2007/2/12 - I feel very fortunate to have worked in development of AFMs and SPMs since 1993.  Virgil Elings, founder of Digital Instruments (now owned by Veeco Metrology), hired me to help him with patent applications, contracts, etc.  I jumped at the chance to apply my physics and software background to this rapidly growing field that is helping the world in many ways.  Virgi's working example of a brilliant innovator and entrepreneur, along with his staff of brilliant scientists and engineers, taught me many lessons in innovation.  As a software developer I've been involved in numerous AFM products and features that were literally the first in the world.  And the adventure continues.  -- M. Kelley Harris mkh@silcom.com