Dr. Richard Tanaka served as IFIP President from 1974 to 1977.

R. Tanaka: The time span of my comments might overlap the boundaries of my term as President, since I worked closely with both my predecessor and successor, Heinz Zemanek and Pierre Bobillier. We inherit, we enhance, and then hand onward, so that achievements often become stepping stones. We had a memorable Toronto Congress in spite of an airline strike and a potentially disruptive political demonstration aimed at one of our members. Medinfo was successful, even though we had to replace the conference's management late in the planning cycle. We had increases in the level and span of TC and WG events, re-staffed the Geneva Secretariat, and measurably improved financial and administrative processes. These all moved IFIP to a better level, but, as with the technology itself, results, however noteworthy and useful, are briefly noted and then overtaken by later developments.

But, there is a more enduring record, shared by all -- IFIP's success in dealing with the tensions of the Cold War. IFIP was uniquely positioned to provide a common meeting ground for East and West. Every event in which all sides could participate carried underlying importance. A GA or Council meeting - in Tashkent or Dresden, in London or Tokyo - attended freely by a high percentage of delegates, was special. Every TC or WG event in one of the Socialist countries, held with relatively unrestricted access, was special. Every Congress, wherever held, for reasons of diversified attendance, was special. Personally, I felt some additional obligations, since I was also the U.S. delegate. While there were moments of pressure from various sources, plus the perennially unpredictable and capricious visa problems, IFIP continued to maintain a balanced posture respected by all.

Also, without slighting any of the considerable achievements of the other TCs, there was at least one event that I believe has unique and lasting significance. TC-6's charter encompassed various aspects of global communications, with digital technology as a foundation. However, for national and political reasons, defining a universal system would not have been practical. So, at the time, I understood that TC-6 might work to define interface requirements so that systems in one country could communicate with those of another.

However, the TC-6 experts pointed the way to a better solution. A TC-6 meeting in South Africa featured a first-time-ever demonstration, based on the Arpanet, of the possibilities of an open, global network. (Recall that the Arpanet was then being used primarily by universities and the U.S. defense establishment.) At a subsequent TC-6 meeting in Brazil, a similar but improved linkage was demonstrated.

Using a combination of land lines and satellite transmission, with linkages to two or three universities in the USA acting as hubs, the demonstration incorporated technological concepts which were the precursor of the Internet. It's likely that not everyone understood, at the time, the significance of what was being demonstrated.

R. Tanaka: Working with IFIP was truly a worthwhile experience, not only because of the idealistic principles underlying IFIP, but for the joy and privilege of working with outstanding individuals. So, naturally, my interest survives. However, many past WG, TC and, indeed, even GA members have probably drifted away. Even though the excellent work of the Secretariat keeps me effectively updated, perhaps not everyone has the resources available to past presidents and honorary members. Perhaps there are ways of maintaining linkages with the experience and talent embodied in the entity of past participants without compromising the ability of current participants to control and be responsible for the contemporary work of IFIP. Even something as simple as providing, at each Congress, a meeting place for past IFIP participants might re-establish some contacts.

The Delivery Co.: Are there any specific issues you find important for IFIP to address?

R. Tanaka: An important area of focus at the time was on the developing countries. I'm assuming that that's still true today. We operated with a certain level of naiveté, on the assumption that information technology would help solve some of the economic problems of these countries. The task was large, the progress slow. We traveled frequently to Unesco in Paris to try to get funding for conferences and seminars, and to distant and sometimes uncomfortable locations to help stage them. Results, yes, but nowhere near the level of resources needed.

Helping the developing countries is no less challenging than it was in the past. But, with inexpensive PCs and Internet access, the tools today are much better. Unchanged is the fact that IFIP has access to the right kinds of technical experts. The sheer size of the task still defies a full solution, but I believe that IFIP must continue to keep this issue high on its agenda.

R. Tanaka: After my active years with IFIP, I was Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman of four computer-related corporations -- one at a time, of course -- sometimes in the context of a "turn around", a euphemism for getting a company back onto a profitable growth path. After the last of these positions, I planned to retire, but that plan gradually evolved into one where I've become active as a member of Boards of Directors. Currently, I am on four Boards of companies pursuing markets as widely diverse as broadband telecommunications, high-resolution optical lithography, software services, and Internet-driven company management. Two other Board positions happily disappeared when the companies were acquired, one by a French software company, and the other by Microsoft. These Directorships allow me to work with experts who easily know much more about today's technology than I do, and whose knowledge and expertise help keep me abreast of current developments.

As for hobbies, along with some minimal outdoor activities and keeping a couple of PCs updated, my latest project is to scan and transfer my large assortment of 35 mm slides onto CDs. Eventually, I'll find some of the pictures that Heinz Zemanek needed for IFIP's historical records. Many of my photographs are the result of trips engendered by IFIP meetings, to places where business interests would never have taken me. For that, I am grateful.