The "To Keep Up" Wiki

This is an old revision of the document!

Lexington Computer and Technology Group

Potential Speakers and Topics -- Need specifics

Date	Topic, speaker	Status
TBD	Charlie Holbrow's next two talks: #2 What quantum mechanics says about the material world and about measurement; #3 what of its properties make quantum theory of so much interest to cryptographers on whose work all secure data exchange and storage fundamental to individual privacy and national security now rely. He says “My goal is to explain some basic quantum ideas that you need to understand quantum computing. Part I is about particles, waves, coherence, interference, and complementarity. Parts II and III are about quantum states, entanglement, no-cloning, quantum correlations, non-locality, Bell's theorem, and local realism.”
TBD	We are hoping to engage Amy Webb (a quantitative futurist. She is a professor of strategic foresight at the NYU Stern School of Business and the Founder of the Future Today Institute) and/or Hiawatha Bray of the Boston Globe (Mitch). See https://amywebb.io/, https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_webb_how_i_hacked_online_dating#t-270660 (15min), and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7k5ceY2qkU&t=3s (60min)
Shown already?	Secret Codebreakers 22min
TBD	Alternatives to enhance or replace Cable TV service providers, like Comcast, RCN, and Verizon, and taking advantage of new ways, including the use of computers, to get programming. (Steve Isenberg to lead the discussion)
TBD	Dark Web. Shuk (shukong@gmail.com): “The legitimate uses of TOR, which is the software on which the so-called Dark Web runs. Or, if more interesting, a tour of the Dark Web https://darkwebtours.weebly.com/ (new member 6/2019).
TBD	Self Driving Cars. Bill Sciaretta has a contact.
TBD	WMA (World Medical Association). Peter: why did we show this?
TBD	Neural Nets – Mike (Alexander?) finding someone
TBD	Tracking new diseases (NOVA) Larry Wittig
TBD	MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center offers both tours and speakers. Would this be too close to the presentation we had from Reiner Beeuwkes recently? See https://www.psfc.mit.edu/outreach (from Larry Wittig)
TBD	10 greatest scientists (John Rudy) Use as a filler if needed
TBD	AI and the effect on the Job Market. (Yumio agreed to give this, but no date has been set). Charlie suggested Jeff Gordon from Lexington
TBD	Public Health Service. How do they handle diseases? Also Pharmaceuticals, like SHIRE (Larry Wittig to explore a talk by him or maybe an outsider). Maybe there is someone from one of the Public Health schools. Orphan drugs?
TBD	The Science of Columbus. Need a speaker. Include Abraham Zacuto and his inventions.
TBD	Advanced features in Excel and Word (Rudy, Wittig and others). This was done about 5 years ago.
TBD	Science fiction written by scientists * (Dennis Greene (no agreement to present) morskajak@comcast.net )\\. * physicist Robert L Forward, high-gravity conditions on the surface of a neutron star – Dragon's Egg and sequel Starquake! * Isaac Asimov, Biologist, Robot stories and Foundation * Arthur C. Clarke 2001 and many other things * David Brin * Greg Benford, astrophysicist , lots of good stuff * Greg Bear, not a scientist but has heavy technical details * Fred Hoyle British astronomer, The Black Hole, etc.
TBD	Automated Cars and Automated Highways. What has happened in the last few years? (Larry Wittig)
TBD	Communications Advisory Committee (CAC). Lexington’s interface to technology. Ken Pogram (sp?), Chair. Subjects might include the future of 5G in Lexington.
TBD	Science/Technology Rivalries. e.g., * Newton vs. Liebnitz vs. Hooke; (Charlie) * John Vincent Atanasoff vs Mauchly, etal. (Carl Lazarus).
TBD	Bill Sciaretta found a book on the technical details behind Michael Crighton’s thrillers. Here is an excellent article on SciFi writing https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/craft-technique/11-ways-to-write-more-scientific-fiction-lessons-from-michael-crichton