Honghong Tinn
@honghongtinn.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in the Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine & Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota
https://amazon.com/author/honghongtinn
https://amazon.com/author/honghongtinn
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
"As the world appears entranced by faster chips and smarter electrical brains, elevating a company like TSMC to mythical status, few are pausing to ponder what the computing power is for—and who powers the computers?"
I review Honghong Tinn's important new book, Island Tinkerers, in @thenation.com:
I review Honghong Tinn's important new book, Island Tinkerers, in @thenation.com:
How Taiwan Became the Chipmaker for the World
A new book tells the story of the island-nation’s transformation into a central hub for technological development and manufacturing.
www.thenation.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:41 PM
"As the world appears entranced by faster chips and smarter electrical brains, elevating a company like TSMC to mythical status, few are pausing to ponder what the computing power is for—and who powers the computers?"
I review Honghong Tinn's important new book, Island Tinkerers, in @thenation.com:
I review Honghong Tinn's important new book, Island Tinkerers, in @thenation.com:
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
"Against all the saber-rattling, myth-making, and visions of world domination, [Island Tinkerers] offers a timely intervention and powerful antidote."
@thenation.com reviews @honghongtinn.bsky.social's fascinating #OpenAccess contribution to the history of computing technology:
@thenation.com reviews @honghongtinn.bsky.social's fascinating #OpenAccess contribution to the history of computing technology:
How Taiwan Became the Chipmaker for the World
A new book tells the story of the island-nation’s transformation into a central hub for technological development and manufacturing.
www.thenation.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:48 PM
"Against all the saber-rattling, myth-making, and visions of world domination, [Island Tinkerers] offers a timely intervention and powerful antidote."
@thenation.com reviews @honghongtinn.bsky.social's fascinating #OpenAccess contribution to the history of computing technology:
@thenation.com reviews @honghongtinn.bsky.social's fascinating #OpenAccess contribution to the history of computing technology:
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
Submissions for our upcoming hybrid conference, SIGCIS 2026: Known Error (June 17-18, Berkeley, CA) are due 2/16. Dwai Banerjee is our keynote speaker. See the full CFP here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
SIGCIS 2026 CFP: Known Error
The Special Interest Group for Computing, Information, and Society (SIGCIS) welcomes submissions to their 17th Annual Conference SIGCIS 2026: Known Error 🧯⚠️🪠 🚩 June 17-18 2026 | School of Informatio...
docs.google.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Submissions for our upcoming hybrid conference, SIGCIS 2026: Known Error (June 17-18, Berkeley, CA) are due 2/16. Dwai Banerjee is our keynote speaker. See the full CFP here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
North American Taiwan Studies Association has a call for paper for the 31st Annual Conference, June 26- June 28, 2026
Indiana University Bloomington. The theme is Resonance/Dissonance — Taiwan Studies, Knowledge Production,
and Power Asymmetry.
www.na-tsa.org/home
Indiana University Bloomington. The theme is Resonance/Dissonance — Taiwan Studies, Knowledge Production,
and Power Asymmetry.
www.na-tsa.org/home
December 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
North American Taiwan Studies Association has a call for paper for the 31st Annual Conference, June 26- June 28, 2026
Indiana University Bloomington. The theme is Resonance/Dissonance — Taiwan Studies, Knowledge Production,
and Power Asymmetry.
www.na-tsa.org/home
Indiana University Bloomington. The theme is Resonance/Dissonance — Taiwan Studies, Knowledge Production,
and Power Asymmetry.
www.na-tsa.org/home
I am so excited to discover an new YouTube channel about Taiwan by Dr. Sarah Plovnick!
跟台灣研究的專家們分享 Sarah Plovnick 博士的 YouTube 頻道 “台灣沙拉”！
www.youtube.com/@TaiwanSalad
跟台灣研究的專家們分享 Sarah Plovnick 博士的 YouTube 頻道 “台灣沙拉”！
www.youtube.com/@TaiwanSalad
December 4, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I am so excited to discover an new YouTube channel about Taiwan by Dr. Sarah Plovnick!
