Letter from the editors
he best way to predict the future is to invent it, computer pioneer Alan Kay once said -- and that's just what technology innovators have been doing for the past 20 years. As we looked back at their accomplishments, we realized that many have laid the groundwork for greater developments yet to come. So look forward with us as we unveil the blueprints for computing's new millennium, drafted by today's pioneers.
- -- The editors
Few inventions have touched business the way the computer has. From the "big iron" mainframe to palm-size devices, computers have come a long way -- from simply processing data and automating tasks to changing the way we do business and communicate. But the force of computing also has made its way into every aspect of our lives, extending beyond corporate walls and into our schools and homes. When we look back at how far we've come in such a short time, it's clear that an even more radical transformation could be around the corner. How will computing transform our world in the next 20 years? How will we work differently -- and live differently? And how will the technology industry make its presence known in our lives?
The PC revolution
The advent of the PC has forever altered the face of business, spawning an information revolution and a powerful industry that's tightly integrated with our global economy. We look back at the hits and misses of the past 20 years as seen through InfoWorld's pages, along with the people behind the revolution.
Computing the next millennium
The next wave of computing and communications power is already being developed in university and industry labs around the world. From radical new technologies such as quantum computing to paradigm shifts in user interfaces, we reveal the technologies that will shape life in the 21st century.
The road to computopia
When the PC was born, people computed at work but relaxed around the living room TV. Although the PC has already moved home, digital technologies are on the fast track to convergence, integrating with home electronics, appliances, and networking services like never before. Here's a glimpse at what lies ahead.
IT: The next generation
New technology demands new knowledge. How are today's schools educating the next generation of IT professionals, and how are computers and the Internet changing education itself? Plus: A lighthearted look at computing's spotty past and much-hyped future.
InfoWorld Flashback
Over the past 20 years, InfoWorld has tracked thousands of computing products, services, and companies as they've evolved from geek chic to serious business investments. InfoWorld may have changed its look, tagline, publishers, and editors many times, but it has never changed its basic mission: serving the reader's interests.