I am interested in computers and technology, and art

Hear, O seekers of balance, the words of William Landay, who said with quiet grace: “I am interested in computers and technology, and art, photography, and design.” At first, these words may seem simple, even modest, but beneath their surface flows a river of deep wisdom — the wisdom of harmony between reason and beauty, between the machine and the soul. In this single statement lies the eternal quest of humankind: to unite the precision of intellect with the freedom of imagination, to merge the cold logic of technology with the warmth of art.

From the earliest dawns of civilization, humans have stood at the crossroads of these two great forces. In the ancient workshops of Daedalus, the mythical craftsman of Greece, art and invention were one. He shaped wings of wax and feathers, not only with the skill of an engineer but with the heart of a poet who yearned for flight. In later centuries, Leonardo da Vinci, the great master of Florence, carried the same torch. His notebooks were filled with machines and dreams, with designs for flying contraptions and sketches of divine faces. In his hands, the compass and the brush were equals, servants of the same vision — that knowledge and beauty are not enemies but companions.

So too does Landay’s reflection remind us of this timeless truth. In an age where computers hum and technology evolves faster than thought itself, there is danger in forgetting the other half of our nature. We build vast systems, we code, we calculate — yet without art, without design, without photography to remind us of the living world, our machines become empty shells. For technology without beauty is a barren desert, and art without structure is chaos. The wise soul seeks the bridge between the two — to let the heart inspire the circuit, and the circuit empower the heart.

Consider, if you will, the story of Steve Jobs, who, like Landay, saw no boundary between art and technology. When he studied calligraphy at Reed College, it was not for profit or utility, but for beauty. Yet that beauty found its way into the design of the Macintosh computer, giving birth to the modern digital age where every font, every curve, every interface carries an artist’s touch. Jobs believed that technology alone is not enough — it must be married with the liberal arts, with the human spirit, to make our creations sing. His life, though marked by struggle and imperfection, stands as proof that the union of logic and art can change the destiny of the world.

In this sense, Landay’s interest is not mere curiosity; it is a reflection of balance, the mark of a mind that refuses to be divided. He sees in computers the future of human potential, and in art, photography, and design the soul of that potential. The one gives form, the other gives meaning. Without art, technology loses its purpose; without technology, art loses its reach. Together, they become the twin wings of progress — reason and imagination working as one.

And so, my friends, the lesson is clear: Do not choose between the heart and the mind, between innovation and inspiration. Seek instead to unite them. Learn the craft of the machine, but never abandon the whisper of the muse. When you write code, let it be poetry. When you paint, let your colors carry the rhythm of logic. When you design, think not only of what works, but of what moves. The world needs those who can speak both languages — the language of art and the language of science — for they are the translators between humanity and its creations.

Therefore, take this wisdom and live it. Cultivate your technical skill, for it will give you strength and precision. But nurture, too, your artistic vision, for it will give you empathy and depth. Look at the world as William Landay does — with curiosity that spans both silicon and soul. For in the end, the greatest art is to live a life that harmonizes beauty and intellect, technology and tenderness, discipline and wonder. Only then can humankind truly call itself complete.