Telluride Technology Festival 2006 - Bob Sproull

(random comments are bolded)
(all quotes and ideas expressed in this post are intellectual property of Robert Sproull)
"This morning I'd like to introduce you to two remarkable men...there will be a good deal of physics with mystery." Bob Sproull, an older man, begins his presentation. "The first person is Joseph C. R. Lick (spelling?)", his interest was in the brain and "human factors" in computers. His imagination far outpaced the then current computer ability. He replaced Bash processing for a more fluid UI. ARPA was a response to Sputnik, before NASA was created. It was preserved as a quick response agency. In late 1962, a small program was established called "Command and Control Research" for military command applications. We changed the name to reflect information and processing, justifying Defense Department funds, but exploring other computer alternatives for this data. When Lick left ARPA, he nominated Sullivan (inventor of SketchPad) to take his place. ARPAnet evolved into the internet, and the new ARPA is DARPA (you need defense in the title, Sproull jokes). The current problem is energy. An "ARPAe" has been proposed for Energy. DARPA now has nearly complete freedom.

The second genius Sproull mentions is Hans L Brick Beta (spelling?). He left his mark through publications and students. Beta was a physics major who applied quantum theory before he was 20 years of age, his handbooks are still in use today. He won the Nobel Prize for a quantum study on the sun. He then contributed to the microwave radar. Beta continued to turn out great paper, at age 93 he gave speeches, he died at 98 a year and a half ago. Beta's life coincided with the quantum century, he mastered and created many down-to-earth applicable theories.

Sproull has two objectives: (1) To demystify Quantum Theory and (2) to prepare you for an onslaught of books that claim to explain the universe.

Sproull then begins a deeply technical talk, about various theories and predictions of physics. It's an interesting talk, no doubt, but rather hard to blog.