The following interviews were taken early this week.  The reporter who questioned Grace is labeled below.

New York Times� Dan Gestine converses with Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper.

   How do you feel about the Mark I computer?

     I feel that it is a remarkable piece of machinery and needs to be handled with great care.  If we do not respect this computer our future will hold a lot less surprises in hand.  So far we already have worked out a whole new Data Processing language from it, which later led to us being able to invent and use COBOL.

   What about people who don�t want to use computers, that feel they�re too complicated and not worth their time since something could become damaged and lost?

     People like that just need to get used to the changes in life. Everything in life changes, with change we would never have evolved into human beings.  We would have no communication. With these new computers, the user friendly computers, we have a chance to reach out to the public and grab whoever is interested.  With the proper knowledge you could put good use into these machines and actually save time and money. 

   Well, how do you feel about preparing to retire?

      I�ve been called back to duty so many times that I�m starting to take it as a big vacation.  So far I have been offered a senior consultant spot at the Digital Equipment Corporation.  Since I�ve been working all my life I really got used to it, and having to change jobs and roles like when I had to teach Math.  Apparently I�m just well skilled all around. I�m actually looking forward to work at the Digital Equipment Corporation.  I�ve always been interested in digital equipment such as the computers and my earlier work.  I think they got the right girl to do the job, so I�m going to go give it my best.

 New York Times� Todd Martinez now chats with Admiral Hopper.

    Admiral Hopper, if a moth can fly into a computer and ruin the data that was being transmitted, then why is the Mark I so special?

     Well, that was actually the first case of a �bug� being found in a computer that caused a different affect then the suspected outcome.  Computers will never give you another question back, but sometimes the wrong answer.  I think once we open our eye�s and think out side the box then we will be able to make these computers useful.  They already can do simple math and allow you to take notes. 

   How do you feel about other people modifying your work or changing the way computers operate, like this new mouse?

     Well, first of all, I always was a fan of change. More change would cause more evolving. The more evolving would cause inventions. And the more inventions there are the more we learn..  If somebody else can do a better job then me I would like to watch them and learn how to do it, so I could go on and share it with others. As for the program/application sharing, I feel it is another grate way to save time and reduce errors.  We are currently hand writing the codes out, but it�s easier for the individual programmers so they could focus on their individual application problems. With this extra time we have we can make programs easier for the public to understand.

Copyright � 2004 Dan Gestine All rights reserved.