Publications

Books & Edited Books

2018

  • Eds. Hämmerling, C. and Zetti, D.: Das dokumentierte Ich. Wissen in Verhandlung vol. 26, Chronos Verlag, Interferenzen, Zürich, 2018
    BibTeX 
    @book{Hämmerling2018,
	author = {Eds. Hämmerling, Christine and Zetti, Daniela},
	series = {Interferenzen},
	volume = {26},
	publisher = {Chronos Verlag},
	year = {2018},
	language = {de},
	abbrev_source_title = {Interferenzen},
	issn = {1661-8890},
	size = {144 p.},
	address = {Zürich},
	isbn = {978-3-0340-1483-0},
	title = {Das dokumentierte Ich. Wissen in Verhandlung}
}

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Book Chapters

2022

  • Breyer, S. and Herzog, C.: Integrating Ethical Considerations Into Innovation Design in Innovation Design for the Future of Health – Entrepreneurial Strategies and Development Concepts towards Patient Empowerement and Health Democratisation, Springer, 2022
    BibTeX 
    @incollection{BreyerHerzog2022,
	title = {Integrating Ethical Considerations Into Innovation Design},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	booktitle = {Innovation Design for the Future of Health – Entrepreneurial Strategies and Development Concepts towards Patient Empowerement and Health Democratisation},
	publisher = {Springer},
	author = {Breyer, Sabrina and Herzog, Christian},
	year = {2022}
}

2021

  • Martin, D., Herzog, C., Papageorgiou, K. and Bombaerts, G.: Three European experiences of co-creating ethical solutions to real-world problems through Challenge-Based Learning in Emerald Handbook on Challenge-Based Learning, 2021
    BibTeX 
    @incollection{Martin2021,
	title = {Three European experiences of co-creating ethical solutions to real-world problems through Challenge-Based Learning},
	booktitle = {Emerald Handbook on Challenge-Based Learning},
	author = {Martin, Diana and Herzog, Christian and Papageorgiou, Kyriaki and Bombaerts, Gunter},
	year = {2021}
}

2019-05

  • Zetti, D. and Erdur, O.: Themen und Arbeitsweisen der Technikgeschichte in webbasierten Lernumgebungen an der ETH Zürich in Technik- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte in der universitären Lehre. Formate, Adressaten, Konzepte, vol. 15, pp. 25 - 30, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Karlsruhe, 2019-05
    BibTeX Link 
    @incollection{Erdur2019,
	editor = {Popplow, Marcus},
	volume = {15},
	author = {Zetti, Daniela and Erdur, Onur},
	publisher = {Karlsruher Institut für Technologie},
	year = {2019-05},
	language = {de},
	booktitle = {Technik- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte in der universitären Lehre. Formate, Adressaten, Konzepte},
	doi = {10.5445/KSP/1000091371},
	address = {Karlsruhe},
	isbn = {978-3-7315-0902-8},
	title = {Themen und Arbeitsweisen der Technikgeschichte in webbasierten Lernumgebungen an der ETH Zürich},
	PAGES = {25 - 30}
}

2018

  • Herzog, C.: Ethics of Innovative Engineering – A Commitment to Peer-to-Peer-Learning in Excellent Teaching. Principles, Structures and Requirements, pp. 269--278, wbv Media GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, 2018
    BibTeX 
    @incollection{Herzog2018,
address = {Bielefeld},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {Excellent Teaching. Principles, Structures and Requirements},
editor = {Jansen-Schulz, Bettina and Tantau, Till},
pages = {269-278},
publisher = {wbv Media GmbH & Co. KG},
title = {Ethics of Innovative Engineering – A Commitment to Peer-to-Peer-Learning},
year = {2018}
}

