Between Hope and Fear.

Hope is a vital human emotion stimulated by the desire to make life better and infused with the belief that change is possible. Hope has a strong rational component that shapes plans and reasons about possible outcomes, but hope depends on passion for forward movement. Deeply held hopes can invigorate others to join in purposeful action. Often hope must overcome resistance, the fear that action will fail or leave one worse off. Fear can be a terrifying barrier to change, but also an energizer for action. Confronting fears and summoning the courage to press forward requires self-confidence and a determination to succeed. Because of these challenges, people and civilizations are often remembered for their deep hopes. After much reflection, the author has three wishes, universal access to computing technology, universal medical records and universal educational support. It is author's sincere belief that people, as computer professionals, should accept the challenge to look beyond the technology and create a vision that inspires action.