A question to ponder: are we as humans pre-programmed to "follow in our father's footsteps?" Is there something inherent in our heritage? Do we repeat what our forefathers and mothers did? And if so, can we apply these inherited cross-generational learning methods as we invent the next generations of intelligent systems? Rather than creating AI that is artificial and intended to replace human work, can we create intelligent systems that AUGMENT the human's work and support him or her? Can we invent intelligent systems that learn and improve themselves with the mind of creating betterment for all humans as well? Erik Bjontegard left Norway when he was 18 to study in the UK, then moved on to California. Not realizing until later in life, his actions and behavior, his quests for new discoveries, and his desire to invent followed his father and grandfather on his mother's side. Now an accomplished inventor, former NASA rocket scientist, deep sea robotics, and submarine explorer, he is now navigating the new Phygital realms connecting the physical and digital. In this engaging and inspiring autobiography, Bernt" Erik" Bjontegard narrates his life filled with the stories of his grandparents' sacrifices during WWII, his own mistakes and discoveries, and poses important questions on how to engage the readers and their families to assist in creating and inventing better human-technology interfaces. Learning from his history, he is embarking on the journey to make his tomorrow better than today.