跟台灣研究的專家們分享 Sarah Plovnick 博士的 YouTube 頻道 “台灣沙拉”！
www.youtube.com/@TaiwanSalad
跟台灣研究的專家們分享 Sarah Plovnick 博士的 YouTube 頻道 “台灣沙拉”！
www.youtube.com/@TaiwanSalad
Sharing a call for paper, "Towards New Social and Historical Studies of Artificial Intelligence," for a special issue of RESET, edited by Valentin Goujon (médialab, Sciences Po), Mathilde Fichen (HT2s, Cnam), and Alexander Campolo (Durham University). journals.openedition.org/reset/6250
Call for Papers n° 19 : Towards New Social and Historical Studies o...
Abstracts are due by January 16, 2026. Today public opinion on generative artificial intelligence is deeply divided. Techno-optimistic promises clash with ethical critiques, against the backdrop of...
journals.openedition.org
December 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Sharing a call for paper, "Towards New Social and Historical Studies of Artificial Intelligence," for a special issue of RESET, edited by Valentin Goujon (médialab, Sciences Po), Mathilde Fichen (HT2s, Cnam), and Alexander Campolo (Durham University). journals.openedition.org/reset/6250
Job opening in the field of the history of computing: networks.h-net.org/jobs/69559/b...
Brown University - Mellon Postdoctoral Research Associate in the History of Computational Technology | H-Net
For information about the application process, please email:
networks.h-net.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Job opening in the field of the history of computing: networks.h-net.org/jobs/69559/b...
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
Happy Publication Day to those who celebrate...README is out in the world via @mitpress.bsky.social
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255348...
My new book is a book about books about computing...enjoy!
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255348...
My new book is a book about books about computing...enjoy!
December 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Happy Publication Day to those who celebrate...README is out in the world via @mitpress.bsky.social
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255348...
My new book is a book about books about computing...enjoy!
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255348...
My new book is a book about books about computing...enjoy!
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
"[An] important intervention complicating the historiography of technological development in Asia."
@lareviewofbooks.bsky.social covers @honghongtinn.bsky.social's "Island Tinkerers" in a joint review of books on US-China tech industries & global competition:
@lareviewofbooks.bsky.social covers @honghongtinn.bsky.social's "Island Tinkerers" in a joint review of books on US-China tech industries & global competition:
The Microchip Titans | Los Angeles Review of Books
Mason Wong reviews three books related to US-China tech industries and global competition.
lareviewofbooks.org
October 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
"[An] important intervention complicating the historiography of technological development in Asia."
@lareviewofbooks.bsky.social covers @honghongtinn.bsky.social's "Island Tinkerers" in a joint review of books on US-China tech industries & global competition:
@lareviewofbooks.bsky.social covers @honghongtinn.bsky.social's "Island Tinkerers" in a joint review of books on US-China tech industries & global competition:
I just did a zoom talk with Digital Materialities working group at the the Center for Internet and Society (CIS, CNRS) in France at cis.cnrs.fr/materialites.... The seminars are fully run by PhD students! It's amazing they created an event poster for my talk.
感謝法國數位物質性研究會的研究生邀請我做線上演講!今秋有三個演講與台灣有關。
感謝法國數位物質性研究會的研究生邀請我做線上演講!今秋有三個演講與台灣有關。
December 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I just did a zoom talk with Digital Materialities working group at the the Center for Internet and Society (CIS, CNRS) in France at cis.cnrs.fr/materialites.... The seminars are fully run by PhD students! It's amazing they created an event poster for my talk.
感謝法國數位物質性研究會的研究生邀請我做線上演講!今秋有三個演講與台灣有關。
感謝法國數位物質性研究會的研究生邀請我做線上演講!今秋有三個演講與台灣有關。
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents unanimously passed a resolution Thursday morning saying its official doctors’ group “unlawfully” negotiated a $1 billion deal with Fairview Health Services that harms the U’s interests.
U Board of Regents threatens reprimand, action on designation for doctors group
Attorney General Keith Ellison says he pushed for agreement after the university walked away from negotiations.
