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Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the heuristics course co-taught by Heinz von Foerster, Herbert Brün, and Humberto Maturana (1968-1969) influenced cybernetic research in the USA. Design/methodology/approach - The author accessed the archived material from three sources: the Herbert Brün Library, the University of Illinois Library, and the Biological Computer Laboratory (BCL) and interpreted these materials in light of the cybernetics literature, and the publications of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC). Findings - The heuristics course had major consequences in von Foerster's evolving critique of education, and in Brün's work towards founding a School for Designing a Society. von Foerster radically reoriented the BCL toward unconventional course proposals. He also began to critique objectivity and positivism, shifting the foundations of cybernetics and proposing a meta-cybernetics. The year that von Foerster retired, the BCL and the ASC ceased to function. When the ASC returned in the 1980s it took on new emphases, including education and design. It appears von Foerster was pivotal in the shift of emphasis. Originality/value - The findings add new dimensions to the story of the decline of the BCL in the 1970s, and the re-emergence of the ASC in the 1980s with new emphases (such as design) that are not traditionally found in scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents three stories on how U.S. schools are reinventing rooms and spaces to accommodate other types of learning. These include the update of the computer laboratory by the middle school Google Apps innovation team at Richland School District Two in South Carolina, the coding, engineering and entrepreneurship activities at the Innovation Lab of Fair Haven School District in New Jersey, and the makerspace design at Casco Bay High School in Portland, Maine.

The article discusses the significance of involving faculty to improve pedagogy in learning spaces in the U.S. According to the author, renovations of existing learning spaces such as classrooms, libraries and computer laboratories are taking place or new construction projects are underway in every type of higher education institution across the country. A report found that technology is an important factor of the student's choice of which college or university to attend. It explains the importance of working together between professionals and instructional technologists, as well as staff on curriculum and course design.

The article focuses on the advances in statistical machine learning, an area within artificial intelligence involving how computers can learn automatically in the U.S. It offers information about the experience of computer scientist David Patterson on budgetary designations for their research. According to director Anthony Tether of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that as more research begins to cross disciplines, computer science is being funded as part of such multidisciplinary efforts rather than as a stand-alone field.

The article presents important findings of survey of U.S. teachers and their instructional practices with computer technology. A team of researchers from the University of California in Irvine and the University of Minnesota investigated the instructional uses of computers at more than 1000 schools. Among their investigations was an examination of the extent to which teachers take advantage of classroom and laboratory-based computer facilities. They found that teachers generally have access to shared computer laboratories or general resource areas such as a library or media center, which tend to be set up to accommodate many students. Among the secondary school teachers they surveyed, 62% of teachers with at least five classroom computers gave students a reasonably frequent opportunity to use computers. Only 18% of teachers lacked classroom computers, but who had access to computer laboratories with at least 15 computers, gave students this substantial computer experience. Thus, secondary teachers with just five or six classroom computers are more likely to use them on a regular basis than are teachers with access to computer laboratories containing substantially more computers.

Focuses on the design and plans of various computer laboratories in the United States. Includes Creative Artists Agency/Intel Media Lab; Media Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Gardiner Symonds Teaching Laboratory.

Focuses on a course entitled 'The Technology of Computer Center Management,' which is being offered at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Suitability of the course for graduate professional programs in information systems and for graduate professional programs in computer science; Exploration of technological and management tools which can help computer center managers optimize computer systems performance.

The article offers news briefs related to universities in the U.S. The National Science Foundation will be awarding a grant to the Brown University for the expansion of its Computer Center. A three week conference was held at the University of South Louisiana to help students and teachers cope with the increasing impact of computers on campuses. The University of California's Irvine campus will be serving as the computer laboratory of International Business Machines Corp.

The article focuses on the application of ergonomics in colleges and universities in the U.S. According to Brian Krenke, vice president of Product Management, ergonomics is not the top priority for colleges. The area where ergonomics is being seriously considered is the computer laboratory. Only a percentage of furniture can be attributed to ergonomics.

Reports on the award received by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Computer Center in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina from the Green Building Council for promoting cost-effectiveness of sustainable buildings. Features of the computer center; Basis of the award; Cost of the center's design and construction.

Focuses on the effectiveness of wireless mobile computer laboratories in schools in the U.S. Increase in the proliferation of viruses and spyware; Average cost of laptop configuration paid by schools; Reasons for purchasing mobile computer laboratories; Problems in the safety and security of laptops.

Presents information on library media specialists in the U.S. as of January 2005. Number of media specialists retired across Georgia in 2004; Benefit of the addition of a computer laboratory run by a laboratory paraprofessional to the work of media specialist in South Dakota; Significance of smart boards to interactive teaching.

Features desktop computers for various educational needs in the United States. Case study on technological needs for a computer laboratory; Components of a desktop computer system; Features of various desktop computer systems.

Features the library media center of Winona Middle School in Winona, Minnesota. Proximity of the central location to core classrooms and administration; Design of computer laboratories; Flexibility and accessibility of space; Computer access for all students.

