Events

Based on the results of the VI International Conference SORUCOM 2023

In Nizhny Novgorod, on September 25–27, 2023, the Sixth International Conference “History of Computing in the Russia, former Soviet Union and Council for Mutual Economic Assistance countries (SORUCOM 2023)” was held, the first conferences of which were successfully held in 2006 in (Petrozavodsk), in 2011 (Veliky Novgorod), 2014 (Kazan), 2017 (Zelenograd), 2020 (Moscow). Over the years, the creators of the first computers and programming systems, students and colleagues of outstanding scientists and founders of the computer industry in our country spoke at them. This made it possible to collect a large amount of information on the history of the development of computing in our country and the CMEA countries. The reports were published in Russian and English in conference publications, IEEE Proceedings and posted on the website of the Virtual Computer Museum.

The organizers of the sixth conference, held in 2023, are the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Nizhny Novgorod (HSE NN); Virtual Computer Museum (VCM); V.P.Ivannikov Institute of System Programming RAS (ISP RAS); A.P. Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems SB RAS (ISI SB RAS); Polytechnic Museum (Moscow). The Conference was attended by representatives of educational, scientific and scientific-technical organizations, as well as independent researchers from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Perm, Samara, Tver, Dubna, Zelenograd, Korolev.

The conference featured reports on the history of computer technology - from mechanical machines to supercomputers; creation of operating systems, languages and programming systems; and development of artificial intelligence systems; domestic microelectronics; applications of computers in education; programming teams and organizations; the most notable events in Computer Engineering and programming; Internet; international scientific and technical relations; social aspects of the history of Computer Engineering.

The reports were presented in two formats: 1) in person in the classroom; 2) in an online format in a remote mode (online broadcasts allowed speakers who were not physically present at the conference to present their reports, listen to other speakers, and participate in the discussion).

The Program Committee accepted 53 reports for participation in the conference. During the conference, 50 reports were made, of which 31 were presented in person and 19 remotely.

The reports of invited speakers aroused considerable interest among the audience: “Development of information technologies in Russia: 30 post-Soviet years” Ph.D. I.R. Agamirzyan; “Computer modeling of dynamic processes in inhomogeneous continuous media: history, tasks, problems” Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, corresponding member. RAS I.B. Petrova; “Historical stages, status and prospects for the development of the computer infrastructure of LIT JINR” Doctor of Technical Sciences. V.V. Korenkova.

Memorable dates of this year and in the biographies of outstanding scientists were noted in the reports: “Viktor Glushkov: pioneer of computer science and ideologist of the digital state. To the 100th anniversary of his birth", Doctor of Economics. O.V. Kitova, Ph.D. V.A. Kitov; “On the anniversary dates of domestic computer science in 2023”, Doctor of Technical Sciences. V.N. Zakharov; “Department of Mathematical Support / Computer Science of Leningrad - St. Petersburg University in the era of S.S. Lavrova. To the 100th anniversary of Svyatoslav Sergeevich Lavrov,” Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. B.K. Martynenko; “90th anniversary of M.B. Ignatiev”, Ph.D. M.A. Vus; “Herman Hollerith and Russia”, A.I. Basov.

A series of reports by a veteran of microelectronics from Zelenograd, the famous author of books on the history of microelectronics aroused considerable interest: B.M. Malashevich: “The Start of Domestic Microelectronics”, “The Beginnings of Microelectronics” and “Two Mistakes at the Dawn of Microelectronics”.

Noteworthy are the reports devoted to the history of the creation of technical means: “Russian privileges for calculating equipment. 1845–1917,” Ph.D. V.V. Shilov; “Iofe’s calculating device - how and why it worked,” Ph.D. D.M. Zlatopolsky; “Samuel Avraamovich Katsenellenbogen and his calculating instruments”, Ph.D. D.M. Zlatopolsky, Ph.D. V.V. Shilov; “Collection of logarithmic instruments in the Polytechnic Museum”, M.E. Smolevitskaya; “About several generations of large computers in the USSR and the Russian Federation at the end of the last century: from the point of users view,” Ph.D. M.B. Kuzminsky; “Development by the Yerevan Scientific Research Institute of Mathematical Machines of a specialized two-machine computer complex SСС and a real-time operating system,” Doctor of Technical Sciences. G.A. Harutyunyan; “On the history of computer technology in the Baltic countries”, E.M. Proydakov; “Design Automation – School of N.Ya. Matyukhin (user's view)", V.A. Lushchekin; “History of the development of domestic systems for discrete modeling of digital equipment”, Ph.D. A.K. Polyakov, Ph.D. I.I. Ladygin; “Two poles of technical diagnostics”, Ph.D. B.M. Basok, Ph.D. S.L. Frenkel.

