Excessive belief in computers has done far more than damage markets.
But there is widespread belief in the computer security industry that elliptic curve cryptography will inevitably become the main way data is secured.
"Privacy cannot be protected with technology alone, and yet we have enormous belief in our computer systems and all of the people who have access to them," Neumann said.
A belief in the wizardry of computers, in the idea that they can "know" enough about everyone in the land to predict each voter's politics, is fueling experiments, hopes, dreams and even many an expert's election-year income in this campaign season.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to have a degree in computer science, math or other STEM fields to get a job at a tech company.
One form of math denial is the belief in the ability to make computers that prevent copyright infringement.
Indeed, Kay's belief in the liberating potential of the computer for individual creativity resonates throughout Software Takes Command.
Borislav Agapiev has $50,000 in computer hardware, 25 engineers in his native Serbia and a firm belief that millions of people will lend him their computers and privacy for the purpose of searching the Web.
His belief in the convergence of geology and computers led him to an on campus interview with CompuServe, and the rest, as they say, is history.
