Computer Algebra, Instrumentation and the Anthropological Approach

Introduction My brief for this paper was to continue the CAME debate on “French CAS work”. I will give an “outsiders” impression of this work and raise issues for discussion by my reactor and at this CAME Symposium. I hold this work in high regard. It has provided me with insights but I have often found it “difficult.” I will try to convey these insights and difficulties in this paper. Through reading and discussion I have found that I often interpreted ideas and terms in ways that the authors did not intend. I raise some of these differences in this paper when I think they are worthy of discussion. I am an Englishman writing of French work to a largely North American audience. I attempt to refer to North American authors whenever possible.