Preface

Engineers know what they mean by the word technology. They mean the things engineers conceive, design, build, and deploy. But what does the word global in the phrase global technology mean? Does it mean finding a way to feed, clothe, house, and otherwise serve the 9 billion people who will soon live on the planet? Does it mean competing with companies around the world to build and sell products and services? On a more immediate and practical level, can the rise of global technology be expected to create or destroy U.S. jobs?

A fascinating three-hour forum exploring these and related questions was held at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Engineering on October 4, 2010. The format of the forum was both simple and effective: we brought together seven extremely smart people and let them talk. Each brought a fascinating and unique perspective to the topic.

Esko Aho, executive vice president of corporate relations and responsibility at Nokia, spoke about the necessary ingredients that enable countries to be successful in an interconnected and technologically sophisticated world. Esko, who became prime minister of Finland when he was just 37 years old, deserves substantial credit for helping to make Finland a high-tech powerhouse.

Bernard Amadei, professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado, discussed the responsibility of engineers to address the needs of all people in the world, not just those in the richest countries. Bernard is the founder of Engineers Without Borders-USA and Engineers Without Borders-International, a network of engineers from around the world who share knowledge and solve problems. These organizations have inspired many thousands of young people worldwide to share

NAE President Charles M. Vest and forum panelists.

their knowledge and talents with people in less developed countries to improve their quality of life.

John Seely Brown, visiting scholar and advisor to the provost at the University of Southern California and for nearly two decades the director of the Xerox Corporation’s legendary Palo Alto Research Center, talked about how young people are changing the world through their use of technology. John—or JSB, as he is often called—has given himself the title “Chief of Confusion,” yet his remarks were anything but confusing. He provided remarkable insights into what it will mean to live in a world where people are linked together and doing things in ways that were previously unimagined.

Ruth David, president and chief executive officer of Analytic Services Inc. and a former deputy director for science and technology at the Central Intelligence Agency, analyzed the rapid recent expansion of the scientific and engineering research workforce around the world. The United States still leads in many measures of science and technology expertise and productivity, but other countries are narrowing the gap, which creates both challenges and opportunities for the United States.

Eric Haseltine, a consultant in management and innovation and for many years a leader of Disney Imagineering, discussed engineering in

a world where the boundaries of space and time are disappearing. The former associate director for science and technology in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Eric has an ideal background for observing global trends in science and technology.

Nicholas Negroponte, who with Jerome Wiesner co-founded the famous Media Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), described his work with the One Laptop per Child Association Inc. The idea is deceptively simple: What if every child in the world had an inexpensive low-power laptop connected to the Web? The foundation has already distributed an astounding number of laptops in countries around the world, and in the process it is changing how people think about education and about society.

Raymond Stata, cofounder and chairman of the board of Analog Devices Inc. and a quintessential American technology-based entrepreneur, focused on the coming era of systems engineering. Ray came to the United States to study at MIT, stayed in the country to work, and cofounded what has become a globally successful company. When that company was challenged by foreign competitors, he rolled up his sleeves, spent innumerable hours studying the new world of quality management, and emerged with a company that was even stronger than before.

At the end of the forum, I conducted a simple poll of the seven panelists by asking them if globalization of technology is a good thing or a bad thing. Without hesitation, all responded that it is a good thing. The spread of technology throughout the world will bring hope and prosperity, but it will also increase complexity and risk. The global challenges for adequate water, food, health, energy, security, and a livable climate cannot be overcome by technology alone. But neither can any of them be overcome without technology.

Charles M. Vest, president

National Academy of Engineering