Blog categorized as Information technology

An important aspect of the Enlightenment (from 1600 onward) was the concept that science and technology would usher in a new age of prosperity, peace and happiness. This philosophical revolution in the West was also strongly associated with the concept of the individual, as expressed in the United S...

Rob Vens
2026/05/01 18:10 - Comment(s)

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

New Year in The Netherlands has always had a problematic association for me because of an experience I had as a small child. My parents and I stayed at my grandmother's for the occasion, and I was put to bed on New Year's Eve being to young to be able to stay up.

At m...

Rob Vens
2020/05/16 16:42 - Comment(s)

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

My gosh, everyone is now writing about Digital Twins! I should be delighted, you'd assume. Someone within Gartner must have resonated with some article of mine from 20 or some years ago…

A few examples:

Rob Vens
2019/05/16 16:37 - Comment(s)

PETER BELANGER/INTEL

Intel’s Bold Plan to Reinvent Computer Memory (and Keep It a Secret)

Wired, March 2017
John von Neumann (during the Manhattan project, 1940-1945). Public domain, Link

We all read John von Neumann’s groundbreaking paper “First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC” back when it was p...

Rob Vens
2017/03/24 18:19 - Comment(s)

The main problem of the technological focus of computers is precisely that: that it is seen as a technology.

Because of that, technologically savvy people are attracted to it, and arising problems in all areas of life are discussed within a technological mindset.

Our current society is very much colou...

Rob Vens
2017/03/10 19:25 - Comment(s)