Fernando;

When you are rich or have an abundance of money you may elect to spend it in “strange” ways. I have been associated with technology of one sort or another since I was a child. This has taken many forms and interests ranging from Amateur Radio, Slow Scan Television, Astronomy, and Physics, to name a few areas. Since my college days I have seen technology in two extremes or with two different viewpoints.

Technology for the sake of technology is a beast and embraced by many that love what they do without thought of the consequences. When you step back for a moment and examine technology you may discover things you did not want to know. The effects of technology upon society and individuals are not often considered especially by those who are using or developing it.

When we were trying to send men to the moon there were those who argued we should spend the money on Welfare. Within the Space Program we were receiving information about how the Space Program had discovered many things helpful to mankind. These included areas of medicine as well as products such as Teflon. As is often the case both viewpoints are valid.

The world of the personal or mainframe computer and representative software is a somewhat recent event in recorded history. Combined with marketing and the capitalistic system the potential for misuse is evident. In our quest to advance technology we provide threats to society at an alarming rate. We have to be careful not to become so engrossed in our discipline that we forget our surroundings.

Solving a problem gives one a tremendous feeling of satisfaction and releases endorphins into the blood stream giving a euphoric feeling. Those of us who develop software experience this more than any other group of people working in technology because of the many successes we achieve no matter how small. Each time you create a method, object or resolve a problem you experience this phenomenon. We cannot afford to loose sight of humanity in our endeavor to be successful at what we like to and enjoy doing.

I am not sure where the computer will lead the world. I hope it will be beneficial to mankind.

Tom