2 On The Usefulness of Hard Problems

As you probably already know, there is an active discussion going o n i n forums ranging from lunch-table conversations to workshops on "strategic directions" to formal r epo r t s l r ega rd ing the future of theoret ical computer science. Since your complexity columnist does not know The Answer, I 've asked a number of people to contr ibute their comments on the narrower issue of the future of complexity theory. The only ground rule was a loose 1-page limit; each contr ibutor could choose what aspect(s) of the future to address, and the way in which to address them. The first instal lment of contributions appears in this issue, and one or two more installments will appear among the next few issues. Also coming during the next few issues: the search for the perfect theory journal , and (for the sharp-eyed) Lance Fortnow dons a clown suit. Finally, let me mention tha t work of Russell Impagliazzo resolves one of the open questions from Complexity Theory Column 11.2