Volume 13, No. 1
November 2000
Urban Legends & the Challenges of Standardization
An Artificial Line, or Technology as Spectrology
The Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) held its annual meeting in Munich during August 2000. By all accounts, the meeting was enlightening and pleasurable, as expected, thanks to the efforts and generosity of the host, the Deutsches Museum. The Mercurians met over the river and through the woods, so to speak, from the conference hotel. Paul Israel, who received SHOT’s Dexter Prize the next day,, graciously chaired the meeting, held jointly with the Jovians. Attending members shared their work and learned, among other things, that the Edison Papers would launch its online research site in mid-September. We are happy to report that the launch was successful; everyone can now benefit by exploring the site by linking to it at <http://edison. rutgers.edu>. In addition to countless well-organized documents, the site includes maps and images from Edison’s “early life” and a helpful set of links. The IEEE History Center has likewise been building its Internet presence, including efforts to develop a virtual museum.
SHOT and therefore the Mercurians will next meet in sunny San José, California, October 4-7, 2001. We look forward to seeing you there.