ETHW:About STARS

The name STARS is an acronym for Significant Technological Achievement Recognition Selections. STARS is an online compendium of invited, peer-reviewed articles on the history of major developments in electrical and computer science and technology. Although written for a general audience, these articles are meant to provide authoritative information, valuable in itself, but also useful as starting points for further investigations. STARS is an open-ended project, with new contributions added as they become available. Each entry is subject to continual review. Readers may post comments in accord with the procedures of the Global History Network (GHN). Corrections and updates may also be suggested; if found by the Editorial Board to be meritorious, they will be incorporated into the basic text (with appropriate notations to document their inclusion).

An objective of the STARS Program is to provide reputable core information on the GHN and to encourage other quality contributions on the GHN. STARS Articles provide technological and business perspectives that are essential for technology literacy and are especially valuable to policy makers and managers of technology developments.

Each achievement recognized by the STARS Program has worldwide significance, and typically each consists of many closely related events that took place in more than one location over a period of time. This distinguishes the STARS Program from the IEEE Milestones Program, which also honors technological achievements, as an IEEE Milestone typically consists of one event that took place in one location. Also, a Milestone need not have worldwide significance, but may be primarily of local or regional significance. While a Milestone is marked by a bronze plaque placed near where the event occurred, IEEE STARS are recognized by having peer-reviewed articles placed on the STARS portal of the GHN.

The STARS Program is managed by the IEEE STARS Editorial Board with assistance of the IEEE History Center staff and guidance and oversight of the IEEE History Committee. The Officers of the Editorial Board consist of a Chair plus two to six Vice Chairs who are appointed by the IEEE History Committee and serve both as a subcommittee of the History Committee and as an Executive Committee for the Editorial Board. All other members of the STARS Editorial Board are appointed by the Officers of the Editorial Board. The functions of Editorial Board members are to identify and solicit authors for STARS Articles and to review STARS Proposals and Articles in their areas of expertise.

Articles for the STARS Program are commissioned by the Editorial Board Executive Committee. They are written to appeal to a general audience and to have accuracy and insights that satisfy knowledgeable professionals. Each Article must adhere to specified guidelines. Articles must be previously unpublished, although they may be based on articles or books previously published by the author. The Editorial Board will review each Article for its appropriateness for the Program, including review for historical accuracy and scope and for readability. The Editorial Board may commission scholars not on the Board to review Articles to insure that each Article is vetted by someone expert in the area. Only after an Article is approved by the Editorial Board and by the IEEE History Committee will it included on the list of STARS on the IEEE GHN.

Anyone may view the STARS pages on the GHN, but users must be logged in to the GHN in order to suggest Candidates or to submit Proposals or Articles. If you do not currently have an account, you can create one.

There are four phases to the STARS Program