Computer confluence : tomorrow's technology and youUpplaga 7

When powerful forces come together, change is inevitable. Today we’re standing at the confluence of three powerful and rapidly evolving technological forces: computers, communication networks, and electronic entertainment. The computer’s digital technology is showing up in everything from telephones to televisions, and the lines that separate these machines are eroding. This digital convergence is rapidly — and radically- altering the world’s economic landscape. Start-up companies and industries are emerging to ride the waves of change. Some thrive; others dive into oblivion. Meanwhile, older organizations reorganize, regroup, and redefine themselves to keep from being washed away. What must we understand about information technology to successfully navigate the water of change that carry us into the future? Computer Confluence: Tomorrow’s Technology and You is designed to aid travelers on their journey into that future. Computer Confluence presents computers and information technology on three levels: Explanations: Computer Confluence clearly explains what a computer is and what it can (and can’t) do; it clearly explains the basics of information technology, from multimedia PCs to the Internet and beyond. Applications: Computer Confluence illustrates how computers and networks are- and will be — used as practical tools to solve a wide variety of problems. Implication: Computer Confluence puts computers in a human context, illustrating how information technology affects our lives, our world, and our future. Computer Confluence: Tomorrow’s Technology and You goes beyond simply describing the latest gadgets and explains many of the benefits we derive (and risks) we tolerate when we incorporate information technology into our lives.