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Technology Cures All, Gates Says

Microsoft joins Clinton initiative to promote a new economy, with benefits to health and education.

By Nicole Maestri, PCWorld   

"We're only at the beginning of what the computer can do to change our lives," Gates said during a panel discussion. "The best is yet to come." The program addressed the global divide in access to health care, education, and technology.

The conference, hosted by President Clinton, is exploring issues of the booming, technology-driven economy, such as how to sustain current economic expansion and how to extend its benefits to more people.

Wednesday's meeting came on the heels of Clinton's "national call to action" urging Congress, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to mend the digital divide. The term refers to the gap in access to technology that exists among poor, rural, elderly, and handicapped Americans.

Microsoft is one of 400 companies and organizations that have agreed to take concrete steps to end this divide.

The meeting also followed Monday's ruling by a federal judge that Microsoft has violated antitrust laws.

Addressing the conference, Gates emphasized that technological change is good not only for businesses but also for consumers. It especially has hastened development of products to serve unique individual needs or interests.

"Technology is putting [consumers] in the driving seat," Gates said.

Technology's Promise for Education

Education and world health are primary beneficiaries of technological advance, Gates said.

"Nowhere does this technology hold more promise than in education," Gates said. "The Internet and the personal computer are critical tools that teachers will be able to use in new and exciting ways."

Gates said the Internet will allow teachers to share their best practices and will let students reach out to other students with similar interests.

"Today, only 14 percent of teachers are actually using the Internet as part of their instruction," Gates said. Much more can be done in this area, he added.

His foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is committed to ensuring that every library in the country has a PC with a link to the Internet.

Gaps in World Health

Gates said he and his wife, Melinda, consider the technology gap in global health a top priority that the Gates foundation should address.

"Having healthy children and families is more important than anything else," Gates said.

The biotechnology revolution is creating new and cheaper vaccines and soon will be responsible for eradicating polio from the face of the earth, Gates added.

"All this power is rooted in the possibility of technology lifting up these people around the world," Gates said. "And because technology has this power to make such a positive difference, we have an obligation to make it available everywhere we can."