From: mk_thisisit
Professor Andrzej Targowski, a pioneer of Polish computer science and recognized as one of the fathers of Polish teleinformatics in public administration, has developed his technological advancements and societal impact|technological philosophy through deeply traumatic personal experiences [01:20:00]. His work, including the creation of the PESEL system and the concept of an information highway predating the internet, is intrinsically linked to his empathetic view of human interaction with technology [07:35:00].
Personal Traumas and Their Influence
Professor Targowski recounts two significant attacks that shaped his perspective:
- Warsaw Uprising Attack In 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising, his house was targeted by German soldiers seeking to cut off support for AK (Home Army) soldiers [02:36:00]. During this assault, his nanny was killed while shielding him, saving his life [03:45:00]. His mother also survived a burst of machine gun fire [04:05:00]. This early experience, involving extreme violence and the loss of a loved one, instilled a profound understanding of vulnerability and the critical need for systems that protect and serve people.
- 1988 Attack in the Polish People’s Republic On November 22, 1988, Professor Targowski was the victim of a second attack, which he attributes to the Polish People’s Republic [00:22:00]. This occurred due to his political activism, including extensive writing in the Polish press and participation in broadcasts for Radio Free Europe and Voice of America [05:36:00]. One person was killed in this incident, and Professor Targowski sustained serious injuries, including a concussion and seven broken ribs, after being run over by a heavy car [06:04:00]. His life was saved by voluntarily wearing seatbelts [06:23:00].
These events have profoundly influenced Professor Targowski, leading him to advocate for a human-centric approach to technology. He states that computer science cannot attack customs; it must support a person [00:55:00].
Pioneering Technological Concepts with a Human Focus
Professor Targowski’s major contributions reflect his commitment to people-focused technology:
- PESEL System
- He is considered the “father of the Polish PESEL system” [10:30:00]. The PESEL system is a national population register, conceived as a fundamental number to count and distinguish people for the purpose of introducing social benefits, similar to how Social Security was introduced in the US in 1935 to alleviate economic crises [09:14:00].
- The concept, though not fully implemented in Poland as he envisioned, was designed to serve as a basis for information exchange between national systems and to focus on the individual [19:03:00].
- Information Highway / National IT System
- Eleven years before the internet became popularized, Professor Targowski developed a project for a fast internet information highway, later named “Highway” [01:42:00].
- His concept of a national IT system was born from observing and critically analyzing US computer systems, which he found “wasteful” with excessive reserves of capacity [15:29:00]. He aimed to achieve more with fewer computers by knowing precisely what was needed, focusing on efficiency and purpose [15:41:00]. This system was meant to be the basis for national information exchange [19:05:00].
- Digital City Project (Tele-City of Kalamazoo)
- Professor Targowski is recognized as the “father of one of the first digital cities in the history of the United States” [01:30:00].
- During a sabbatical in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he implemented a computing center and aimed to connect schools and integrate information systems, successfully securing significant funding [23:33:00]. This project demonstrates his practical efforts to bring technology directly to communities and people.
Views on Modern Technology and Education
Professor Targowski expresses concern about the current direction of technological advancements:
- Critique of Automation: He believes that current technological developments, especially the rise of artificial intelligence, increasingly “eliminate human work,” leading to a future where many people might be left without meaningful employment [28:00:00]. He asserts that computer science must support humans, not attack them, but currently, it attacks and eliminates [29:13:00].
- Education System Flaws: He criticizes Polish higher education for producing narrow specialists (programmers) rather than holistic “system designers” [20:43:00]. He advocates for “horizontal thinking”—a broad, contextual understanding of knowledge, contrasting it with “vertical thinking” which is highly specialized but lacks broader context [33:41:00]. This broader approach is crucial for innovation, as seen in how innovations often come from those outside a specific field [35:53:00].
- Importance of Wisdom: Professor Targowski concludes by emphasizing that “knowledge is not wisdom, but the ability to apply knowledge is wisdom” [01:05:00]. This highlights his belief that true value comes from the thoughtful and ethical application of technological understanding for the benefit of humanity.