technology

Tony wants to know what are five of Leo's favorite books on Technology. Leo says that the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson is excellent. There's also a book called "Hackers" by Steven Levy, the early days of MIT Computer Hackers, who created modern computing. "The Soul of a New Machine" by Tracy Kidder, the creation of the microcomputer gives you the roots. "Microcosm" by George Gilder, tells about how microprocessors have changed the world as rapidly as it has. "The Weapons of Math Destruction" by Cathy O'Neil.

Dwayne wants to know what we can do to avoid being overly reliant on China to build everything. Leo says that for years, the world, and the US specifically, has looked at China as the manufacturer of the world. But that kind of overreliance can be problematic when relationships become strained like it did when the US started requiring tariffs. Companies like Apple are now looking to move their manufacturing to other countries, even back to the US. Diversity is a good hedge against overreliance.

Jeff doesn't understand the obsession with privacy and how skittish people are with technology and its privacy issues. Leo says that the real issue is how far-reaching technology is in violating privacy and the potential hazard of being misidentified. The question is, how far down the rabbit hole will it lead us?

Bob is a computer guy and he has no patience with people who want to learn computers. Leo says it helps to remember when he was just starting out. Somebody took the time to teach him, so he should pay it forward. Community colleges are also a good way to learn. Local extension courses, user groups, etc. There are plenty of options out there.

Josh would like to educate himself on consumer electronics and technology. Leo says that tablets and mobile have really moved into the game, even in the corporate arena, where Bring Your Own Devices is a thing now. Voice technologies like the Amazon Echo and Google Assistant are really hitting the mainstream, and with that, so is home automation. Drones are also big. And looking over the horizon, AI is going to be big.