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Journal Publications

2021

  • Herzog, C.: On formal ethics versus inclusive moral deliberation AI and Ethics, March, 2021
    BibTeX Link Link 
    @article{Herzog2021b,
author = {Herzog, Christian},
doi = {10.1007/s43681-021-00045-4},
issn = {2730-5953},
journal = {AI and Ethics},
month = {March},
title = {On formal ethics versus inclusive moral deliberation},
url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43681-021-00045-4},
year = {2021}
}
  • Herzog, C.: On the risk of confusing interpretability with explicability AI and Ethics, Dec, 2021
    BibTeX Link Link 
    @article{Herzog2021e,
	title = {On the risk of confusing interpretability with explicability},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	issn = {2730-5953, 2730-5961},
	url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43681-021-00121-9},
	doi = {10.1007/s43681-021-00121-9},
	abstract = {Abstract
            This Comment explores the implications of a lack of tools that facilitate an explicable utilization of epistemologically richer, but also more involved white-box approaches in AI. In contrast, advances in explainable artificial intelligence for black-box approaches have led to the availability of semi-standardized and attractive toolchains that offer a seemingly competitive edge over inherently interpretable white-box models in terms of intelligibility towards users. Consequently, there is a need for research on efficient tools for rendering interpretable white-box approaches in AI explicable to facilitate responsible use.},
	language = {en},
	urldate = {2021-12-17},
	journal = {AI and Ethics},
	author = {Herzog, Christian},
	month = {Dec},
	year = {2021}
}
  • Herzog, C.: Three Risks That Caution Against a Premature Implementation of Artificial Moral Agents for Practical and Economical Use Science and Engineering Ethics, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 3, feb, 2021
    BibTeX Link Link 
    @article{Herzog2021,
abstract = {In the present article, I will advocate caution against developing artificial moral agents (AMAs) based on the notion that the utilization of preliminary forms of AMAs will potentially negatively feed back on the human social system and on human moral thought itself and its value—e.g., by reinforcing social inequalities, diminishing the breadth of employed ethical arguments and the value of character. While scientific investigations into AMAs pose no direct significant threat, I will argue against their premature utilization for practical and economical use. I will base my arguments on two thought experiments. The first thought experiment deals with the potential to generate a replica of an individual's moral stances with the purpose to increase, what I term, 'moral efficiency'. Hence, as a first risk, an unregulated utilization of premature AMAs in a neoliberal capitalist system is likely to disadvantage those who cannot afford 'moral replicas' and further reinforce social inequalities. The second thought experiment deals with the idea of a 'moral calculator'. As a second risk, I will argue that, even as a device equally accessible to all and aimed at augmenting human moral deliberation, 'moral calculators' as preliminary forms of AMAs are likely to diminish the breadth and depth of concepts employed in moral arguments. Again, I base this claim on the idea that the current most dominant economic system rewards increases in productivity. However, increases in efficiency will mostly stem from relying on the outputs of 'moral calculators' without further scrutiny. Premature AMAs will cover only a limited scope of moral argumentation and, hence, over-reliance on them will narrow human moral thought. In addition and as the third risk, I will argue that an increased disregard of the interior of a moral agent may ensue—a trend that can already be observed in the literature.},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
doi = {10.1007/s11948-021-00283-z},
issn = {1353-3452},
journal = {Science and Engineering Ethics},
month = {feb},
number = {1},
pages = {3},
title = {Three Risks That Caution Against a Premature Implementation of Artificial Moral Agents for Practical and Economical Use},
url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11948-021-00283-z},
volume = {27},
year = {2021}
}

