International Journal on Criminology Volume 7, Number 2, Spring 2020 | Page 8

Foreword: Technology, the
Hybrid, and Sherlock Holmes
Surely Sherlock would have appreciated the computer, given his thirst for
knowledge about everything, ranging from rare tobaccos to Amazonian tribal
customs. The articles in this issue certainly demonstrate how criminology,
in at least some ways, has been quietly annexed by Apple and IBM. For years now
we have accepted internet citations without the slightest hesitation, and indeed we
often access our academic journals online.
With all that keyboarding, has come the potential for computer crime, and
burglary by bits and bytes is all too common. So, while the use of the web has
helped the good guys, it has also aided the bad guys. The battlefield has changed,
but the protagonists are still slugging it out, just with better equipment.
In keeping with this evidence of the inevitability of change and primacy
of the computer, we have been reworking the annual International Criminology
Conference in connection with this journal. The pandemic chaos meant that
unfortunately there will be no 2020 conference, but there certainly will be one in
2021 as a hybrid event. Hybrid is the new description for academic conferences
that make a point to include both online and person to person presenters. We
have had occasional online presenters at meetings of the Policy Studies Organization,
but our 2021 programs will be much more committed to integrating those
afar with those here in Washington.
We very much hope that participation on panels will seem comfortable regardless
of where you are in the world. We note that some restaurants that are
trying to make patrons at ease despite having to distance their tables and sharply
reduce their seating, and have hired store mannequins, who are scattered around
the premises and contemplating menus or a half consumed plastic fish. Rest assured
all our participants will be real people, even if on the screen if not on a seat.
Please follow updates at: http://www.ipsonet.org/conferences/crim-conf
We hope you and your friends and family are keeping safe, if understandably
not always happy, as we gingerly navigate the shoals of these strange days. On
behalf of the able Editor-in-Chief, Alain Bauer, and all of the staff, we send you
good wishes across the miles. Stay secure, and come see us in Washington when
the crisis is over.
Sincerely,
Paul Rich
President, Policy Studies Organization
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