Tony Sale Award to recognise computer conservation
Technologists and engineers involved in computer conservation projects have been invited to compete for an award named in honour of the late Tony Sale, who led the rebuilding project of the Colossus code-breaking computer.
The Tony Sale Award will recognise achievements in computer conservation, and is named after the late Colossus rebuilder (pictured). Image credit: TNMOC
"In the hectic, fast-paced world of computing, valuable history simply evaporates," Kevin Murrell, secretary of CCS, said. "As many computer conservation projects across the world have already discovered, there is lots to be learnt in studying the development of hardware and software. Through the Tony Sale Award we want to hear of projects large and small that may reveal fascinating aspects of our developing subject."
Sale, a former spy-catcher and principal scientific officer for MI5, died at the age of 80 in 2011. Sale led the rebuilding project of the Colossus computer at Bletchley Park, and also helped kick-start efforts to save the World War Two code-breaking centre.
The Tony Sale Award panel will judge nominations based on criteria including originality, ingenuity, and impact. The closing date for nominations for the first award is 31 July 2012.
Winners will receive a travel bursary of around £500, plus a prize trophy. The award has been sponsored by Google for an undisclosed sum.
The CCS is backed by BCS, the Science Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.