February 1, 2007
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For Jim Gray
Commencement Address (doc)
to Computer Science Division,
College of Letters and Science,
University of California, Berkeley,
by Jim Gray,
May 25, 2003:“I was part of Berkeley’s class of 1965. Things have changed a lot since then….
So, what’s that got to do with you? Well, there is going to be MORE change…. Indeed, change is accelerating–
Vernor Vinge suggests we are approaching singularities
when social, scientific and economic change are so rapid that we cannot
imagine what will happen next. These futurists predict humanity
will become post-human. Now, THAT! is change– a lot more than I have seen.If it happens, the singularity will happen in your lifetime– and indeed, you are likely to make it happen.”
For other singular
sci-fi tales, click on
the above hexagram.
More from Gray’s speech:“I am an optimist. Science is a Faustian bargain– and I am betting on
mankind muddling through. I grew up under the threat of atomic war;
we’ve avoided that so far. Information Technology is a Faustian
bargain. I am optimistic that we can have the good parts and protect
ourselves from the worst part– but I am counting on your help in that.”
