THE PUBLIC MIND: BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE CAN GIVE PROBLEMS, TOO

Dear Editor:

IBM

There's a story somewhere, I don't recall the exact origin, that a fellow by the name of, say, Thomas Watson, or something like that, once worked for NCR Corporation (back when it was still "The National Cash Register Co.").

Legend has it that he went to the president of the company, a Mr. Patterson, and told him he wanted to do some research on a thing called a "computer." Mr. Patterson said something to the effect that, "We build Cash Registers here, Mr. Watson!"

Being a man of imagination, vision, and tenacity, Mr. Watson left Mr. Patterson's Company, teamed up with some other folks interested in producing an improved version of a computing machine (the original, designed in the 1800's, was entirely mechanical), and founded International Business Machines.

Ah, the woes of being too conservative!

Gary Droit

Jackson