2022

  • Herzog, C.: On the Ethical and Epistemological Utility of Explicable AI in Medicine Philosophy & Technology, vol. 35, no. 50, pp. 31, jun, 2022
    BibTeX Link Link 
    @article{Herzog2022c,
	title = {On the Ethical and Epistemological Utility of Explicable AI in Medicine},
	volume = {35},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	issn = {2210-5433, 2210-5441},
	url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13347-022-00546-y},
	doi = {10.1007/s13347-022-00546-y},
	language = {en},
	number = {50},
	urldate = {2022-05-30},
	journal = {Philosophy & Technology},
	author = {Herzog, Christian},
	month = jun,
	year = {2022},
	pages = {31}
}
  • Petersen, E., Potdevin, Y., Mohammadi, E., Zidowitz, S., Breyer, S., Nowotka, D., Henn, S., Pechmann, L., Leucker, M., Rostalski, P. and Herzog, C.: Responsible and Regulatory Conform Machine Learning for Medicine: A Survey of Challenges and Solutions IEEE Access, 2022
    BibTeX Link 
    @article{Petersen-Herzog2022,
	title = {Responsible and Regulatory Conform Machine Learning for Medicine: A Survey of Challenges and Solutions},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	shorttitle = {Responsible and Regulatory Conform Machine Learning for Medicine},
	journal = {IEEE Access},
	author = {Petersen, Eike and Potdevin, Yannik and Mohammadi, Esfandiar and Zidowitz, Stephan and Breyer, Sabrina and Nowotka, Dirk and Henn, Sandra and Pechmann, Ludwig and Leucker, Martin and Rostalski, Philipp and Herzog, Christian},
	year = {2022},
	note = {arXiv: 2107.09546},
	doi = {https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3178382},
	issn = {2169-3536},
	keywords = {Computer Science - Machine Learning, Computer Science - Computers and Society, I.2.6, I.5, J.3}
}

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Conference Publications

2022

  • Herzog, C. and Diebel-Fischer, H.: Teaching Ethics Through the Back Door? – Employing Ideas From Assemblage Theory to Foster a Responsible Innovation Mindset Barcelona, Spain, 2022
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{HerzogDiebelFischer2022,
	address = {Barcelona, Spain},
	title = {Teaching Ethics Through the Back Door? – Employing Ideas From Assemblage Theory to Foster a Responsible Innovation Mindset},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	author = {Herzog, Christian and Diebel-Fischer, Hermann},
	year = {2022}
}
  • Herzog, C., Vollmer, F., Gruner, J. and Rostalski, P.: Teaching Estimation and Control via Probabilistic Graphical Models – An Intuitive and Problem-Based Approach in IFAC Symposium on Advances in Control Education 2022, IFAC, Hamburg, Germany, 2022
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2022,
	address = {Hamburg, Germany},
	title = {Teaching Estimation and Control via Probabilistic Graphical Models – An Intuitive and Problem-Based Approach},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	booktitle = {IFAC Symposium on Advances in Control Education 2022},
	publisher = {IFAC},
	author = {Herzog, Christian and Vollmer, Felix and Gruner, Jonas and Rostalski, Philipp},
	year = {2022}
}
  • Herzog, C., Breyer, S., Leinweber, N., Preiß, R., Sonar, A. and Bombaerts, G.: Everything you Want to Know and Never Dared to ask – A Practical Approach to Employing Challenge-Based Learning in Engineering Ethics Barcelona, Spain, 2022
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{HerzogBreyerLeinweberPreissSonarBombaerts2022,
	address = {Barcelona, Spain},
	title = {Everything you Want to Know and Never Dared to ask – A Practical Approach to Employing Challenge-Based Learning in Engineering Ethics},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	author = {Herzog, Christian and Breyer, Sabrina and Leinweber, Noah-Art and Preiß, Robin and Sonar, Arne and Bombaerts, Gunter},
	year = {2022}
}
  • Herzog, C. and Zetti, D.: Digitally Aided Sovereignty – A Suitable Guide for the e-Government Transformation? in Weizenbaum Conference 2022 - Practicing Sovereignty, Berlin, Germany, 2022
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{HerzogZetti2022,
	address = {Berlin, Germany},
	title = {Digitally Aided Sovereignty – A Suitable Guide for the e-Government Transformation?},
	copyright = {All rights reserved},
	booktitle = {Weizenbaum Conference 2022 - Practicing Sovereignty},
	author = {Herzog, Christian and Zetti, Daniela},
	year = {2022}
}

