In the fourth century BC, a young man named Pythias was condemned to death by Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse, for plotting against him, but Pythias was granted three days’ leave to go home to settle his family's affairs after his friend Damon agreed to take his place and be executed should Pythias not return. Pythias encountered many problems but managed to return just in time to save Damon. Dionysius was so struck by this remarkable and honorable friendship that he released them both.
Enormous progress in electronic technology is accelerating the use of computers in everyday life. In this article trends in hardware, input-output technology, computer architecture, software, communications, and artificial intelligence are examined and complexity is identified as a limitation to further progress. Promising directions of research, which may extend the range of computer applications, are discussed.
The great challenge for computer science in this decade is to make computers usable by everyone. Computers, long viewed as a dehumanizing force, will become the most powerful means of personal creative expression and communication ever known.
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