DeMarco in Forbes: Backlash Against IT

Tom DeMarco, in a commentary published in Forbes, recently
decried the continuing debate on the importance of IT --
asserting that IT is suffering a backlash:

". . . almost from the beginnings of our industry, we have endured
a series of backlashes that have only increased in virulence. We
have been abused as geeks, as illiterate incompetents, as unsocial
and mindless technobots, as purveyors of an arrogant cult of the
machine, as merciless automators of decent people's jobs. . . .

"IT is extremely threatening to a segment of our society that is
not technically savvy. We've known this all along and gone to some
lengths to calm the fears of people in this group. But those we
haven't reached -- after nearly 30 years of trying -- are extremely
resistant and more threatened than ever. . . . Sensationalist anti-IT
articles pander to them. And these people are not powerless.
Many of them are in our corporate boardrooms and upper echelons."

Read Tom's article in Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2007/07/12/demarco-tech-geeks-oped-cx_tdm_071
1demarco.html

Read more on this theme in Tom's collection of essays,
WHY DOES SOFTWARE COST SO MUCH?:
http://www.dorsethouse.com/books/wds.html

THE AREMAC PROJECT Featured on Sci-Fi Lists

Peter Sykes recently reviewed Gerald M. Weinberg's new
sci-fi techno-thriller, THE AREMAC PROJECT, on his top-ranked
Sci-Fi Lists site: http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/

"Computer hall of famer Jerry Weinberg proves a natural at
writing sci-fi in this breakneck techno-thriller.
"The FBI gets interested when grad students Tess Myers and
the nerdy but somewhat brilliant Roger Fixman develop a machine
that can take snapshots of memories. As an interrogation device it
may be the vital component in combating terrorists threatening
Chicago's famous landmarks.
"With double-dealing agents, atypical terrorists and a dash of
humour Weinberg's proficiency in physics and communication
sciences comes to the fore. As with all good thrillers readers
are kept guessing for a while until it comes time to sit back,
hold on and enjoy the final run home.
"The novel is divided into ninety chapters averaging about four
pages each. This makes for a feast of ideas that come at a pace
that is sure to keep the pages turning." -- Peter Sykes

Visit Peter Sykes' Sci-Fi Lists site:
http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/

Read more about THE AREMAC PROJECT and download the
first five chapters: http://www.littlewestpress.com

Adrian Nikolas Phoenix on THE AREMAC PROJECT

Author Adrian Nikolas Phoenix recently reviewed
Gerald M. Weinberg's new sci-fi techno-thriller:

"I enjoyed THE AREMAC PROJECT. It was original and compelling
with vivid details and memorable characters -- characters I cared
about. It was one of those books that kept me turning the pages
late at night when I should be sleeping."
-- Adrian Nikolas Phoenix
author of A RUSH OF WINGS (Pocket/Simon and Schuster)

Read more about THE AREMAC PROJECT and download the
first five chapters: http://www.littlewestpress.com