Today's Issue Hot Topics Search Browse Recommended My Account
Search
  About Computing Reviews
   
  Content
   
  Becoming a Reviewer
   
  Subscriptions
   
  About the ACM and ComputingReviews.com
   
  Technical Assistance
   
   
About Computing Reviews
  1. What is Computing Reviews?
Computing Reviews is a powerful database of reviews of computing literature from ThinkLoud and the ACM. The site presents a continually updated overview of the best new material published in the field.

For technical professionals, keeping abreast of the latest advances and trends can be daunting. New discoveries, new applications, new breakthroughs happen daily, and it can prove impossible for researchers to know what is happening in their field, much less in other areas. From trivial to epochal, a blizzard of journal articles threatens to overwhelm even the most ardent reader.

Computing Reviews calms the storm. Drawn from the top ranks of their professional and scientific fields, our reviewers will recommend and review the best articles and books in their areas, providing a resource for technical professionals, experienced users, and laypeople looking for high-level information. Computing Reviews is more than just a comprehensive source for technical literature.

In addition to a fifteen year-plus archive of reviews and articles, Computing Reviews also empowers individuals with personalized alerts, customized searching and browsing. In the Computing Reviews community ideas can be discussed and knowledge exchanged worldwide.

  2. Who produces Computing Reviews?
Computing Reviews is a joint effort of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) and ThinkLoud, a Silicon Valley-based publisher of reviews focusing on academic and professional content.
Content
1. What is in Computing Reviews?

Computing Reviews covers all aspects of computing science and contains reviews of published material - journal articles, conference papers and whole proceedings, books and theses. Computing Reviews does not review: software, hardware, gadgets or websites.

New reviews are published each weekday, excepting major holidays, with an average of two to ten new reviews in each new daily issue. The content is nearly evenly divided between books and article reviews.

2. How does Computing Reviews select items for review?

The pool of items from which reviews are assigned is provided by the ACM as part of the Guide to Computing Literature. An Assignment Editor at Computing Reviews attempts to match the item to an appropriate reviewer. If you would like to suggest an item for review, you can start the process by sending it to:

ThinkLoud
c/o Computing Reviews
Editorial -- Reviewer Copies
3851 N. High St.
Suite C
Columbus, OH 43214

3. How do I get a copy of a back issue of Computing Reviews?

If you would like to order a single back copy of an issue of CR, please contact acmhelp@acm.org, or call ACM's Membership Department. Their number is (800) 342-6626 (US and Canada) or 1 (212) 626-0500 (international).

4. I'm a Reviewer. How do I see my own reviews?

Reviewers can see their reviews by logging in using their reviewer ID and password. You can locate your reviews by using either the Browse by Reviewer function (start at the home page, click on Browse, then Reviewer) or by logging into the Reviewer's Area and going to the Status function and clicking on the All tab.

5. I found something I want to read - how do I see the review?

To read reviews, you must have a subscription or be part of an institution who has a subscription. Information on subscriptions can be found below. The Editor's Pick is available freely to any reader with or without a subscription.

6. I want to read a book/paper you've reviewed, can you please send me a copy?

Computing Reviews is not the publisher of the items we review. To obtain a copy of the original item please contact the publisher directly or use our sister document delivery company, Information Express, to buy a copy.

7. How far back does CR go compared to the paper version?

CR online has content from May 1985 to present. This is equivalent to Volume 26, Issue 5 in the print Computing Reviews. Excluding the ads, the online version of CR has all of the content of the paper version plus additional features like the Editor's Pick, Hot Topics and Featured Reviewers.

8. Do you have any reviews of literature, movies or music?

Currently, Computing Reviews is dedicated to providing the best reviews of technical articles and books. We do not review: software, hardware, gadgets, or websites.

Reviewers & Becoming a Reviewer
  1.How are reviewers qualified?
The ACM Computing Reviews Editorial Board reviews all applications. Reviewer candidates are evaluated and approved based on many criteria, including educational background and professional experience. Usually this consists of a minimum of a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field and some significant work experience. The application review process takes approximately 4 weeks. All applications are submitted via the web.
  2.How can I become a reviewer?

Complete an application to become a reviewer by clicking on the Become a Reviewer link on https://www.computingreviews.com/reviewer. Be sure the complete the application thoroughly and send back the copyright form. After receipt of the copyright form, your application is sent to our editorial group for assessment. You will be notified once the decision has been made and, if approved, your login ID and password will be activated at that time and you will be sent information on how to access and use the online Reviewer's Area.