2021

  • Herzog, C.: Practical and Moral Challenges for the Project of Formal Ethics in CEPE/IACAP Joint Conference 2021: The Philosophy and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Hamburg, Germany, 2021
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2021c,
	address = {Hamburg, Germany},
	title = {Practical and Moral Challenges for the Project of Formal Ethics},
	booktitle = {CEPE/IACAP Joint Conference 2021: The Philosophy and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence},
	author = {Herzog, Christian},
	year = {2021}
}
  • Herzog, C., Breyer, S., Sonar, A. and Bombaerts, G.: Challenge-based Learning for Robotics Students by Engaging Start-Ups in Technology Ethics in Reflecting Technology in Academic Teaching. Workshop on Teaching Environmental, Societal, and Ethical Dimensions of Technological Change, Karlsruhe, 2021
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2021d,
	address = {Karlsruhe},
	title = {Challenge-based Learning for Robotics Students by Engaging Start-Ups in Technology Ethics},
	booktitle = {Reflecting Technology in Academic Teaching. Workshop on Teaching Environmental,  Societal,  and Ethical Dimensions of Technological Change},
	author = {Herzog, Christian and Breyer, Sabrina and Sonar, Arne and Bombaerts, Gunter},
	year = {2021}
}

2020

  • Gode, A., Hedtfeld, J., Heine, M., Herzog, C., Ivens, S., Radzio, F., Wessel, D. and Zetti, D.: DigS-Gov - Die öffentliche Verwaltung als Förderer digitaler Souveränität in Mensch und Computer, 2020
    BibTeX Link 
    @inproceedings{Gode2020,
	title = {DigS-Gov - Die öffentliche Verwaltung als Förderer digitaler Souveränität},
	url = {https://muc2020.mensch-und-computer.de},
	booktitle = {Mensch und Computer},
	author = {Gode, André and Hedtfeld, Jan and Heine, Moreen and Herzog, Christian and Ivens, Stefan and Radzio, Frank and Wessel, Daniel and Zetti, Daniela},
	year = {2020},
}
  • Herzog, C.: Automating Morals – On the Morality of Automation Technology, Ironies of Automation and Responsible Research and Innovation in 21st IFAC World Congress, Berlin, Germany, 2020
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2020a,
address = {Berlin, Germany},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {21st IFAC World Congress},
title = {Automating Morals – On the Morality of Automation Technology, Ironies of Automation and Responsible Research and Innovation},
year = {2020}
}

2019

  • Herzog, C.: „Ethical Innovation Hub“ – Vision und Konzept eines transdisziplinären Konvergenzpunkts für Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft für KI-Innovationsprozesse in KI-Konferenz Schleswig-Holstein, Staatskanzlei Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2019c,
address = {Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {KI-Konferenz Schleswig-Holstein},
publisher = {Staatskanzlei Schleswig-Holstein},
title = {„Ethical Innovation Hub“ – Vision und Konzept eines transdisziplinären Konvergenzpunkts für Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft für KI-Innovationsprozesse},
year = {2019}
}
  • Herzog, C.: Technological Opacity of Machine Learning in Healthcare in 2nd Weizenbaum Conference: Challenges of Digital Inequality - Digital Education, Digital Work, Digital Life, Berlin, Germany, 2019
    BibTeX Link 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2019b,
address = {Berlin, Germany},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {2nd Weizenbaum Conference: Challenges of Digital Inequality - Digital Education, Digital Work, Digital Life},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.34669/wi.cp/2.7},
title = {Technological Opacity of Machine Learning in Healthcare},
year = {2019}
}
  • Herzog, C.: Ethical and Epistemological Challenges of AI in Medical Systems in 41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Mini Symposium on "Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec", Berlin, Germany, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @misc{Herzog2019e,
address = {Berlin, Germany},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Mini Symposium on "Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec"},
title = {Ethical and Epistemological Challenges of AI in Medical Systems},
year = {2019}
}

2018

  • Herzog, C., Tantau, T. and Rostalski, P.: Study Program 'Robotics and Autonomous Systems' at the University of Lübeck in Proceedings of the 12th European Workshop on Microelectronics Education, 2018
    BibTeX 
    @inproceedings{Herzog2018b,
author = {Herzog, Christian and Tantau, Till and Rostalski, Philipp},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 12th European Workshop on Microelectronics Education},
title = {Study Program 'Robotics and Autonomous Systems' at the University of Lübeck},
year = {2018}
}

