Alum stresses need to create the future

Saying he’s been called lucky – or an idiot savant of software development – Internet pioneer Gary Kunis ’73, retired chief science officer of Cisco Systems, understands why Binghamton University’s Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging Center (S3IP) is important and relevant.

Kunis brought a global perspective and knowledge of competition to the fore when he spoke at the S3IP annual dinner on Nov. 17 He reminded the audience that the Internet has become ubiquitous. “We’re entering a new age and it’s pervasive computing,” he said. “There’s no name for it yet, but systems integration and packaging and S3IP are sitting right at the heart of where IT technology is going.”

Kunis said that “phones are yesterday” and spoke about where the industry is going. Fifteen years from now, he said there will be three areas of focus: 1) Biomedical with computers in your body; 2) smart grids because we are not duct taping computers to our stoves but there are special needs and that’s where S3IP technology can help; and 3) personal convenience.

“Books are going away, but people still read,” he said. “There will be computer devices in clothing and equipment all for our ease of use. All this is most important in driving tomorrow’s economy.”

What does this mean for the Southern Tier and New York state? “This area has to build its own future,” he said. “You have to create your own future because you’re competing against people who are creating their own future.

“S3IP is very important and the work it does could and should be the core for this area to develop a technology regional center for the Northeast United States,” Kunis said. “It’s up to the people in this room to make it happen.”