From: mk_thisisit
Professor Andrzej Targowski, a pioneer of Polish computer science, is recognized as the father of one of the first digital cities in the history of the United States [00:01:30]. His work on this concept significantly predates the widespread popularization of the Internet [00:01:40].
The Kalamazoo Tele City Project
Professor Targowski implemented the concept of a digital city as part of the “Tele City of Kalamazoo” project [00:01:34], also referred to as “Kalamazoo City of Camu” or “Tele City of Kalamu” [00:22:29].
Location and Significance
The project was located in Kalamazoo, on the East Coast of the United States, near Chicago [00:22:37]. It is considered the first American digital project [00:22:49], developed in parallel with Chicago Online [00:22:55].
Implementation and Goals
Professor Targowski undertook this project during a sabbatical year, which is a paid leave granted to professors in America every six or seven years for focused project work [00:23:07]. He worked within the Kalamazoo City Hall, which employed 1000 people [00:23:37].
He established a computing center using his students [00:23:52]. A primary objective was to implement a form of the National IT System (KSI) infrastructure, a concept he had previously tried to implement in Poland without success [00:23:55]. Specifically, he aimed to connect schools [00:24:01].
The project received significant government funding, with Professor Targowski having approximately 3 million dollars in the budget [00:24:12]. However, project applications and calculations had to be done for free as they fell under scientific research, funded by government grants [00:24:27].
Public Engagement and Impact
As part of the initiative, Professor Targowski conducted courses on websites, introducing enterprises to the concept of having their own websites [00:24:53]. He noted that initially, people, including enterprise representatives, did not understand the concept of a website [00:24:59]. However, slow but steady adoption occurred [00:25:08]. Graduates of these courses later created private networks, with one even becoming a millionaire [00:25:14].
Comparison with Parallel Developments
While the Kalamazoo project was underway, “Chicago Online” was also being created [00:22:55]. From Chicago Online, “America Online” was later developed as a closed platform requiring a login and password for online calculations and services [00:25:52].
Professor Targowski’s Broader Contributions to Information Systems
Professor Targowski’s work on digital cities is part of his broader contributions to information systems and technological advancements.
The PESEL System
Professor Targowski is considered the father of the Polish PESEL system, a national information system with a PESEL area concept that has survived to this day, though not fully implemented [00:02:02], [00:15:50]. This system, drawing inspiration from similar concepts in the United States and France [00:13:07], was intended to serve as a basis for information exchange between national systems [00:19:05]. He proposed the PESEL system to the Minister of Internal Affairs [00:11:30].
Information Highway Concept
Eleven years before the Internet was popularized, Professor Targowski developed a project for a fast Internet information highway, later termed “Highway” [00:01:42], [00:02:07]. This concept was developed around 1972, while the Internet became popular around 1983 [00:16:40].
Strategic Informatics
Professor Targowski emphasizes that strategic informatics involves more than just applications and programming [00:26:12]. He believes that in a world of changing values, the constant elements are databases and data transmission networks, which form a stabilized infrastructure [00:27:10]. He critiques the current state where artificial intelligence is taking over programming, leading to a “dying profession” [00:20:59]. He argues that computer science should support, not attack, humans [00:29:09].
Philosophy on Knowledge and Wisdom
Professor Targowski concludes with an appeal for wisdom, stating that “knowledge is not wisdom, but the ability to apply knowledge is wisdom” [00:44:01]. He advocates for thinking both vertically (specialized knowledge) and horizontally (general knowledge and context) [00:33:41], believing that much innovation occurs at the intersections of fields [00:35:53].