I have always been fascinated by computers. Like all of you here, I was first introduced to computers through films such as “Lost In Space, Star Trek and the epochal 1999:A Space Odyssey. Also through books with visionary science fiction writers like Issac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury.
I marvelled at Asimov’s robots and computers but never believed that a computer at every home would become a reality. I thought the only way to interact with computers was to study computer science. Now, computers are available to be hooked up to every home. I say computers in the purest sense of the word, because the computing power of our typical average computer processor at home is now more powerful than the most powerful mainframe computers in the 1970s.
More importantly, computers are getting not only more powerful but also cheaper. Never in the history of mankind has a technology advanced so rapidly and yet so inversely. The more powerful the technology or data processing power of computers, the cheaper it becomes. For the same computing power now, costs less than 1% what it costs in the 1970s. And getting cheaper with network computers through the Internet.
We are witnessing something bigger than a paradigm shift, the advent of a new era and revolution that has the word “Information” in front of it. Because computer data processing is now so powerful and available so cheaply, we can not do without it to survive this modern world. Every aspect of our lives will have to involve computers, be it socially, culturally, commercially, educationally and even politically. It is like the discovery of fire by primitive man.
IT is it.
Hidden behind such technological progress and reduced cost is another important development that has escaped the attention of the masses. Simplicity and ease of use.
Computers are surprisingly simple to use. One does not have to be an expert in languages like English(English rules of grammar does not apply on our terminals). One does not even have to be an expert typist- one finger will do. The software programmes are now so user-friendly that most applications can be done by just clicking the mouse.
All is required is a curiosity and a willingness to try out something new. There are many instances of computers used by people with only a basic education that enriches not only their wealth but also their lives. However such instances are not common because of computer phobia- the paranoid fear and irrational hostility towards computers.
Everyone will agree with you the importance of information technology and computers. They know that software and computers have made the 42-year old Bill Gates from a Harvard dropout 22 years ago, without a penny or a house to his name, to become the wealthiest man in the world. Again never in the history of our modern world has anyone become the richest man in such a short space of time. This is “Computer Knowledge Is Power” in its most brutal sense and purest form.
Despite that, many fear and hate computers even refuse to have anything to do with them. For those above thirties like myself, we are in transition. We were not exposed to computers until late in life. Our minds are not so supple and fingers not that nimble. It is that much harder to learn a new technology. Such computer phobia is understandable. But unacceptable because it stands in the way of human progress.
To really introduce IT to all sections of society, we must therefore explode the myth of computer phobia - its difficulty. And increase awareness not only that computers are simple to use but the benefits will far outweigh all the time and effort learning it.
The Information Revolution is said to begin with the Windows 3.0 launch in 1990 when Microsoft begin to fulfill its vision of “A computer desktop at every home running Microsoft software”. This software’s popularity, apart from bringing down the IBM giant, also helped increase the number of personal computers. The second step came with Marc Andresson’s Netscape browser in 1992 that opened up INTERNET to the world, not only limited to scientists and academics. Internet has really made our world without borders and into a global village.
We are living in an information society hoping to benefit fully from information and communication technologies(abbreviated to IT). That is why it is important that IT is not owned or controlled by any one individual or group - it MUST belong to all.
IT can only belong to all if it is fully accessible, cheap and available to all. In other words there must be democracy in IT, where any monopoly and restrictions must be banned. For us to fully benefit from IT, we must be logged on to the Internet. The number of Internet users in Malaysia has been reported to be 150,000. This represents 0.75% of the approximately 20 million population in Malaysia. This number is still low when compared to the 13% in the West such as United Kingdom.
To increase the use of IT to higher levels, we should have a mission as follows: · raise awareness of IT amongst people who currently do not use, or feel unconfident about them; · demonstrate the real benefits of different technologies to people in everyday life; · break down barriers for people to join the Information Society; · encourage people to help build the Information Society; and · expand the market for Malaysian companies through better awareness of IT.
The Government’s Multimedia Super Corridor(MSC) is a step in the right direction. However it is not the final step merely one of many steps. The Government is providing the physical hardware. The most difficult part is ensuring that software will follow. Without software, computers will just be dumb machines.
There are valid concerns that the Government may not be up to this more difficult challenge of attracting the best minds with full commitment to the MSC. The MSC can only attract the best and the brightest with the right policies that stresses on merits and equal opportunities. For this reason, I wish to call on the Government to ensure that MSC is run on a meritrocratic basis not on preferential treatment or quotas. Success can not be guaranteed even on a system of merits, but failure is certain if the Government continues its short-sighted policies of quotas.
Secondly, the Government must ensure that there are no cronyism, low entry costs and if possible no barriers of entry to the IT industry. New companies should not be prevented by tactics of established firms from entering the IT industry to encourage diversity and competition. Government regulation should be limited to ensure that no party can gets an unfair advantage not because of their technical know-how but because of their technical know-who.
The Information Society will not only improve our quantity but also our quality of work. For instance letters are typed much faster, error-free and with a better print quality. The proposed “paperless government” in September where the public can renew licenses and pay parking fines or passport fees is another example of changes brought forth by IT.
Another aspect of how electronic government can affect our lives is the possibility of working from our homes without having to leave to go to office. This will have an important impact on society, especially with the concern over youth problems such as missing girls, vice, drugs and boh sia. With parents able to work at home, they will be able to monitor, guide and give attention to their kids and not leave such parental duties to their maids.
Apart from giving busy parents with busy careers a chance to know and bring up their children, the coming IT revolution can also revolutionise the lives of housewives. Housewives are the most unappreciated of productive workers, not only because their contribution towards maintaining a stable family go unrecognised but also because they are unable to realise their full potential. With the IT revolution, they can escape the drudgery of housework and reach out to the world from their homes, learn new things and even involve in business.
Apart from work, IT is all-encompassing in study and leisure. Distance learning can be done from the comfort of our homes. Students can do research and and find out the books they want from the “libraries” in the Internet. But more is yet to come. Our future home is to be so technologically intelligent that we can even speak to it. Our house will be able to perform certain functions when it hears our speech patterns such as opening or locking doors.
IT is bringing about a revolution in art and publishing. A whole series of encyclopedias can now be accessed in one Compact Disk. Apart from digital art, classic works of arts form Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh are not excepted. For instance, Bill Gates is building his new home which allows him to view any work of arts placed in museums throughout the world, but hooked to his home at the touch of a button.
Even computer jargon like bandwith(intelligence), processing power(able to analyse and think quickly), drilling down(going down to details) and multitasking(doing many things at one time) will become part of our language. There is of course the criticism of the Internet and IT such as:-
These criticisms are valid but we will find ways to control them. As the late Chinese leader Deng Xiao Peng said when responding to critics of change, reform and opening up China to the outside world, “ If you want to open the door, you must expect some flies will come in”. We can not expect to be cut off from the modern world. The flies will come in, but the benefits will far outweigh the costs. After all flies have never killed off mankind or prevented our progress.
Raymond Kurzweil wrote in his book, “The Age of Intelligent Machines”, The first Industrial Revolution was characterized by machines that extended, multiplied and leveraged our physical abilities. The second industrial revolution... is based on machines that extend, multiply and leverage not our physical abilities but our mental abilities.
The Government must ensure that the ordinary people are not left out in this IT revolution. It is therefore important if the people wants to fully benefit from IT and MSC, they must know how to use these facilities and that the facilities are also readily available and accessible to all. The people must be made aware, educated if necessary, on the opportunities, benefits and importance of IT. Success of the MSC will only be measured by how much the people utilise and benefit from it.
To paraphrase from Star Wars, “May The MSC Be With You”.