Please consider carefully your decision to become a reviewer. It does not automatically give you access to large volumes of fulltext articles and free books. You can only review one item at a time and cannot select another to review until you've submitted the first one. Your reviews are edited for both content and style and we are very concerned with receiving only quality reviews. Reviewers make a commitment to their peers to provide thoughtful assessments of published material from one professional to another and your work is on record for others in your field to read.

3. Are reviewers paid?
Reviewers are not paid for their reviews. Reviewers can earn free access to the online Computing Reviews based on their ongoing contributions to CR. Reviewers have an initial access period of 6 months from the time their first review is published and for each subsequent review that is published, an additional four months is added.
Subscriptions
1. Is Computing Reviews included with my or my institution's print subscription to Computing Reviews? What about my institution's Digital Library subscription?
Computing Reviews is not included in any institution's print subscription to Computing Reviews and is not part of any institutional subscription to the ACM's Digital Library or Print Packages. For information on institutional pricing please visit our Masthead https://www.computingreviews.com/Info or contact sales@computingreviews.com for a quote.
2. Can I transfer my print subscription to the online version?

A print subscription is not transferable to the online version. To contact a sales associate about special print pricing for existing subscribers, please email sales@computingreviews.com.

3. I am an ACM member and have an individual subscription to the Digital Library. Is Computing Reviews part of my subscription?

To access CR under this kind of subscription, you need to begin at the Digital Library and then come over to us - the ACM's system will validate you as having the appropriate membership/subscription combination and then pass a token to us to allow you access for that session.

Here are the access steps:

1. Login to the Digital Library (link at the top of the screen). After you're logged in, your name appears at the top of the screen.

2. Click the link to CR. You'll see it on the bottom right side of the page.

3. You will be sent over to CR and be validated for the remainder of that session. You'll need to re-login via this process each time you want to visit CR.

4. You may also find links to CR within the citation records in the Digital Library - there will be a Review tab on which a partial review will display with a link to "more". The "more" comes over to CR for the full review.

Once you leave CR or logout of the DL, you will need to login again through the Digital Library for access. This ensures that your subscription with the ACM is valid. No account is created for you on the Computing Reviews side and we here at ThinkLoud do not have access to your ACM account information.

For questions about your ACM membership and/or Digital Library subscription status, please contact the ACM directly at acmhelp@acm.org.

4. How do I subscribe if I'm not a member of the ACM?

Individual subscriptions are $350.00 per year, billed annually via credit card. An individual subscription will allow you to access the complete site, including all reviews.

Please use the signup form at https://www.computingreviews.com/subscribe.cfm to setup an account. Accounts will not be active until we process your credit card payment. (You should hear from us within one business day).

5. How much does a subscription to Computing Reviews cost for institutions?

A subscription to Computing Reviews varies in cost depending on your institution. See https://www.computingreviews.com/Info for full pricing information, or contact sales@computingreviews.com.

About the ACM and ThinkLoud
1. Can I subscribe to ACM journals through you?

No. ThinkLoud handles only subscriptions to the online Computing Reviews for non-ACM members and institutions. For anything related to other ACM publications or help with the ACM Digital Library or Portal, please contact the ACM directly at acmhelp@acm.org.

2. I am an ACM member with a Digital Library subscription and I can't login to read reviews. Please help!

To access CR under this kind of subscription, you need to begin at the Digital Library and then come over to us - the ACM's system will validate you as having the appropriate membership/subscription combination and then pass a token to us to allow you access for that session.

Here are the access steps:

1. Login to the Digital Library (link at the top of the screen). After you're logged in, your name appears at the top of the screen.

2. Click the link to CR. You'll see it on the bottom right side of the page.

3. You will be sent over to CR and be validated for the remainder of that session. You'll need to re-login via this process each time you want to visit CR.

4. You may also find links to CR within the citation records in the Digital Library - there will be a Review tab on which a partial review will display with a link to "more". The "more" comes over to CR for the full review.

Once you leave CR or logout of the DL, you will need to login again through the Digital Library for access. This ensures that your subscription with the ACM is valid. No account is created for you on the Computing Reviews side and we here at ThinkLoud do not have access to your ACM account information.

For questions about your ACM membership and/or Digital Library subscription status, please contact the ACM directly at acmhelp@acm.org.

Technical Assistance
1. I received an error saying I need cookies enabled. What should I do?
ThinkLoud uses cookies to keep track of registered users and track your current session. Your information is used solely by ThinkLoud to present Computing Reviews content to you and is not shared. (For more information, read our Privacy Policy - https://www.computingreviews.com/privacy/privacy_privacy.cfm)