I enjoy solving problems. Indeed, it forms a central part of my professional business and of my personal identity. Hence, I spend a significant proportion of my time getting ‘stuck’ or simply being confused. In the past, my technology was a pencil and paper, together with algebra, calculus and where necessary tables of integrals and special functions. Currently, when I am stuck I usually reach for more contemporary technology such as the dynamic environment of GeoGebra, or a computer algebra system (CAS). This is what I mean when I talk about ‘technology’. Communications and collaboration, data capture, online journal access, internet search and storage technology are key components of my practice but I don’t comment on these here.
“You don’t need to understand how the car works to drive it.”
Indeed not. But you drive the car on a very carefully prepared surface! Certainly, the difficulties of using the technology should be reduced through good design. However, the ground on which you drive your car is relatively simple, and all the hazards, e.g. low bridges, are clearly sign-posted. When you travel to parts of the world where standards are different you find a lot more accidents...
I enjoy solving problems. Indeed, it forms a central part of my professional business and of my personal identity. Hence, I spend a significant proportion of my time getting ‘stuck’ or simply being confused. In the past, my technology was a pencil and paper, together with algebra, calculus and where necessary tables of integrals and special functions. Currently, when I am stuck I usually reach for more contemporary technology such as the dynamic environment of GeoGebra, or a computer algebra system (CAS). This is what I mean when I talk about ‘technology’. Communications and collaboration, data capture, online journal access, internet search and storage technology are key components of my practice but I don’t comment on these here.
“You don’t need to understand how the car works to drive it.”
Indeed not. But you drive the car on a very carefully prepared surface! Certainly, the difficulties of using the technology should be reduced through good design. However, the ground on which you drive your car is relatively simple, and all the hazards, e.g. low bridges, are clearly sign-posted. When you travel to parts of the world where standards are different you find a lot more accidents...