Traditionally, quite a lot of reports were devoted to domestic developments of operating systems, languages and programming systems: “Pages in the history of domestic programming languages”, Ph.D. V.A. Kitov; “Basic data types of control computers of the 5E26 series and modern programming languages,” Doctor of Technical Sciences. L.E. Karpov; “About the most common operating system DISPAK and other operating systems on BESM-6 series machines,”Ph.D. N.E. Balakirev, Doctor (Physics & Maths) Yu.G. Bartenev, S.A. Zeldinova; “Dialogue system for structured programming”, Ph.D. Yu.S. Vladimirova; “OS DISPAK in the development of the MIR space complex”, A.I. Nemetskov, Ph.D. N.E. Balakirev, S.A. Zeldinova; “Experience in restoring the functionality of the MARS-6 archive system for BESM-6 and working on its disassembly,” L.A. Bruhis; "Ershov Scientific Conferences on Programming", Ph.D. L.V. Gorodnyaya; “Formation and development of artificial intelligence in the SB RAS”, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. V.P. Ilyin; “My lifelong path in programming,” Ph.D. V.A. Billig; “Development by the Yerevan Scientific Research Institute of Mathematical Machines of the multiprocessor computing system “Sevan” and a real-time operating system,” Doctor of Technical Sciences. G.A. Harutyunyan; “Development of computational methods for multidimensional mathematical objects in the Academy of Sciences of the KazSSR”, Doctor of Technical Sciences. S.A. Inyutin.

Questions about the history of the development of computer technology, as well as scientific and technical organizations, were presented in the reports: “The electronic brain of the party: the creation and first stage of operation of the information and computing center of the CPSU Central Committee (1970–1972)”, Ph.D. N.Yu. Brewers; “The development of electronic computer technology in the USSR and leading capitalist countries in the 1960–70s: a view from the CPSU Central Committee,” Doctor of Historical Sciences. V.V. Tikhonov; “Development of the mass computing industry in the USSR in 1980–1990. in the aspect of activities of the Intersectoral scientific and technical complex (ISTC) “Personal electronic computers”, Doctor of Technical Sciences. V.N. Zakharov; “Electronic engineering in the USSR in 1965–1985: plans and results of industry development,” Ph.D. R.N. Paramonova; “Ideas of Academician V.M. Glushkov and modern electronic document management,” Ph.D. Yu.E. Pole; “On the history of Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering of the USSR Academy of Sciences: Lavrentiev vs Bruevich (1948–1953)”, Doctor of Historical Sciences. I.A. Kraineva; “Institute of Information Technologies and Applied Mathematics: Organizational Collisions of the 1990s”, Historical Sciences Ph.D. N.A. Kupershtokh; “The history of the creation and automation of the memorial library of academician Andrei Petrovich Ershov”, G.V. Kurlyandchik, N.A. Cheremnykh; Society for Contemporary History “Research Institute of Control Machines and Systems: reasons for the emergence and formation of the main areas of activity”, G.I. Mineev; “On the history of automation of ballistic and navigation support for space programs in the USSR and the Russian Federation,” Doctor of Technical Sciences. S.Ya. Nagibin, Ph.D. V.G. Rovenko, V.V. Yasyukevich; “Computer technology during testing of space vehicles at the Baikonur Cosmodrome”, Doctor of Technical Sciences. S.Ya. Nagibin, N.A. Tikhomirov, V.V. Yasyukevich; “Digitalization of the oil company Tatneft: from automation of manual calculations to artificial intelligence technologies,” Ph.D. M.V. Tumbinskaya, Ph.D. V.M. Tregubov, Ph.D. O.V. Denisov, A.V. Chirikin.

At the conference, a number of reports were devoted to the issues of informatization of education: “From the first computers in school to the all-consuming digitalization of education,” Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Ph.D., A.G. Gein, Ph.D. N.A. Gein (Yunerman); “Historical development of the concept of using video games for gamification of education”, I.A. Chudakin, E.A. Khalturin, Ph.D. S.A. Videnin; “Training of personnel in the field of automated control systems in Perm: the history of the “founding fathers” (1950–1970s)”, O.V. Marasanova; “Monographs and textbooks on programming”, Doctor of Technical Sciences EAT. Lavrishcheva.

All conference reports will be published in the e-library and on the website of the Virtual Computer Museum.

The Seventh International Conference “Development of Computer Technology in Russia, the Countries of the Former USSR and CMEA (SORUCOM) is expected to be held in 2026.

Viktor Nikolaevich Zakharov – scientific secretary,
Federal Research Center "Informatics and Control" RAS (Moscow, Russia)

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