Saturday, December 29, 2007

The old and the new


The photo seems so appropriate for this blog title for a couple of reasons. First of all you technicians will notice that the meter my son and I are playing with is an antique. I found some batteries for it and my son and I decided to see if it worked. We were using it to measure the voltage of a small battery. As a three year old, this was Jesse's first experience with a meter. And thankfully, he learned how to use one the old fashioned way (zeroing the needle and all), before he ever learned to use a digital meter. That's the old part of the story.

Jess is now almost 20 years old. He is an electronics/computer engineering honors student at a local college. He has always had a bent towards the technical side of things. Just like his dad.

But the "new" part of the story is that he has moved on to the latest and greatest in technology. We enjoy talking about the future of computers and electronics. We prophesy that electrons will not be capable of handling the speeds and miniaturization of the new systems, so everything will have to move to transfer of information within particles of light. You are probably already aware that miniaturization has reached the point that electrons are too large to move "through" the wires. Can't wrap my "old" mind around that concept.

I know there are much smarter folks out there reading this who know the ins and outs of this idea. But what excites me most is that my son and his generation will be on the development side of that breakthrough technology.

However you feel about the ongoing debate of Microsoft, Apple, and their floundering world of operating systems, you must admit that it was our generation that made this present level of technology a reality.

And looking at this picture, it kinda feels good to know that this old Dad had a part in it all. However so humble.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Read your latest blog and caught up on the pictures on the previous ones. So the new technology will use "light" for transference of data? that WILL be something your mother and I will probably never see. Am sure that Jess will, as the Lord tarries. Good job. from your POP.

Kent said...

Dad, it is something that has been in the oven for several years. That and neural interface (brain control) of the computer that will eliminate the need for the clumbsy mouse and keyboard (and display - for that matter...) just think of it!