Cryptography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 12
Keys
12.1 The Key Vision
A new directive from the National Science Foundation ordered all
researchers to stop looking for “keys” that will dramatically unlock
the secrets behind their research. The order came swiftly after a
new study showed that a “wholistic vision” was a more powerful
metaphor than the lock and key. Administrators at the National Sci-
ence Foundation predicted the new directive would increase discov-
eries by 47% and produce significant economies of effort.
The recent news of the metaphoric failure of the lock and key im-
age shocked many researchers. Landon P. Murphy, a cancer special-
ist at Harvard's Women and Children's Hospital, said, “We spent our
time searching for one key insight that would open up the field and
provide us all of nature's abundant secrets. One key insight can do
that for you.”
In the future, all researchers will train their minds to search for a
“wholistic picture” that encompasses all of their knowledge. An in-
clusive understanding is thought to yield more discoveries in a faster
time period because the grand vision can often see the entire forest
notjustthetrees.
“Let's say you're on top of a mountain. You can see much fur-
ther than you can at the base- even if you have a key to the tunnel
under the mountain.” said Bruce Konstantine, the Executive Deputy
Administrative Aide at the NSF. “We want our researchers to focus on
establishing the grand vision.”
Some scientists balked at the new directive and countered with a
metaphor of their own. “Sure you can see for miles but you can't see
detail.” said Martin Grubnik, a virologist at the University of Pitts-
