The Glasgow Branch of the British Computer Society has rather foolishly invited me again to present their Christmas Lecture ;-)! Even more foolishly, I accepted!

The event is open to everyone, not just members of the BCS. So feel free to come along at 6pm for 6:30pm in the The Lord Todd - University of Strathclyde, on Monday, 3rd December. Light refreshments will be served.

Two years ago my presentation was on The Ubiquitous Chip [no, not the restaurant (for those familiar with Glasgow)!].

This year the Glasgow Branch suggested that the theme of the talk should be along the lines of "The Current Place of the Silicon Chip in Society". But don't let that put you off! I am researching the subject now but would like to take this opportunity to invite suggestions and comments from my friends and colleagues, students, and the general riff-raff that read my personal weblog - Duncan's Jotter ;-)

I'd be very interested to hear your views of what you think is "The Current Place of the Silicon Chip in Society". Opinions from my students past, present, and future, would be especially welcome as they have the enthusiasm of youth on their side. They are also, presumably, most in tune with the rapid developments they have seen in the past few years and can probably extrapolate into the future. After all, the future belongs to the younger generations of computer scientists and not boring old fogeys like me ;-)

Naturally, I will acknowledge all contributions that are used. Here are some questions to act as a catalyst:

• What do you think has been the greatest positive impact of the silicon chip on society?
• What do you think has been the greatest negative impact of the silicon chip on society?
• Do you think that, in the future, the impact of the silicon chip on society will be positive or negative? Why?
• Could you live without these 'silicon life-forms'? If not, why not?
• How many 'silicon life-forms' do you think you come into contact with on an average day? What are they?
• Do you know of any really good "chips in society" web-sites? If so, where are they ;-)?
• Anything else you can think of!

[I know some/all of these questions are probably too reminiscent of exam questions for my students liking but rest assured they won't come up in any of my exams this year ;-)]

Like the [BCS Talk] BCS Glasgow Branch Talk - 6th December 1999... I'll be putting up my presentation on the web after the event. I'll try not to re-use too much of the old stuff!

Many thanks,

Duncan

PS If you are reading this on Duncan's Jotter then please just reply to this message there or, if you'd prefer, just e-mail me. Thanks

PPS If there are a couple of students that would like to 'volunteer' to help me take over some of the historical artefacts and set up at about 5:30pm on the day then please let me know. Thanks again.