ztozhistory

In 1986, a survey of approximate string matching algorithms found the algorithm used in the PLATO computer-aided instruction system was third place in quality (F1 score) and was an order of magnitude faster than the best performing algorithms. The PLATO algorithm used an unusual dimensional projection approach, while the competing algorithms of the day used edit distances or phonetics. However, this approach failed to catch on and the design is rarely mentioned in the literature. This video describes how the algorithm worked and some reasons why it became forgotten. Damerau, Fred J. "A technique for computer detection and correction of spelling errors." Communications of the ACM, vol. 7, issue 3, March 1964, 171-176. https://doi.org/10.1145/363958.363994 Navarro, Gonzalo. "A Guided Tour to Approximate String Matching." ACM Computing Surveys, vol. 33, issue 1, March 2001, 31-88. https://doi.org/10.1145/375360.375365 Nesbit, John C. “Approximate string matching in response analysis.” Journal of Computer-Based Instruction 12.3 (1985): 71-75. https://archive.org/details/sim_journal-of-computer-based-instruction_summer-1985_12_3/page/n15/mode/1up Nesbit, John C. “The accuracy of approximate string matching algorithms.” Journal of Computer Based Instruction 13.3 (1986): 80-83. https://archive.org/details/sim_journal-of-computer-based-instruction_summer-1986_13_3/page/n18/mode/1up Tenczar, Paul and Golden, William. "Spelling, Word, and Concept Recognition." Computer-based Education Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, 1972. https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102723111 Ray Ozzie clip courtesy of the Computer History Museum. https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102792129

The first song composed for and played by a computer was The Silver Scale on May 17, 1957. This video discusses the physics and hardware necessary for this invention, as well as the domain specific language, MUSIC-V, that arose for efficient programming of sound waves. References: Roads, Curtis. 2011. The computer music tutorial. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Fagen, M. D., Amos E. Joel, and G. E. Schindler. 1975. A history of engineering and science in the Bell System. Gareth Loy and Curtis Abbott. 1985. Programming languages for computer music synthesis, performance, and composition. ACM Comput. Surv. 17, 2 (June 1985), 235–265. https://doi.org/10.1145/4468.4485 Max V. Mathews, Joan E. Miller, F. R. Moore, John R. Pierce, and J. C. Risset. 1969. The Technology of Computer Music. The MIT Press. https://archive.org/details/TheTechnol_00_Math Newman Guttman, "The Silver Scale," track 1 on Computer Music Currents 13: The Historical CD of Digital Sound Synthesis. Wergo, WER 20332. https://en.schott-music.com/shop/computer-music-currents-13-no93269.html John Chowning, Max Mathews, Curtis Roads. 2004. Odysseys in Technology: Music Meets The Computer, lecture by John Chowning et al. Computer History Museum Speaker Series, Computer History Museum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hloic1oBfug Roads, C., and Max Mathews. “Interview with Max Mathews.” Computer Music Journal 4, no. 4 (1980): 15–22. https://doi.org/10.2307/3679463.

Programming languages use format specifiers to control the formatting of numbers and text. We look at their invention in FORTRAN I, adoption in BCPL, and three innovative attempts to include them in ALGOL60.