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents unanimously passed a resolution Thursday morning saying its official doctors’ group “unlawfully” negotiated a $1 billion deal with Fairview Health Services that harms the U’s interests.
Job opening: Feminist/ Queer Science & Technology Studies:
jobs.calpoly.edu/en-us/job/55...
jobs.calpoly.edu/en-us/job/55...
Cal Poly - Details - Assistant Professor in Feminist/ Queer Science & Technology Studies (STS) (26/27)
jobs.calpoly.edu
November 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Job opening: Feminist/ Queer Science & Technology Studies:
jobs.calpoly.edu/en-us/job/55...
jobs.calpoly.edu/en-us/job/55...
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
The University of Minnesota is battling in public with its own physician group and Fairview Health Services, the nonprofit group that owns the U’s teaching hospital in Minneapolis.
U of M blasting new Fairview deal with university physicians as ‘hostile takeover’
The health system and U doctors are announcing an agreement for medical school funding -- a deal the university is rejecting.
bit.ly
November 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The University of Minnesota is battling in public with its own physician group and Fairview Health Services, the nonprofit group that owns the U’s teaching hospital in Minneapolis.
So thankful for writer Joyce Yen(顏擇雅)'s endorsement of 科技造浪者, the traditional Chinese version of my Island Tinkerers! I haven't been able to see the physical copy of the book, but it's on Google Play's Books (tinyurl.com/te45du8h)! Link to Yen's short book review: www.facebook.com/share/p/14fR...
November 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
So thankful for writer Joyce Yen(顏擇雅)'s endorsement of 科技造浪者, the traditional Chinese version of my Island Tinkerers! I haven't been able to see the physical copy of the book, but it's on Google Play's Books (tinyurl.com/te45du8h)! Link to Yen's short book review: www.facebook.com/share/p/14fR...
感謝 Hansen Hsu 以及 Mountain View 電腦歷史博物館邀請我週二去演講，很高興有機會遇到了很多熱情的觀眾，認識新朋友(特別是康乃爾北加州校友會的John Lin！)，以及跟幾位好久不見的朋友敘舊！這次也有機會可以拍下博物館裡一些展覽的電腦，元件，或資訊，下學期教電腦史的課程的時候，可以用來更新我原來的投影片！（平時上課我已常簡短播放電腦歷史博物館所製作的影片或訪問！）。
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 AM
感謝 Hansen Hsu 以及 Mountain View 電腦歷史博物館邀請我週二去演講，很高興有機會遇到了很多熱情的觀眾，認識新朋友(特別是康乃爾北加州校友會的John Lin！)，以及跟幾位好久不見的朋友敘舊！這次也有機會可以拍下博物館裡一些展覽的電腦，元件，或資訊，下學期教電腦史的課程的時候，可以用來更新我原來的投影片！（平時上課我已常簡短播放電腦歷史博物館所製作的影片或訪問！）。
My talk at Computer History Museum is on YouTube now. Thanks to Hansen Hsu and CHM for hosting my talk on Tuesday! Acer's Micro-Professor II computer (1982) was displayed at the reception! Thank you, Dag Spicer, Shinyi Hsieh, Jofish Kaye, John Lin, and Ling-Fei Lin! www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6fu...
CHM Live | Taiwan Rising: The Origins of a High-Tech Industry
YouTube video by Computer History Museum
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
My talk at Computer History Museum is on YouTube now. Thanks to Hansen Hsu and CHM for hosting my talk on Tuesday! Acer's Micro-Professor II computer (1982) was displayed at the reception! Thank you, Dag Spicer, Shinyi Hsieh, Jofish Kaye, John Lin, and Ling-Fei Lin! www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6fu...
A podcast on my book Island Tinkerers is available today. Thanks to senior programs manager Adrienne Wu at Global Taiwan Institute for arranging the interview and publishing the podcast! 華府的智庫「全球台灣研究中心」幫我做了一個關於我的新書以及台灣科技產業的軟實力的訪談，是智庫的經理吳至芳主持的「台灣沙龍」這個節目的最新一集喔，歡迎大家線上收聽！謝謝至芳！
mailchi.mp/globaltaiwan...
mailchi.mp/globaltaiwan...
