|
Joe C. Wilson
Joe Wilson is the Director of Corporate
Quality at Eastman Chemical Company. Eastman is a leading edge business
that emphasizes new and exciting innovations. Mr. Wilson provides
a thoughtful view of the computer industry today.
What do you think is the most important component
of the computer industry today?
Telecom. More and more intelligence is being put into
the network. One day, we may only need a front end and the network
may do the rest.
If you could choose one important innovation for
the future surrounding computers, what would it be?
Voice Recognition. The most limiting factor for using
computers is that one has to use a keyboard. When one can simply
talk to the computer, a major barrier will be crossed.
What do you think is the most revolutionary invention
for the computer industry?
The Internet. It has opened up the power of a massive
amount of computing power and information storage that already existed
and opened up lines of communicating that are a quantum leap over where
we were before its advent.
How do you see yourself involved in the computer
industry?
Primarily as a user to improve my personally productivity
both at work and at home.
What do you think is the most important trend
to watch in the development of computers?
Voice Recognition and continued growth of the Internet.
Other areas to watch would be Web TV, wireless communication and high-speed
data links (e.g., cable modems and voice over data).
What is your favorite aspect of today's technology?
The availability of information over the internet and powerful
s/w applications.
Do you credit anyone in particular for leading
the computer industry to where it is today?
Bill Gates. Standardization is the key and Microsoft
has been able to bring that about because of its dominance of the market.
Who do you think will be the prominent figures
in the computer industry in the future?
People like those in your group hold the key to the future.
You are the first generation to grow up with computers as a part of your
life and you have the opportunity to move us to the next level as a result.
What would you refer to as the first "computer"?
The human brain. As powerful as today's computers
are, the human brain is still more powerful in many ways. Maybe I
should go further back and say God, but that seems a little too abstract
for this survey. Now if you are talking about something that man
invented, I would say the abacus. In modern times, probably the boards
that used to be wired....I don't even know what they were actually called,
but saw some when I started to college in 1966. They were outdated
by then, so I never really saw one in use.
Do you have any further points of interest you
would like to share to the readers?
Only that Information Technology is changing so rapidly
anything is possible in the not too distant future.
Joseph C. Wilson
|
