roundtable: NII Concepts for development

roundtable: NII Concepts for development

NII Concepts for development

Michael G. Koopman (koopman@ctc.com)
Sun, 20 Mar 94 17:49:03 -0500 

Date: Sun, 20 Mar 94 17:49:03 -0500
From: koopman@ctc.com (Michael G. Koopman)
Message-Id: <9403202249.AA00802@sgi81.ctc.com>
To: roundtable@cni.org, usnonprofit-l@rain.org
Subject: NII Concepts for development

I am interested in finding relevant documentation on the development
of the NII which might support the following "speech."  I feel well
formulated objectives focussed on improvements of such ideas are
necessary to, "... promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, ..."  If you do
not know the source of that quote it seems unlikely that you truly
care about these issues.  I feel strongly, and believe every U.S.
citizen should, also, feel strongly that the objectives of the NII
are, and need to be, founded in the rudiments of our free nation.

NII "Speech"

The National Information Infrastructure (NII) can greatly benefit
health and education, especially mental health and ethos, of
individuals interacting through these networks.  These health and
education benefits may result in improvements in a multiplicity of
conditions stemming from problems in health and informed reasoning.
An attack on ignorance is an attack on many community ills, including
crime and homelessness.  This may seem a significant reach; believing
the status elite, college academic, "toy"net model can impact social
issues which all too rarely enter the "raised" consciousness of the
student, professional and academic participants with the privilege of
access to these technologies.  The root of the reason for which I
believe benefits can be achieved at the national level stems from a
belief in the individual as the foundation of our communities.  Like
"word of mouth" advertising, I believe that the inspiration of
individuals empowers the greatness of nations.

Although powers of perception are greatly hindered when comparing
computer media to personal contact, and literacy is currently a
requirement for using the least expensive means, geographical (and
social) bounds are already greatly reduced by the improving power of
the communications technologies.  While emphasizing the shame that we,
as a nation, should feel for allowing illiteracy to plague us, the
technologies will soon allow the illiterate a greater place in
electronic networks through audio-visual advances.  This is not to
deny the benefits of the current literate technologies; improvements
in mobilization and access to the finest expertise available in a
variety of fields is an unquestionable remedy for many societal ills.
Furthering the benefit through the availability of expert systems for
referals and recommendations is not only good, professional practice,
but should be mandated in many cases.  This should be especially true
in the endeavours of public defense (and prosecution); a lynchpin in
the foundation of our free society.  I, for one, will not stand for
the bashing of public defense as a tool for the criminal.  If our
justice system allows public defense to be used wrongly, it is the
courts and the defenders who must be corrected; not the presumption of
innocence, nor the right to counsel guaranteed by our Constitution.
Public defense, let us recall, is provided to protect the innocent.
Innocence is the presumption that must be made before a conviction is
returned by a jury of one's peers.

Technologies of the NII can help to shed light on "shawdows of doubt."
Shedding light on ignorance through health and education and on
justice through equality and fairness.  I believe these are principles
which our Founding Fathers intended for our nation.

Thank You,

Michael Koopman (mike)    Associate Computer Systems Specialist
Concurrent Technologies Corporation   internet: koopman@ctc.com
1450 Scalp Avenue                        phone: +1-814-269-2637
Johnstown, PA  15904-3321  USA         telefax: +1-814-269-2402

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