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Presentations

2021

  • Breyer, S. and Herzog, C.: Akzeptanzfragen bei KI-basierter Medizintechnik in KI-Sommercampus der Begleitforschung des KI-Innovationswettbewerb BMWi, jun, 2021
    BibTeX 
    @misc{Breyer2021,
	title = {Akzeptanzfragen bei KI-basierter Medizintechnik},
	language = {German},
	author = {Breyer, Sabrina and Herzog, Christian},
	month = {June},
	year = {2021},
	booktitle = {KI-Sommercampus der Begleitforschung des KI-Innovationswettbewerb BMWi}
}

2020

  • Gode, A., Hedtfeld, J., Heine, M., Herzog, C., Ivens, S., Radzio, F., Wessel, D. and Zetti, D.: DigS-Gov - Die öffentliche Verwaltung als Förderer digitaler Souveränität in Mensch und Computer, 2020
    BibTeX Link 
    @misc{Gode2020,
author = {Gode, André and Hedtfeld, Jan and Heine, Moreen and Herzog, Christian and Ivens, Stefan and Radzio, Frank and Wessel, Daniel and Zetti, Daniela},
booktitle = {Mensch und Computer},
title = {DigS-Gov - Die öffentliche Verwaltung als Förderer digitaler Souveränität},
url = {https://muc2020.mensch-und-computer.de},
year = {2020}
}
  • Sonar, A. and Herzog, C.: (Ingenieurs-)Ethische Dimensionen der KI – Überlegungen zu Implikationen & Herausforderungen KI-basierter Humangenomik in Online-Workshop „Humangenomik trifft Künstliche Intelligenz – Ethische und gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen“, 2020
    BibTeX 
    @misc{Sonar2020,
author = {Sonar, Arne and Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {Online-Workshop „Humangenomik trifft Künstliche Intelligenz – Ethische und gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen“},
title = {(Ingenieurs-)Ethische Dimensionen der KI – Überlegungen zu Implikationen & Herausforderungen KI-basierter Humangenomik},
year = {2020}
}

2019

  • Herzog, C.: Responsible Research and Innovation in der KI-Basierten Medizintechnik in Vortrag vor der Medizinischen Gesellschaft zu Lübeck, Lübeck, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @misc{Herzog2019g,
address = {Lübeck},
author = {Herzog, Christian},
booktitle = {Vortrag vor der Medizinischen Gesellschaft zu Lübeck},
title = {Responsible Research and Innovation in der KI-Basierten Medizintechnik},
year = {2019}
}
  • Herzog, C. and Friebe, M.: Ethics as an Essential Teaching Element for Innovative Medical Technology Engineering Education in 41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Mini Symposium on "Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec", Berlin, Germany, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @misc{Herzog2019a,
address = {Berlin, Germany},
author = {Herzog, Christian and Friebe, Michael},
booktitle = {41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Mini Symposium on "Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec"},
title = {Ethics as an Essential Teaching Element for Innovative Medical Technology Engineering Education},
year = {2019}
}
  • Gomes Ataide, E. J., Maartens, J., Bartling, S., Hutmacher, D. W., Herzog, C. and Friebe, M.: Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec: The Big Picture and Accompanying Concerns in 41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Mini Symposium on "Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec", Berlin, Germany, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @misc{GomesAtaide2019,
address = {Berlin, Germany},
author = {Gomes Ataide, Elmer Jeto and Maartens, Joachim and Bartling, Sönke and Hutmacher, Dietmar W. and Herzog, Christian and Friebe, Michael},
booktitle = {41st International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Mini Symposium on "Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec"},
title = {Ethical Design Considerations for MedTec: The Big Picture and Accompanying Concerns},
year = {2019}
}

2018-11-29

  • Mähr, M., Hoffmann, H. and Zetti, D.: Topic modelling and explorative search ETH Zurich, Zurich, 2018-11-29
    BibTeX Link 
    @inproceedings{Mähr2018, author = {Mähr, Moritz and Hoffmann, Henrike and Zetti, Daniela},
	publisher = {ETH Zurich},
	year = {2018-11-29},
	language = {en},
	copyright = {In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted},
	size = {1 p.},
	address = {Zurich},
	DOI = {10.3929/ethz-b-000311814},
	title = {Topic modelling and explorative search},
	Note = {Workshop DARIAH-CH 2018; Conference Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Conference Date: November 29-30, 2018}
}

