Technology opportunities and challenges

Abstract

The Global War on Terrorism represents a crossroads of globalization, radicalization, and technology. Ultimately, successful counter-terrorism operations begin at home and with human capability. Natural threats have plagued human populations throughout the course of time. Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases coupled with the emergence of technologic capabilities, global information access, and terrorist motivations have converted the natural course of infectious disease emergence and virulence. The earliest recorded epidemics of bubonic plague and smallpox more than 2,500 years ago, and the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu, though naturally occurring events, shaped the course of history as does the recurrent threat of global terrorism. We now recognize the potential of unnatural scalability when measured in human effects and counter-measures capabilities necessary to effectively mitigate these threats. Technology growth begets technology growth and the potential opportunities to enhance society. However, we must be prepared as a global medical community to contain or eradicate these broad health threats, which could affect national and international security, stability, and even the future of civilization. © 2009 Springer New York.