bookreport

In his book, The Road Ahead, I found that Bill Gates has an intelligence that I did not expect. I knew that he was brilliant, a visionary, a pioneer of the industry. However, what I did not know was that he has a talent for explaining his creativity. Instead of all his futuristic ideas existing on some sort of intangible realm in "computer geek language", his ideas appear to be so simple that one wonders why they didn't think of it. The beginning of the book is dedicated to a bit of computer history. There is the familiar story of how he started Microsoft and built his first primitive PC, but he moves into the realm of the possible quite quickly. And, what a world it could be!

     According to Gates, companies had failed to grasp the trends that occurred in technology. They had failed to realize that technology was not mere tools of expression, but also tools of communication. For example, he explains how Wang Systmes had once been able to predict and capitalize on the fluctuations in the market; but then failed to see how text-based instruments wouldn't survive in the new market. Wang did not realize that new appliances and equipment were going to make things more efficient and expressive.

     This failure does not limit itself to lack of effort, but also extends to companies that overextend themselves into a false pocket of productivity. The Internet boom hit and the first to try and capitalize on this event were the telephone companies. They erroneously believed that they would be able to outfit almost every home in America with fiber optic lines and revamp the infrastructure int he US by the year 2000. Then, the real value of such an operation was found to be close to $120 billion. Another example, is how Internet search companies have cropped up everywhere, basing themselves on the YAHOO.com and Altavista.com principles and systems of operation. But given this past year on the market and the promise they represented, they were found to deliver the sin of information overload. They were completely unable to disseminate their information down and therefore drowned in their long lists of unrelated data. Gates believes that these setbacks are a dirct result of companies failing realize what is needed in the current trends of technology.

    "The Internet is a precursor of the ultimate global network." (p.103) Gates' vision is that the Internet will develop into a network that permeates every aspect of our lives. The Internet, as it is today is really just an offshoot of a program by the Department of Defense to see if they communicate in case of a nuclear war. However, the Internet is not set up to really deal with what we need today.

     First, there must be more bandwidth. This is the catch-phrase of the Millennium, in that we seem to not be able to think we can function unless we have more. However, when one realizes that there must be synergy between the TV, the PC, the Web, and other outlets that have not yet develped, we do need more speed. Gates ponders the need for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) where cells of information can travel up to 2 billion bits per second.

    Secondly, having ATM will enable us to integrate technology into all aspects of our lives. However, there must be the software to back ti up. "The interactive network's softward will have to make it almost infallibly easy to find to navigate, even when users don't know exactly what they're looking for." (p. 86) If we develop the software that makes speech recognition a reality, pair that with spatial navigation, and humanize computers, then access to information and needs will be as simple as a spoken word to an intercom in our kitchen.

     Thirdly, digitizing and compressiong vast amounts of information into a format for Web and personal use technologies is of major importance. Gates talks about the day when we become a fully documented society; where all information that could ever be possibly used is on computers. This contextualized information will enable us to access and use any and all sorts of information at the sound of a spoken word, thus speeding up and making business, medicine, research, all communication and elaboration efficient. This information will not only be accessible to a few, but to millions; thereby expanding capitalism and a better way of life.

     Most importantly, to me as an educator, is his thoughts on technology in the classroom. In no way does Gates believes that a credible work force will if they are not implemented. Children can no longer go through school learning what is required in the world outside the classroom, without having an intimate knowledge of computers and technology. "Edutainment" is not what he is striving for, but rather a way to tap into children's natural curiousities and embrace their cognitive skills. He sees PC's being adapted to every learning skill and style, expanding conceptes into broader topices, spring boarding the students into related elements, and enhancing their comprehension.

     At the onset of reading this book, I was not particularly interested in what Gates may or may have not said. However, at the end, I find that there is a stiffing of sorts in my mind about what is actually possible. Taking what he has said about the actual deliverance of information, I am able to picture being at hom, putting on VR glasses, walking into a spatial navigation of a town and getting all my errand done without moving from the chair. I can also picture being able to instantaneously pull my students to an actual play that is being done online, while in the classroom to enhance their reading. I am not sure that the infrastructure of the US will be able to develop as fast as the technology, but the bottom line is imagining the mere possibilites.