[sllug-members]: Encryption presentation

[R. F. Gregory]

SLLUG member Nelson H. F. Beebe will be presenting tomorrow evening at the 
Utah Computer Society/"Blue Chips" monthly meeting. Here's the announcement:

"Personal Information Security & Encryption" - This month the Utah Computer 
Society presentation is by University of Utah Professor Nelson Beebe. 
Wednesday, 11 October 2006, 7 PM, University of Utah, Engineering & Mines 
Classroom Building, 80 Central Campus Dr., Room 104. Free to the public. 
For access assistance: www.ucs.org, 582-7783 or 576-1891.

-- Rick Gregory, President, UCS
    rfg at csolutions.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract

		   Cryptography, Freedom, Democracy
		  How Basic Science Affects Everyone

To most people, research in basic science seems irrelevant, and
consequently, citizens, legislators, government funding agencies, and
corporations are disinclined to support it.

Nevertheless, basic science can have deep impacts on our lives.  This
talk examines two developments in basic science in the Twentieth
Century. The first of them, Albert Einstein's work in 1905, changed
the field of physics, and the course of history.  The second, the
invention of public-key cryptography in 1975, has important
consequences for privacy, freedom, and democracy.

Many of mankind's discoveries have potential for both good and bad.
The talk concludes with a discussion of some recent uses of technology
that pose the very serious risk of our complete loss of privacy,
freedom, and democracy.

			  Nelson H. F. Beebe
			  University of Utah
		  Department of Mathematics, 110 LCB
			155 S 1400 E RM 233
		    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0090
				USA
	      Email: beebe at math.utah.edu, beebe at acm.org,
		    beebe at computer.org (Internet)
	       WWW URL: http://www.math.utah.edu/~beebe
		      Telephone: +1 801 581 5254
			FAX: +1 801 581 4148