October 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A podcast on my book Island Tinkerers is available today. Thanks to senior programs manager Adrienne Wu at Global Taiwan Institute for arranging the interview and publishing the podcast! 華府的智庫「全球台灣研究中心」幫我做了一個關於我的新書以及台灣科技產業的軟實力的訪談，是智庫的經理吳至芳主持的「台灣沙龍」這個節目的最新一集喔，歡迎大家線上收聽！謝謝至芳！
mailchi.mp/globaltaiwan...
mailchi.mp/globaltaiwan...
I will be talking with Dr. Hansen Hsu, curator of the Software History Center, about my book Island Tinkerers at Computer History Museum on November 4 (7 - 8:15pm PST). Below is a registering link for attending in person or online:
computerhistory.org/events/taiwa...
computerhistory.org/events/taiwa...
October 20, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I will be talking with Dr. Hansen Hsu, curator of the Software History Center, about my book Island Tinkerers at Computer History Museum on November 4 (7 - 8:15pm PST). Below is a registering link for attending in person or online:
computerhistory.org/events/taiwa...
computerhistory.org/events/taiwa...
Excited to see that my book Island Tinkerers (@mitpress.bsky.social) is reviewed in the Los Angeles Review of Books. lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
September 28, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Excited to see that my book Island Tinkerers (@mitpress.bsky.social) is reviewed in the Los Angeles Review of Books. lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
I am looking forward to my visit to the University of Pittsburgh on Monday, October 6. My talk is scheduled at 2pm at 4130 Posvar Hall, hosted by Asian Studies Center. www.ucis.pitt.edu/asc/events/i...
September 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I am looking forward to my visit to the University of Pittsburgh on Monday, October 6. My talk is scheduled at 2pm at 4130 Posvar Hall, hosted by Asian Studies Center. www.ucis.pitt.edu/asc/events/i...
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
Libraries and consortia interested in supporting the growing Direct to Open program can make their commitment through November 30, 2025. Learn more about this groundbreaking initiative and how your institution can participate: mitpress.mit.edu/mit-press-ex...
September 4, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Libraries and consortia interested in supporting the growing Direct to Open program can make their commitment through November 30, 2025. Learn more about this groundbreaking initiative and how your institution can participate: mitpress.mit.edu/mit-press-ex...
Thanks to the Direct to Open (D2O) initiative of the MIT Press! My book was able to be published open access and reached many readers around the world!
We're thrilled that Duke University Press & Goldsmiths Press are joining the Direct to Open (D2O) initiative! Beginning in 2026, our #OpenAccess model will include offerings from all three presses, strengthening our shared commitment to a more equitable & sustainable future for academic knowledge.
September 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Thanks to the Direct to Open (D2O) initiative of the MIT Press! My book was able to be published open access and reached many readers around the world!
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
September 4, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Honghong Tinn
my T&C review of Engineers & the Two Taiwans by Kuo-Hui Chang, Gary Downey & Bono Po-Jen Shih. a concise, perceptive study of the politics of apolitical engineering & fine complement to other histories of Taiwanese S&T, eg @honghongtinn.bsky.social's Island Tinkerers.
muse.jhu.edu/article/965841
muse.jhu.edu/article/965841
Project MUSE - <i>Engineers and the Two Taiwans: The Abnormal Club</i> by Kuo-Hui Chang, Gary Lee Downey, and Bono Po-Jen Shih (review)
muse.jhu.edu
July 30, 2025 at 9:10 AM
my T&C review of Engineers & the Two Taiwans by Kuo-Hui Chang, Gary Downey & Bono Po-Jen Shih. a concise, perceptive study of the politics of apolitical engineering & fine complement to other histories of Taiwanese S&T, eg @honghongtinn.bsky.social's Island Tinkerers.
muse.jhu.edu/article/965841
muse.jhu.edu/article/965841
I enjoyed giving the first fall semester colloquium talk for Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's colloquium series last week.
September 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I enjoyed giving the first fall semester colloquium talk for Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's colloquium series last week.