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Unpublished

2019

  • Herzog, C., Hackenjos, S., Lucas, N., Schöning, L. and Kühn, F. C.: Reviving the Honorable Merchant in the Age of Digitization in Final Report on the Dialog Forum "Ethics of Digitization" Conducted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @unpublished{Herzog2019,
address = {Lübeck, Germany},
author = {Herzog, Christian and Hackenjos, Sabine and Lucas, Nicola and Schöning, Lars and Kühn, Friederike C.},
booktitle = {Final Report on the Dialog Forum "Ethics of Digitization" Conducted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Lübeck},
title = {Reviving the Honorable Merchant in the Age of Digitization},
year = {2019}
}
  • Herzog, C., Rehmann-Sutter, C., Haase, J., Heinrich, M., Ernst, F., Rückert, E., König, I. R., Schrader, A., Heine, M., Madany Mamlouk, A., Franke, T., Rostalski, P. and Martinetz, T.: Ethische Leitsätze für die Erforschung und Verwendung von Künstlicher Intelligenz an der Universität zu Lübeck Lübeck, 2019
    BibTeX 
    @unpublished{Herzog2019f,
address = {Lübeck},
author = {Herzog, Christian and Rehmann-Sutter, Christoph and Haase, Jan and Heinrich, Mattias and Ernst, Floris and Rückert, Elmar and König, Inke R. and Schrader, Andreas and Heine, Moreen and Madany Mamlouk, Amir and Franke, Thomas and Rostalski, Philipp and Martinetz, Thomas},
institution = {University of Lübeck},
title = {Ethische Leitsätze für die Erforschung und Verwendung von Künstlicher Intelligenz an der Universität zu Lübeck},
year = {2019}
}
  • Gugerli, D. and Zetti, D.: Computer history – The pitfalls of past futures vol. 33, ETH Zürich, Preprints zur Kulturgeschichte der Technik, Zürich, 2019
    BibTeX Link 
    @UNPUBLISHED{Gugerli2019,
	series = {Preprints zur Kulturgeschichte der Technik},
	volume = {33},
	author = {Gugerli, David and Zetti, Daniela},
	publisher = {ETH Zürich},
	year = {2019},
	language = {en},
	copyright = {In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted},
	size = {28 p.},
	address = {Zürich},
	abstract = {The historicization of the computer in the second half of the 20th century can be understood as the effect of the inevitable changes in both its technological and narrative development. What interests us is how past futures and therefore history were stabilized. The development, operation, and implementation of machines and programs gave rise to a historicity of the field of computing. Whenever actors have been grouped into communities – for example, into industrial and academic developer communities – new orderings have been constructed historically. Such orderings depend on the ability to refer to archival and published documents and to develop new narratives based on them. Professional historians are particularly at home in these waters – and nevertheless can disappear into the whirlpool of digital prehistory. Toward the end of the 1980s, the first critical review of the literature on the history of computers thus offered several programmatic suggestions. It is one of the peculiar coincidences of history that the future should rear its head again just when the history of computers was flourishing as a result of massive methodological and conceptual input. The emergence of the World Wide Web in the 1990s, which caught historians totally by surprise, led to an ahistorical, anthropological, aesthetic-medial approach to digitization. The program for investigating the prehistory of the digital age was rewritten in favor of explaining the development of communication networks. Computer systems and their concepts dropped out of history. This poses a problem for the history of computers, insofar as the success of the history of technology is tied to the stability of its objects. It seems more promising to us to not attribute the problem to the object called computer or to the “disciplinary” field, but rather to focus entirely on substantive issues. An issue-oriented technological history of the 21st century should be able to do this by treating the history of computers as a refreshing source of productive friction.},
	DOI = {10.3929/ethz-b-000385896},
	title = {Computer history – The pitfalls of past futures}
}

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