合Language Points2We are all beginning another great journey. We aren't surewhere this one will lead us either, but again I am certain thisrevolution will touch even more lives and take us all farther. Themajor changes coming will be in the way people communicatewitheach other.The benefits and problems arising from this upcomingcommunications revolution will be much greater than thosebrought about bythePC revolutionKD
2 We are all beginning another great journey. We aren’t sure where this one will lead us either, but again I am certain this revolution will touch even more lives and take us all farther. The major changes coming will be in the way people communicate with each other. The benefits and problems arising from this upcoming communications revolution will be much greater than those brought about by the PC revolution. Language Points
合Language Points3There is never a reliable map for unexplored territory, but wecan learn important lessons from the creation and evolution of the$120-billion personal-computer industry.The PC — its evolvinghardware,business applications,on-line systems,Internetconnections,electronic mail,multimedia titles,authoringtools,andgames -is the foundation for the next revolution.During the PC industry's infancy,the mass media paid littleattention to what was going on in the brand-new business.Thoseof us who were attracted by computers and the possibilities theypromised were unnoticed outside our own circlesK
3 There is never a reliable map for unexplored territory, but we can learn important lessons from the creation and evolution of the $120-billion personal-computer industry. The PC — its evolving hardware, business applications, on-line systems, Internet connections, electronic mail, multimedia titles, authoring tools, and games — is the foundation for the next revolution. 4 During the PC industry’s infancy, the mass media paid little attention to what was going on in the brand-new business. Those of us who were attracted by computers and the possibilities they promised were unnoticed outside our own circles. Language Points
仓Language Points5But this next journey,to the so-called information highway, isthe topic of endless newspaper and magazine articles,televisionand radio broadcasts,conferences,and widespread speculationThere has been an unbelievable amount of interest in this subjectduring the last few years, both inside and outside the computerindustry.The interest is not confined only to developed countries,and it goes well beyond the large numbers of personal-computerusers.K
5 But this next journey, to the so-called information highway, is the topic of endless newspaper and magazine articles, television and radio broadcasts, conferences, and widespread speculation. There has been an unbelievable amount of interest in this subject during the last few years, both inside and outside the computer industry. The interest is not confined only to developed countries, and it goes well beyond the large numbers of personal-computer users. Language Points
合Language Points6Thousands of informed and uninformed people are nowspeculating publicly about the information highway.The amount ofmisunderstanding about the technology and its possible pitfallssurprises me.Some people think the highway is simply today'sInternetorthedeliveryof 500simultaneouschannelsoftelevisionOthers hope or fear it will create computers as smart as humanbeings. Those developments will come, but they are not thehighway
6 Thousands of informed and uninformed people are now speculating publicly about the information highway. The amount of misunderstanding about the technology and its possible pitfalls surprises me. Some people think the highway is simply today’s Internet or the delivery of 500 simultaneous channels of television. Others hope or fear it will create computers as smart as human beings. Those developments will come, but they are not the highway. Language Points
合Language Points7The revolution in communications is just beginning. It willtake place over several decades, and will be driven by new“"applications"-new tools,often meeting currently unforeseenneeds.During the next few years,major decisions will have to bemade. It is crucial that a broad set of people - not justtechnologists or those who happen to be in the computerindustry - participate in the debate about how this technologyshould be shaped.If that can be done, the highway will serve thepurposes users want. Then it will gain broad acceptance andbecomeareality.K
7 The revolution in communications is just beginning. It will take place over several decades, and will be driven by new “applications” — new tools, often meeting currently unforeseen needs. During the next few years, major decisions will have to be made. It is crucial that a broad set of people — not just technologists or those who happen to be in the computer industry — participate in the debate about how this technology should be shaped. If that can be done, the highway will serve the purposes users want. Then it will gain broad acceptance and become a reality. Language Points