Sunday, December 04, 2005
Center of Excellence Proposal
à
[bead thread on curriculum
reform]
The Taos Institute
(on the possibilities)
Communication from Paul Prueitt,
In recent communications several leaders have been talking about professional histories and advances made. Information science has the potential to multiply the efforts in all other areas of human endeavor.
Getting a correct foundation to information science should be the highest priority for the President, his Administration and the Congress. People in government realize that the information infrastructure is very important. But most people see confusion and do not have the background to understand what the problems are, why there are problems, and what possible programs might be created.
The wealth of the nation could be directed at correcting our information infrastructure. Why is this important and how would such a commitment be justified?
The two very damaging hurricanes explain part of the justification. But on the spectrum of possible natural disasters, these do not register as the worst. The flu pandemic could be far more serious. A large comet collision could occur, giving only a few weeks notice. Other natural disasters have happened, including climate change or possible shifts in the rotational axis. All of these disasters would cause great personal pain and grief, but in each case our civilization will be able to adjust and survive if individual humans are able to communication clearly to each other.
The advent of knowledge bases changes the effectiveness of positive communication, communication that depends on the degree of truthfulness over things communicated. An example will remind the reader of some of the issues. Suppose that humanity wakes up one morning to find that the news media is announcing evidence that a large meter is on a collision course with the Earth. The quality of human communication from that moment until the event has passed will determine the severity of the event.
The quality of information exchanges will directly impact the degree of suffering. A Tsunami hit India this year and this event lead to great suffering. The suffering was lessened because the world community communicated about how to help.
Today I was able to make some design changes in a small, 80 cubic feet, fishpond. This pond is being developed with the hope that a demonstration of anticipatory control might be built in a highly public place. It is cold in Taos now, with temperatures at night in the teens. The point is, however, that I have the ability to use the Internet, have materials delivered by UPS and gradually realize a dream I have had for many years. For this to happen I need to communication with others, and use conventions and standards to order underwater heaters and pumps. The key that I am hoping to show, to myself if no one else, is that one can measure the bio-chemical processes in a small fishpond, and to thus anticipate state changes in the pond.
The physical measurement is the first step, and enables the development of a computer based control system using a knowledge base.
The same technology will be used to understand personal health issues.
Information science is what is required so that our society can more fully realize the American dream.