Thursday, May 8, 2008

Grad School

It has been pointed out to me that I don't write enough, so I've started this Blog. There were several options, but I chose this format, because it is hosted from a neutral location, is open to the public without need for membership or registration, and is easy to use. I have applied to and been accepted to Graduate School at Purdue University Calumet, and will be pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Technology. What follows is the main part of my purpose statement from my application:

In the past twenty years, information technology has moved from the domain of the ultra-specialized to a commonplace feature of daily life. Because of this integration into all aspects of our society, we must be aware, not only of the benefits technology provides, but also the danger it poses. I believe that it is critical to understand not only the technical means by which both state and non-state actors may execute attacks using information technology, but also the social impact these actions may have, in order to appropriately mitigate and respond.

To this end, I would like to continue my study of information technology, focusing on the methods used to assure the security of data. I would also like to examine the social impact of technology on the global society. I believe that this combined approach to my education will allow me to positively contribute to national security initiatives and provides the potential for contributions to the overall body of knowledge in this area. 

So, basically, I've identified two areas, society and information security, and combined them in the context of "cyber-warfare". What I need however, is a question. What is it that I want to prove, or solve? It's not a question that needs to be answered right away, but it is something I need to think about.