Focuses on the development of George Busbee International Center for Workforce Development by Scientific-Atlanta to help the high technology growth in Atlanta, Georgia. Importance of the school to corporate communities; People credited on the construction of the center; List of donors.

Looks at the Earth Simulator revealed at the SC2002 exposition in Baltimore, Maryland. Supercomputing Earth Simulator model built by NEC peaking at a speed of 40 trillion calculations per second, or 40 teraflops; Future supercomputer plans from Sandia National Laboratories.

The article announces the availability of computer center services at several airports in the U.S. as of February 20, 2001.

Provides suggestions on structuring campus computer centers in the United States. Need for office space to accommodate team environments; Strategies on connectivity and flexibility problems; Maximization of network and support structures; Discussion on cable management; Flooring and equipment care.

Focuses on the opening of a computer laboratory at the Stamford, Connecticut office of community group CTE. Grant from investment bank Warburg Dillon Read; Background on CTE; Location site; Range of computer programs and computers; Goals.

Provides information on the Grossmont College Computer Skills Enhancement Lab (CCLab) which was created by the Leadership and Economic Development Institute of Grossmont College in San Diego, California. Discussion on the curriculum that is being offered at CCLab; Description of the facility; Information on the laboratory's instructional materials. INSET: Announcement.

The article presents the architectural projects featured in the June 1987 issue of "ARCHITECTURE" journal. The Advanced Computer Technology Center of Apple Inc. in San Francisco, California was designed by Erik Sueberkrop from STUDIOS. The managing architect of Herman Miller Showroom in Dallas, Texas was Larry Dailey from Taft Architects. University of Pennsylvania's McClelland Hall in Philadelphia was constructed by Davis Brody & Associates.

Tempers soared when U.S. supercomputer makers heard Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a government funded but private operated facility, opted to buy a multimillion dollar machine from a British competitor.

The article focuses on the developing foreign relations of Japan with the U.S. Following the liberalizing of policies related to telecommunications and foreign imports, Japan has decided to ease restrictions on data transmission. It states that through this liberalization, Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is aiming to increase the number of U.S. computer centers that can be used by Japanese clients for data.

This article presents news briefs related to the universities in the U.S. A regional computer center will be established at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, which will serve eight other State University campuses in the Western part of the State, it was announced by Robert E. Thomas, Vice Chancellor for Educational Communications of the State University of New York. The computer center, to be established on an experimental basis, will go into operation in the fall of 1967 and continue in use until April of 1969. It is the result of a proposal submitted to the Educational Communications Office by the computing center at SUNY, Buffalo. An electronic computer network combining large central facilities and smaller localized units is being established on the University of Illinois campus at Urbana. A National Science Foundation 850,000 dollars two-year grant will help support what will become a very comprehensive educational computer network. Two powerful IBM computers are being installed to supervise network operation and handle computing tasks too large for small central computers located in various departments of the university.

The article presents several news briefs related to colleges and universities in the U.S. National Science Foundation is providing grants to colleges and universities to establish computer centers. The Carnegie Institute of Technology Computation Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will install a computer-driven visual display system this summer. The Pennsylvania State University has announced a short course on the structure of programming languages starting September 13, 1965.

The article offers world news briefs related to businesses and industries in 1960. A survey of American businesspeople by Dun & Bradstreet Corp. found that profit prospects were better in the second quarter of 1960 than in 1959's second quarter. National Cash Register Co. will set up computer centers for small businesses in the U.S. In Mayagz, Puerto Rico, free trade zone will be established to allow U.S. and foreign businessmen to manufacture goods from Puerto Rican imported raw materials.

The article reports on Control Data's small laboratory called Seymour's Place, located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The laboratory is the secluded site of Seymour R. Cray, the company's creative vice president and director. The laboratory is where Cray developed the company's 1.4-million U.S. dollar 1604 computer, which made Control Data a sudden success. It is stated that Cray is planning to ship his first 6600 computer to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Features the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Computer Center within the Agency's laboratory complex in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Innovative and cost-efficient approach to environmentally friendly design and construction; Water and waste reduction; Method used to ensure safe indoor air quality levels; Use of fire suppressant system.

Focuses on resources needed to build a computer forensic laboratory in the United States. Areas to consider in building a forensic laboratories; Objective of preventing unauthorized access; Furniture and furnishings of the laboratory; Data of operating systems.

Reports that the Maui High Performance Computing Center in Maui, Hawaii has selected a powerful IBM SP supercomputer to identify objects in space.

The article discusses the relevance of computer labs in the U.S. schools. Topics discussed include one-to-one programs that puts a mobile device into every student's hands to encourage integration into teaching and learning, moving students to computer lab can help classroom teachers in teaching what they know best and what they are trained in, and importance of labs in online testing.

The article reports on the plan of technology company Google to deploy gigabit Internet service through Google Fiber to residents in all public housing in the U.S. Topics discussed include the launching of the program at West Bluff Townhomes in Kansas City, Missouri and the collaboration with local partners including Connecting for Good and Surplus Exchange which will offer discounted devices and computer tutorials. Investments in computer labs and digital literacy classes are also mentioned.