Making IT Better

Expanding Information Technology Research to Meet Society's Needs

Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309069915
eISBN Pdf: 9780309505031
eISBN Epub: 9780309172011
Place of publication: United States
Year of digital publication: 2000
Month: October
Pages: 270
Language: English

Caption

The flood of information technology (I.T.) products and services entering the market place often obscures the need to nurture the research enterprise. But as I.T. becomes integrated into all aspects of society, the need for research is even greater. And the range of issues that need to be addressed is broader than ever.

This new book highlights the fundamental importance of research to ensure that I.T. meets society's expanding needs. Against the background of dramatic change in the I.T. landscape, the committee examines four key questions:

Is the scope of I.T. research broad enough—particularly in the arena of large-scale systems—to address government, business, and social applications?
Are government and industrial sponsors providing sufficient funding for I.T. research?
Is the research net big both big and diverse enough to capture sufficient financial and intellectual resources to advance the field?
Are structures and mechanisms for funding and conducting research suited to the new sets of research challenges?