Featured in Five is a monthly section where we pose five questions to a Computing Reviews featured reviewer. Here are the responses from our December featured reviewer, Massimiliano Masi.
Q) What is the most important thing that's happened in computing in the past 10 years?
A) The information technology (IT)/Internet of Things (IoT)/operational technology (OT) convergence. With the advent of so many ubiquitous devices, we are able to give a sense of the physical world to our networks and algorithms that, along with the computing power given by today's cloud environment, could potentially change how we use software. However, this convergence lacks cybersecurity. So many devices are made without even basic cybersecurity measures and thus they can be easily compromised. Even in industrial control systems, this convergence should be seen as positive: for years those systems had a false sense of security since they were air gapped from the Internet, hindering the full exploitation of their potential. Now, since the context is well understood and cybersecurity standards exist, there is nothing that can block the full exploitation of industrial data from cloud computing’s potential.
Q) If you weren't working in the computer science field, what would you be doing instead?
A) Farming. Parts of my family were farming in the region of Chianti, in Italy, and I studied agriculture in high school. I quit agricultural studies because I got to know math and computer science, but I still work the field in my spare time.
Q) By the end of your career, where do you think computer science will have taken us? What are you working on that might contribute toward that?
A) Hard to say. I read Marc Andreessen’s “Why Software Is Eating the World” essay some years ago that stated that all human processes will soon be digitized. However, software contains bugs and bugs cause anomalies to those human processes. Computer scientists will drive us toward a set of techniques that can handle the complexity of maintaining the code implementing everyday activities. The democratization of formal methods, rigorous software architectures, and continuous awareness of how computer science is so pervasive will be the next big things. Recently I have been part of a team studying ways to formalize the design of new IT projects, by proposing a methodology that enables a rigorous procedure to attain security by design. We are continuously improving this methodology to make it as usable as possible.
Q) Who is your favorite historical figure? Why?
A) I would say Alan Turing. His studies helped to end World War II, saving so many lives and soldiers. Like many other students, I read his works at university. There I had a professor who was so passionate about him, who made me appreciate Turing's character.
Q) What is your favorite type of music?
A) Bossa nova! I love listening to the compositions of Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, Gilberto Gil, and all the Brazilians who were able to merge their roots with the jazz played in North America, which led to the creation of that unique sound. My favorite guitar player is Irio De Paula, a classical guitarist that I had the opportunity to see live in my hometown. Of course, hard rock from the 90s is also very good listening, which I like to play with my Fender Strat.
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Click here to read one of Massimiliano’s recent reviews.
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