wayne@cs.odu.edu (C Wayne Huling) (11/04/89)
From: wayne@cs.odu.edu (C Wayne Huling) I must write a term paper dealing with computers in society, so I thought about the military aspect of computers. Can anyone suggest any books articles etc. dealing with weapon systems, weapon design and functions where computers have furthered the field? Wayne PS. Thanks alot!
JON@GAFFER.RAD.WASHINGTON.EDU (Jon Jacky) (11/07/89)
From: JON @ GAFFER.RAD.WASHINGTON.EDU (Jon Jacky) > In Article 2806 of sci.military, C. Wayne Huling (wayne@cs.odu.edu) asks, > Can anyone suggest any books articles etc. dealing with weapon systems, > weapon design and functions where computers have furthered the field? The most comprehensive review currently available is: 'Computers In Battle' edited by David Bellin and Gary Chapman. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987, $14.95. xiv + 362 pages, including Bibliography, Resources, Index. ISBN 0-15-121232-5 This book describes present and planned applications of computers in weapons systems. It stresses critiques of planned weapons systems which the authors find dangerous or poorly-concieved. Many readers of sci.military might find it excessively political and philososphical; it does not give in-depth technical descriptions of existing weapons systems. However, it does describe many in broad outline and that may actually be an advantage for Mr. Huling's needs. Althought the book is quite partisan, it is extremely thoroughly researched and does contain references to very technical articles, as well as partisan writings expressing other opinions. The bibliography is the best and most comprehensive available on the subject; for example, Alan Borning's chapter on computers in nuclear weapons systems contains over 140 references that Alan and his colleagues assembled over about five years of work. Disclaimer: I wrote one of the chapters (which, of course, is meticulously researched and beautifully written :-) ) - Jon Jacky, University of Washington, jon@gaffer.rad.washington.edu ----------------------------------- Computers In Battle: Table of Contents Computers in Battle: A Human Overview Severo Ornstein A History of Computers and Weapons Systems Paul N. Edwards The New Generation of High-Technology Weapons Gary Chapman Computer System Reliability and Nuclear War Alan Borning Computer and the Strategic Defense Initiative Eric Roberts and Steve Berlin The Strategic Computing Program Jonathan Jacky Computers in Weapons: The Limits of Confidence David Lorge Parnas Artificial Intelligence as Military Technology Tom Athanasiou High Technology and the Emerging Dual Economy Lenny Siegel and John Markoff The Role of Military Funding in Academic Computer Science Clark Thomborson Computers and War: Philosophical Reflections on Ends and Means John Ladd