\/p>\n<p>Abbate argues that in recent times the word \u201calgorithm\u201d has taken on the metaphorical role of the \u201cgiant brain\u201d and performs similar ideological work, making human labor invisible while raising questions of accountability.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/liberalarts.vt.edu\/departments-and-schools\/department-of-science-technology-and-society\/faculty\/fernanda-rosa.html\">Fernanda R. Rosa<\/a> explores power relations embedded in Internet infrastructure, revealing how Internet routers reflect and perpetuate global inequalities. She introduces an analytical technique called \u201ccode ethnography,\u201d a method for examining code as a socio-technical actor, considering its social, political, and economic dynamics in the context of digital infrastructures.<\/p>\n<p>Rosa focuses on the code for the Border Gateway Protocol and examines how this code is implemented at the internet exchange points (IXPs) that interconnect networks and allow the Internet to operate as a global infrastructure. Her comparison of the IXPs located in Frankfurt and S\u00e3o Paulo reveals inequalities between the global North and the global South and a concentration of power at the level of interconnection infrastructure hitherto unknown in the context of the political economy of the internet.<\/p>\n<p>Both talks emphasize that an algorithm or an Internet router can only be understood in context: not only as part of a larger technological system, but also as an active element in social, economic and political power relations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"calendarevent__info--fixed\"><strong>Time: <\/strong> Fri 2022-06-17 14.15 &#8211; 16.00 (Swedish Time)<\/p>\n<p class=\"calendarevent__info--fixed\"><strong>Location: <\/strong> <span class=\"inactiveLink\">Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, Seminarroom Teknikringen 74 D, 5th floor<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"calendarevent__info--fixed\"><strong>Language: <\/strong>English<\/p>\n<p class=\"calendarevent__info--fixed\"><strong>Lecturer: <\/strong> Janet Abbate, Prof. &amp; Fernanda R. Rosa, Ass. Prof., Science, Technology &amp; Society at Virginia Tech<\/p>\n<div class=\"paragraphs\">\n<p>Dr. Janet Abbate is Professor and Dr. Fernanda R. Rosa is Assistant Professor, both at Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This joint seminar features two perspectives on how power relations have become embedded in computer technologies. Beginning with the early history of computers, Janet Abbate examines how computers were metaphorically described as \u201cgiant brains.\u201d Brain imagery encouraged the public to believe that computers had remarkable powers, while simultaneously obscuring the skilled labor of human programmers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1305,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199,7],"tags":[144,180,64],"class_list":["post-1197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ai","category-events","tag-ai","tag-computer-history","tag-feminism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1165,"url":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2022\/05\/ai-and-environment-seminar-smart-forests-with-jennifer-gabry\/","url_meta":{"origin":1197,"position":0},"title":"AI and Environment Seminar: Smart Forests with Jennifer Gabry","author":"Sofia Jonsson","date":"2022-05-02","format":false,"excerpt":"The 2022 NordAI spring seminars on AI and environment is curated by Adam Wickberg and Tirza Meyer from the Mediated Planet Research Group at KTH. The series feature contributions from leading scholars working with AI at the interface between the human and non-human world, exploring the question of what constitutes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/05\/279352065_1883814061829147_5471445233100940003_n-625x884.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/05\/279352065_1883814061829147_5471445233100940003_n-625x884.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/05\/279352065_1883814061829147_5471445233100940003_n-625x884.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1091,"url":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2022\/02\/computing-the-nordic-way-the-swedish-labour-movement-computers-and-educational-imaginaries-from-the-post-war-period-to-the-turn-of-the-millennium\/","url_meta":{"origin":1197,"position":1},"title":"Computing the Nordic Way: The Swedish Labour Movement, Computers and Educational Imaginaries from the Post-War Period to the Turn of the Millennium","author":"Sofia Jonsson","date":"2022-02-09","format":false,"excerpt":"Lina Rahm investigates how problematisations of the digital have changed over time and how the goal for education on digital technology has been one of political control\u2014either to adapt people to machines, or to adapt machines to people in this article published in the Nordic Journal of Educational History, volume\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Publications&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Publications","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/category\/publications\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/02\/Binary-System-Bits-Byte-Binary-Binary-Code-475664.