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I rarely have any praise for magazines, but want you to know I found your August issue
useful, informative, entertaining and thought-provoking. Thank you. I especially liked the
article about Pete Conrad (I met him several times) and the article by Paul MacCready. Bravo on your Trilogy Part 1. MacCready and Hartmann for substance, Vonnegut for
whimsy, Frost for pure joy -- great idea, great writing. Looking forward to more. I thought the special section in Designfax was great. It was good to see my
contribution in print, and even better to put visibility on Vonnegut's perspective. I
believe I have now subscribed, and am coaxing others to subscribe. Thanks. We'll be in
touch. This issue was quite a departure from what I normally find in the pages of Designfax. Nonetheless, for an engineering publication to devote so much space to the future of technology seems only appropriate as we near the new millennium. In what I've read so far, the many opinions and insights expressed by the various writers are quite interesting and conducive to more thought. For me, there's one idea that stands out, and that is to remind engineers (and the rest of the world) of the 2-edge sword of technology. Engineering designs and breakthroughs have allowed the world to advance at such a tremendous pace over the last century or so, and fortunately, most of it has been to the benefit of all humankind. But, like ourselves and most things in this life, there is always the potential for evil, wrongdoing, and inflicting great pain and suffering on others. I think that has and always will be one of the challenges of technology; namely, that we, as inventors and users, work for the continued betterment of ourselves and our world. Helping people and improving the quality of their lives and the environment is what it should be all about. As was brought out in some of the articles, that also involves remaining in control of what we design. We must not let technology and the idea of doing things faster and better become an end in itself. Technological advancement would then become god for some people, resulting in a loss of their humanness, and leading them to think of and treat others as objects. For me that idea is also an offshoot of your editorial. If I'm getting your message,
the actions of a single individual (in a world of billions) do make a difference and are
worth the risk, even if at times they seem small and inconsequential. Your thoughts remind
me of the phrase, "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." I disagree with the "Up Front" opinion that effort, not success, is what
should be sought after. On my job I get no credit for "trying," only for
success. Congratulations. This is the first time in a long while that I have been interested in
what you've published -- usually it is the same collection of info as all the other trade
mags. This issue was truly relevant and inspiring. My response to most of the quandaries
raised is, "Apply appropriate technology!" And as you said in your
editorial, what we do definitely does matter. I believe it is every parent's
responsibility to instill that attitude in their own children. Too many parents abdicate
this responsibility and the sad consequences are in the news every day. You stated in your "Up Front" column that "it's no longer disputed in
scientific circles that a butterfly flapping its wings in South American can cause a
hurricane in North America..." Sure am glad that South America only has one butterfly
flapping its wings only a few times each summer, or we would have endless hurricanes here. Your August issue is great! I read it twice, including the ads. I am sure the cover article evoked much introspection among readers. Whenever my sense of purpose is put under a microscope, it is clear that my efforts are primarily geared towards personal survival and providing my kids with happy experiences. On another note, all product designers have proud sketches on dusty shelves because we
believe the world, like a wind up clock, needs constant tinkering or improvement. But
there's a price limit for everything, including the future. Nice "Up Front" column. Very inspirational. I think I'll read it again
tomorrow morning. Checked out your August issue. It's great! Here you have an industrial-oriented
magazine with culture and humor. Kurt Vonnegut. Others. Wow! Just wanted to comment on the article written by Thom Hartmann. Wow! He reminds me of
the many "intellectuals" throughout the world, the selected few, that will make
the world a utopia only if you let them in charge. Please do not print anymore articles by
him, as it's very hard on the Constitution. Did like your editorial, however -- the basic
"responsible for trying" idea is so great. I was extremely impressed by the [Thom Hartmann] article in the 8/99 issue of Designfax. I hold similar views about the consumption of our non-renewable resources (and our need to CONSERVE). I also feel strongly about population control. I'm currently writing a paper on the Amish and their resistance to conform to "modern" technology. Though I may not agree with how and why they arrive at their decision to remain a separate people, it reminds me of a day when our own community was much stronger. Neighbors were more often friendly than not, and people actually enjoyed face-to-face conversations... I believe that most of the problems with today's youth stem from our reliance on others
(and inanimate objects such as TVs, computers, video games) to entertain and keep them
busy while the parents are busy tring to make enough $$$ to provide for them. I could
easily elaborate on this, but I believe I have said enough. [dfx/incl/99dfx.htm] |
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