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The article presents news related to the computer industry. A session on history of computing was organized by the Associazione Italiana per l'Informatica e il Calcolo Automatico at its annual conference on October 6, 2005 in Udne, Italy. Thomas J. Misa has been appointed as the new director of the Charles Babbage Institute of the University of Minnesota. The 2004 IEEE Conference on the History of Electronics was held during June 28-30, 2004 at Bletchley Park, England. The first chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jerry D. Noe, breath his last on November 12, 2005. Developer of Japanese transistor computers ETL Mark III and Mark IV, Shigeru Takahashi, died on November 22, 2005.

Provides historical background on the invention of the sector, a geometric compass. Precursor instruments and methods; Use of the sector; Construction of the sector.

Describes the library of Charles Babbage Institute co-founder Erwin Tomash. How the library illustrates the history of computation; Sample images from the library collection; Philosophy behind his endeavor.

Reports on the medical records of Charles Babbage, a genius who attempted to produced a mechanical brain. Reason for his death; Background about the life and environment of Babbage; Results of the autopsy on the body of Babbage; Why the last days of Babbage were miserable; Description of the brain of Babbage.

Describes attempts by University of Toronto to build University of Toronto electronic computer (UTEC) and acquisition of Ferranti University of Toronto (Ferut) machine. Establishment and funding of `Computation Center'; Composition of UTEC team; Reasons for development of pilot model UTEC; Details of machine; Procurement details of Ferranti Mark I; Applications of Ferut; Failure of Ferut in competitive market.

Profiles Calvin Mooers, developer of the TRAC computer language. Involvement of Mooers in the electronic computer project of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL); Role of John Vincent Atanasoff in the computer project; Career of Mooers and Atanasoff at the NOL.

Presents a short selection of items written by some analysts and researchers about the memory errors that arises in some early computer simulations. How computer analyst Stephen Wolff consider the problem; Comments from computer analyst Larry Zeitlin; Story of Wesley J. Miller about system emulation.

Details on convention held on June 13-15, 1997 at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia to survey the different aspects of computers' history. Description about the series of invited papers from historians on computer history; Highlights of the conference.

Highlights the launching of the George R. Stibitz Awards, a program by the American Computer Museum in Bozeman, Montana to honor pioneers in various aspects of computing. Launch of the award on April 25, 1997. Information on nominees; Significance of the program.

Presents a letter to the editor related to IBM 1401 computer.

John Gosden, a software pioneer on the Leo computer, died at the age of 73. From 1953 to 1959, he worked with John Pinkerton, LEO's chief engineer in ensuring that LEO III incorporated all the facilities needed for business applications. These included time sharing, and microprogramming. He also devised a high-level language called Cleo. In 1960, Gosden moved to the U.S. and managed the construction of a multicomputer operating system for the U.S. Navy.

Reports that the United States Navy launched an Arleigh Burke Class Aegis Destroyer named the USS Hopper in honor of Admiral Grace Hopper. The launching of the ship; The ship's commanding officer, Commander Tom Crowley; Hopper's legacy.

Presents the statement of the author as incoming editor-in-chief of the `IEEE Annals of the History of Computing' journal. Contributions of previous editors Bernard Galler and John A.N. Lee; Hopes for the future of the journal.