Introduction trends in research and development in 1958

In order to facilitate the preparation of an introduction to the Digest it is customary to request a summary from each of the authors. The response to these requests is reflected in this introduction. For the most part, the summaries which were prepared by the various authors described the significant achievements which were reported in their respective areas during the year. In each case, however, certain general remarks were included, and the similarity in these general remarks is so striking that they merit special mention.