Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!WVNVM.WVNET.EDU!U1DF1
From: U1DF1@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU ("John Neubert")
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Info-futures
Message-ID: <8901192149.AA02814@multimax.encore.com>
Date: 19 Jan 89 21:23:04 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 43

Well, one of what I consider the great points in my life was learning
from a wise high school history teacher that there are shades of
gray... that no (or at least very few) issues are all black or white.
I feel this is one of them.  And since weather forecasting has learned
the same thing over the last decade (and also to allay the irate tennis
player who gets rained on during what was to be a clear day), I will
use percenatges:  Barry (strict definition) 70 %
                  Looser definition         30 %.
These are of course my opinions, and like the weather forecasts, may
bear little resemblance to reality.  I *am* interested in how this
technology is going to affect society (or, to be more proactive,
how society can affect the technology for the good), but when you try
to make one discussion group cover too much territory, it looses
the concentrated effect of a centered discussion.  INFO-FUTURES is
already broad when you realize that there are groups that discuss
specific hardare and software, one that handles workstations in general,
others that handle the specific microprocessors, etc, etc.  INFO-
FUTURES is already broad enough for me if it sticks to the charter
Barry gave in the message I reference.  I do not mind the occassion
digression (such as the management, funding, control issue which has
caused the concern), but I'd rather we all be good CBers and move the
discussion to a pertinent list once the tangent is recognized.  If
such a list is not readily apparent, ask the list for suggestions or
even offer to carry it on by private email.

The effects of technology are important to all of us.  One of the things
I liked about UM during the 70's was that they had a course called
"Computers and Society".  It was the only CS course that you could find
females in for one thing!  Of course, it could not be counted towards
the CS major.  But seriously, it had a broad spectrum of people, from
nurses, to managers, to a CSer like myself.  I really think such a course
should be required for all majors at this juncture in man's history.
But, heck, UM probably doesn't even give it any longer.  Perhaps there
is even such a list out there.  If so, the political/economic discussion
should move there... please.

--------------------------

On the technology front, I would appreciate hearing from our European
colleagues.  There is much work going on there in parallel processing.
Two areas I'm very interested in are Transputer-based systems and
Helios... that combination can outclass any Sun or Mach-based NeXT.
What are you coming up with over on the other side of the pond?