America's Technological Standstill
I read a distressing editorial in The Times this morning about our recent lack of advances in the area of technology compared to other countries. I work in the IT industry, and have felt like we weren't moving ahead as quickly in last few years as we had in the late 90's, but it was just a general feeling. This article seems to confirm this, but I was wondering (for any of you who work in or with technology) what your thoughts were. This is the article.
posted by Carolyn P @ 4/15/2005 11:09:00 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
This is something we've touched on in my Internet Policy class, specifically with respect to the use of broadband. While still in the top 10, the US is far down the list of countries in terms of broadband usage in the home. We are also lagging far behind in terms of wireless technology. In Japan, for example, people already have geographically-aware cell phones that can serve as personal navigation devices. And in England, cell phones come equipped with memory cards that store all of your personal info (phone number, address book, etc.) To switch phones, you just take out your card and insert it into a new phone.
For all of our love of convenience, I just don't see us embracing technology like some other countries. Personally, I love gadgets--among others, I own an MP3 player, a laptop, a pocketPC, and a cell phone. I also have broadband at home hooked up to a wireless router. But, I think the average American probably still uses a desktop PC with a dial-up connection. I wonder if some of our hesitation to adopt new technology is derived from a distrust of the tracking and monitoring capabilities built into some of these new devices. I also think as a culture, we don't place a high priority on technological innovation. Even with our love of all things big--TV's, houses, cars--tech doesn't usually enter into the equation. TV's are an excellent example: I would guess that the majority of people who own widescreen televisions do not subscribe to an HDTV service. I think our markets/economy also doesn't support or reward technological innovators. But, here you get into a chicken and the egg scenario--is this a response to our low demand for cutting-edge technology? Or the cause of it?
I believe the U.S. still leads, and will continue to lead for the foreseeable futute, in security, in software, in operating systems, in databases. We are the world's envy in biotechnology, in pharmaceutical development, and in military weapons systems.
We will lose the hardware race -- processor/chip development, consumer electronics (we were never innovators there), wireless telecom, and aerospace technologies.
A big reason is we're not turning out children who are highly skilled in math and science, not like India, China, Japan, and Russia. Here at home, the National Science Foundation budget was cut by $105 million this fiscal year. Only 4 percent of students in U.S. colleges study engineering -- the figure is 12 percent in Western Europe, and 40 percent in China.
This op-ed makes a good case for the U.S. government and corporate community to re-dedicate itself to innovation as a national security imperative.
Ehlers (from Sean's op-ed post above) joins some Virginians that want Congress to forgive $10,000 in student loan interest for folks who take and hold jobs in the math & science fields. Is this the right way to incentivize people? Is this the right way to use federal power?
Yes. and Yes. Although, I wouldn't characterize it as "federal power" as much as federal dollars.
It makes perfect sense to me to incentivize American students, who may be gifted in those fields, but for financial reasons, cannot pursue further education. I don't see a downside.
Do you mean to imply that it be 'needs based'? Would you require that the student meet some sort of financial qualification or have the program open to all? As it stands now the proposed program would be available to everyone. Which, of course, I think is only fair.
My understanding is that they are forgiving student loan interest. Therefore, its not open to everyone. Just potential students who can't afford tuition without taking out student loans.
For example, my parents paid my college tuition, therefore I had no student loan interest, and wouldn't be able to take advantage of this incentive. (I also have no math or science skills to speak of, but that's for another conversation).
Did I misunderstand?
Yes, you are correct; the student would need to have a loan. But I'm wondering if the program would encourage future students to take loans unnecessarily.
How about incentives to get talented people to become math and science TEACHERS? I don't know that tutition incentives for college students will get us anywhere if they don't have enthusiastic elementary and high school teachers who instill a love of learning about math and sciences at an early age. I saw an interesting commerical during the Masters golf tournament for an ExxonMobil program designed to recruit and train math/science teachers. Obviously, there's a little self interest there, ExxonMobil wants talented teachers to produce talented scientists to help them create the next wave of consumeable energy products. But, if this also brings more kids to the math and science fields, I think it's a good first step.
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