John A. N. Lee

A methodology for constructing predicate transition net specifications

In this paper, a methodology for constructing hierarchical and structured predicate transition net specifications is developed, which includes new systematic notation extensions for supporting various transformation techniques upon predicate transition nets and several rules for applying such transformation techniques. The levelling technique in data‐flow diagrams is adapted in the refinement and the abstraction techniques, and the state decomposition idea in state‐charts is employed in designing various label formulation operators. The methodology is illustrated through the specification of a lift system. The methodology can significantly reduce the constructing complexity and enhance the comprehensibility of large predicate transition net specifications.

The social impact (Project MAC)

Outside of the technological advances being made in time-sharing and interactive computing as well as the allied enterprises within Project MAC, there was a deep concern among the system designers about the cultural impact of placing a computer in the public domain. In a paper coauthored with E.E. David, Jr., in 1965 and in another published in 1967, R. Fano commented on such current concerns as unemployment and predicted future concerns that we now live with, including computer security and (what is now called) backing. Excerpts from these papers are presented.<<ETX>>

Integrating predicate transition nets with first order temporal logic in the specification and verification of concurrent systems

This paper presents some results of integrating predicate transition nets with first order temporal logic in the specification and verification of concurrent systems. The intention of this research is to use predicate transition nets as a specification method and to use first order temporal logic as a verification method so that their strengths — the easy comprehension of predicate transition nets and the reasoning power of first order temporal logic can be combined. In this paper, a theoretical relationship between the computation models of these two formalisms is presented; an algorithm for systematically translating a predicate transition net into a corresponding temporal logic system is outlined; and a special temporal refutation proof technique is proposed and illustrated in verifying various concurrent properties of the predicate transition net specification of the five dining philosophers problem.

A Methodology for Test Selection

Software creation requires not only testing during the development cycle by the development staff, but also independent testing following the completion of the implementation. However in the latter case, the amount of testing that can be carried out is often limited by time and resources. At the very most, independent testing can be expected to provide 100% test coverage of the test requirements (or specifications) associated with the software element with the minimum of effort. This paper describes a methodology employing integer programming by which the amount of testing required to provide the maximum possible test coverage of the test requirements (for the given test set) is assured while at the same time minimizing the total number of tests to be included in a test suite. A collateral procedure provides recommendations on which tests might be eliminated if less than 100% test coverage of the test requirements is permitted. This latter procedure will be useful in determining the risk of not running the minimum set of tests for 100% test coverage. A third process selects from the test matrix the set of tests to be applied to the system following maintenance modification of any test requirements-- that is, to provide a submatrix for regression testing. The potential benefits for applying the integer programming technique in test data selection is also discussed.

History of Computing in Education

This paper provides an overview of the history of computing and its affect on computing in education. It describes the evolution of the history of computing through activities such as conferences, collection and archival activities, individual collections, books and journals, and websites. It also illustrates the use of computers in the history of education in areas such as computing education, engineering, home and office, and the classroom. The paper brings light the importance of history in fulfilling the legacy of different areas of learning.

Positive alternatives: a report on an ACM panel on hacking

A broad cross section of computer security experts, hackers, educators, journalists, and corporate executives examine hacking issues, problems, and possible solutions.

History in the computer science curriculum

IFIP Working Group 9.7 (History of Computing) is charged with not only encouraging the preservation of computer artifacts, the recording of the memoirs of pioneers, and the analysis of the downstream impact of computer innovations, but also on the development of educational modules on the history of computing. This paper presents an initial report on the study of the history of computing and informatics and preliminary proposals for the inclusion of aspects of the history of computing and informatics in the curriculum of university and college students.

Teaching and learning in the 21st century: the development of "future CS faculty"

Radical changes in teaching methods combined with the impact of the world wide web and the perceived need to make greater uses of the computer in education place the new faculty member at a considerable disadvantage. The TV generation of students find that it is no longer satisfying for a teacher to profess through stand-up lectures and expectations of self-initiated activities on the part of the learners. Additionally, a new topic needs to infiltrate the computer science curriculum, a topic that is not in the general repertoire of future faculty. This topic combines studies of ethical, social, and professional responsibilities with the other elements of the field. This paper proposes a curriculum for future faculty workshops to prepare new faculty to serve their departments.

History in the computing curriculum

Summary form only given. Instructors often ignore or diminish the inclusion of history in computing when teaching courses. This is unfortunate, because students and teachers can learn much from the history of computing. In this paper, the authors present several models that instructors can use to place history as a curriculum component. They share their findings and provide handout summaries for comment, discussion and feedback. The authors strongly encourage audience participation and interaction.

Evaluation of subsetting programming language elements in a novice's programming environment

In this paper, we evaluate the effects of applying programming language subsets to the programming environment used by novice (CS1) students in a closed-laboratory setting, as well as reducing the complexity of the user interface for the environment. Our goal in this effort was to assess if such interface and application-level changes adversely impact the student or hinder the later migration to a traditional professional-strength programming environment.We focus on the comparison of the quantitative data captured from the closed-laboratory sessions (assignment grades, number of syntax / semantic errors, and the number of compilation / execution attempts) involving subjects that used a new programming environment featuring a less complex interface in two forms: one lacking support of language subsets, and one supporting the application of language subsets.We found that while using the environment supporting the application of language subsets, there was no difference in the compilation-attempt rate, the number of errors did not increase, and student grades were equivalent between the experiment groups. Additionally, following a migration to the professional environment from the simplified environment, student grades were equivalent to those that had used the professional environment throughout the experiment. Student reaction to the experimental environment was very positive, especially related to the removal of unused tools and project management features.