Transportation Technology for Humanity [Editor's Column]

While composing this summer issue of the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Magazine the world is following the catastrophic events in Japan that make me deeply concerned for the local population. Among them are highly respected colleagues from our society and many personal friends. These events also impose questions on whether technology is a blessing or a curse to humanity. In some countries, including my own, discussions on the responsible technologies have been invoked and demands become aloud for replacing those technologies that jeopardize human life.