"A nation is never finished.... It has to be recreated for each new generation."--John Gardner
"Power and Progress in the Mechanical Age" was painted in 1939--at the threshold of World War II. Once again the entire globe is in a state of transition with the ending of the Cold War. As we momentarily poise to meet whatever challenges await, scientists and engineers anticipate new needs. Just as in the Mechanical Age, engineering will be a major player.
Some "hot" innovations in the experimental aspects of engineering, such as nanolithography and multimedia in the laboratory, are just two examples of the current generation's technological advancements. Computational mechanics offers further potential.
Today's world is keenly aware of the environment, and high-performance computing is providing solutions. Through its unique capabilities in processing large datasets, HPCC aids in the development of more efficient engines and in the understanding of the Earth's complex systems.
Virtual reality, a 21st century technology, is being employed by award-winning design engineers at Caterpillar, an NCSA industrial partner, to develop better field machines.
NCSA is enabling students to learn real science via networking and special software. A new section, "new technology", begins in this issue. Additions to NCSA's resources, including new hardware (such as the HP-Convex cluster) and software (such as NCSA Mosaic and Fractal Microscope), will be featured in this department, as will updates on existing hardware (such as the CM-5) and software.
--Fran Bond, Editor