If you believe as I do that some of tomorrow's projects will require close and deep collaboration of humanists and technical folks, then the fact that the computer is a powerful tool for the humanists will help cement the relationship. For issues where computers are used, their methods of experimentation and exploration will be common. Let me give you one big example of a research issue that requires both technical folks and humanists to properly address. The U.S. is on its way from being a representative democracy to being a participatory democracy. Technology is the driver.
Constituents check on their performance once in a while-at least at election time.
It is a question that at once is political, technical, psychological and cultural. It ought to involve all relevant disciplines in a deep collaboration. To conclude, this University is at a cusp in time. The Virginia 2020 strategic planning exercise is most timely. We need to determine where we collectively want to take this University as it enters its third century.