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/02\/Binary-System-Bits-Byte-Binary-Binary-Code-475664.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/02\/Binary-System-Bits-Byte-Binary-Binary-Code-475664.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2022\/02\/Binary-System-Bits-Byte-Binary-Binary-Code-475664.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":690,"url":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2021\/02\/new-phd-student-in-the-making-universities-matter-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":1197,"position":2},"title":"New PhD-student in the &#8220;Making Universities Matter&#8221;-project!","author":"Achim Kl\u00fcppelberg","date":"2021-02-22","format":false,"excerpt":"We have a new PhD-student at the division! While the pandemic is still disrupting usual work routines, we are very happy that new people can nevertheless join us. Starting a PhD under these conditions in a new work environment is all but easy. Therefore, the division's blog wants to continue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;The Division&quot;","block_context":{"text":"The Division","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/category\/the-division\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2021\/02\/Namnlos.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1393,"url":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2023\/03\/upcoming-final-seminar-on-planetary-timekeeping\/","url_meta":{"origin":1197,"position":3},"title":"Upcoming! Final Seminar on Planetary Timekeeping","author":"Achim Kl\u00fcppelberg","date":"2023-03-06","format":false,"excerpt":"Erik Isberg, doctoral student at the division, will discuss the progress of his dissertation at his final seminar on 13 March 13.15-15:00 (Stockholm time). The title of his seminar is \"Planetary Timekeeping: Paleoclimatology and the Temporalities of Environmental Knowledge. 1950-1990\". Dania Acherman, Senior Scientist from the University of Bern, will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Profile picture of Erik Isberg","src":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/files\/avatar\/eriisb","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1132,"url":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2022\/03\/the-mediated-planet-presents-the-nordai-seminar-series-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":1197,"position":4},"title":"The Mediated Planet presents the NordAI Seminar Series 2022","author":"Sofia Jonsson","date":"2022-03-21","format":false,"excerpt":"The NordAI spring seminars is a seminar series, curated by Adam Wickberg and Tirza Meyer from the Mediated Planet Research Group at the Division. The series features contributions from leading scholars working with AI at the interface between the human and non-human world, exploring the question of what constitutes the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2020\/11\/Earth-Science-Planet-Globe-Environment-Lights-1149733.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2020\/11\/Earth-Science-Planet-Globe-Environment-Lights-1149733.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2020\/11\/Earth-Science-Planet-Globe-Environment-Lights-1149733.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/files\/2020\/11\/Earth-Science-Planet-Globe-Environment-Lights-1149733.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1396,"url":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/2023\/03\/mark-your-calendars-for-scientific-prediction-in-the-20th-century-and-from-water-to-nuclear-to-catastrophe\/","url_meta":{"origin":1197,"position":5},"title":"Mark your Calendars for Scientific Prediction in the 20th Century and From Water to Nuclear to Catastrophe","author":"Sofia Jonsson","date":"2023-03-13","format":false,"excerpt":"Within one week we have two exciting seminars to invite you to! First out is Egl\u0117 Rindzevi\u010di\u016bt\u0117 who will give a talk on Scientific Prediction in the 20th Century on Friday March 13. On Monday March 20, Egl\u0117 will visit us in the role as discussion leader and opponent, when\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Higher Seminar Series&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Higher Seminar Series","link":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/category\/higher-seminar-series\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"atominisIMG_7588","src":"https:\/\/rindzeviciute.files.wordpress.com\/2020\/05\/atominisimg_7588.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1305"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1197"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1198,"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1197\/revisions\/1198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kth.se\/blogs\/hist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}