Maguel de Icaza: Free software benefits
people, countries and companies by giving them complete control of the software
on which they depend. This is helping close the digital divide between developed
and underdeveloped countries. People who previously might never have had access
to this sort of technology arc already leading the efforts to bring it to the
developing world. Free software is the foundation on which a fairer future and a
more efficient economy is being built. Austin
Hill: Welcome to the future. Your mobile phone tracks your
location, your interactive TV records your viewing habits. Privacy is to the
information age what environmentalism. was to the industrial age. Businesses
will protect themselves, and their customers, by introducing privacy-promoting
technologies and building bet tar data controls into every aspect of their
operation. A leading class of privacy protectors will emerge in every industry,
and both they and their customers will reap the rewards of the ethical privacy
brand. Ng Ede Phang: This will be the
year that plain old text e-mail sits up and starts talking -- and talking a lot.
The human voice is a powerful weapon. An e-mail doesn’t tell me whether you’re
happy, sad or excited, whereas Internet voice services provide all these key
emotional characteristics. The human voice adds a very powerful element to
business relationships that e-marl just cannot match. Murray
Goldman: For those of us who live on airplanes, a key
decision is which electronic devices to carry on a trip. The future is in the
appropriate combination of communications and computing devices. Many business
travelers will require the full computing power of a personal computer, with a
screen large enough to do intensive work. As a result, lightweight notebooks
have been introduced to the market with innovative options such as built-in
DVDs, cameras anti wireless capabilities. Christine
Karman: We’ll see agents on portals and community websites
helping people trade goods and information. Venture capitalists are shifting
from dotcoms to software and hardware companies. In Europe, that shift is hard
to make because we don’t have a Silicon Valley from which lots of companies are
conquering the world. As a consequence, the slowly emerging Internet and
software industry in Europe may not survive. If I were starting a new software
company now, I’d go to California or Boston. Now match each
of the persons (61 to 65) to the appropriate statement. Note:
there are two extra statements. Statements [A] Business
travelers will set the trend of future computer market.. [B] Europe will
catch up with America in the hi-tech industry. [C] Privacy needs special
protection in the information age. [D] Voice e-mail adds a human touch to
online communication. [E] Compactnese and multi-function will be a trend in
the future market. [F] Free software helps bring about digital
equality. [G] The digital divide between Europe and the US may widen. Maguel de Icaza