Gates answered that question along with an array of others for an online forum with NEWSWEEK readers. Topics covered included the goals of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Microsoft’s open source competitors and the future of IT. Excerpted below are some of the questions put to Gates and the software guru’s answers.
Name: Paul
Hometown: New York
Why has the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation focused so much on AIDS–particularly in Africa. Aren’t there domestic issues that deserve the money? And what is your long-term vision for the foundation?
The Foundation’s work on AIDS and other diseases that kill millions of people every year is very important to us. But we also devote almost half our resources to domestic issues, especially education. Our long-term vision is to take bold risks and work with others to develop and share innovations in health and learning that can save and improve millions of lives around the world.
Name: Andrew
Hometown: Oak Park, IL
When will PCs play a truly central role in managing home entertainment systems and all of the devices that are involved (TVs, DVD players, stereo, surround sound) while still functioning as home computers?
Today’s Media Center PCs are already close to making that a reality. They’re powerful enough to handle all kinds of digital media, they’re as simple to use as a TV or home stereo, and yet they can also be used as fully functioning PCs. In addition, advanced software is bringing the power, connectivity and flexibility of the PC to all kinds of smart devices, making digital entertainment available wherever people want it.
Name: Darryl
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
What will be the next big thing in the computer industry? The industry is in dire need of something unique that all walks of life can benefit from. I am sure Microsoft can pull the next “killer app” out of its proverbial hat.
It’s hard to single out one innovation that will drive the industry forward–there are so many opportunities. Hardware and connectivity advances have cleared the way for software to tackle the complexity that users face today, and to expand the possibilities for computing in countless ways. We’re now in a position to deliver on many long-time industry dreams, such as PCs that can store a lifetime’s worth of digital memories, communication and collaboration through integrated text, voice and video, pen- and speech-based user interfaces, and rich new media experiences.
Name: Rahul
Hometown: Arlington, TX
I have been looking at the software industry from a historical perspective. To me, a lot of work in this industry, i.e. writing software, reminds me of a craftsman-like approach used for creating goods in the pre-industrial days. The advent of mass manufacturing and assembly-line production made such an approach irrelevant. Do you that might happen in the software industry? A scenario where software might exist to write software, making the human element far less relevant?
It’s true that new programming tools and processes are making it simpler to find bugs and improve performance, and to develop software more efficiently, but I don’t believe that the creation of software will ever be fully automated. We’ve only begun to explore the possibilities of what software can do, and better programming tools just make it easier and more efficient to translate new ideas into powerful applications and services. We are working on modeling based tools that will reduce the amount of customization code companies have to write quite substantially. Customization shouldn’t require nearly as much code in the future. Great programmers will still be a critical element though.
Name: Chris
Hometown: Grand Haven, MI
How do you feel about competing open source platforms such as Unix and Linux? The software ecosystem can accommodate many different development models, and healthy competition is what produces new innovations and drives technology forward. We focus our efforts on developing products based on the commercial model, which we believe produces the best possible software for our customers.
Name: Britt
Hometown: Atlanta
With America focusing on how to make itself more secure against external threats, and increasing numbers of people concerned over personal privacy, why does the tech industry focus on the “Next Big Thing” instead of perfecting the products it already has? Is there not a way to make profits by substantially improving existing technology to a point where it is reliable and secure, rather than relying on marginal improvements?
As computers become increasingly essential for more of the things we do every day, security, privacy, manageability and ease of use are becoming much more crucial. We’re still focused on pushing the state of the art forward and expanding the possibilities of computing, but the reality is that people simply won’t allow new technology into their lives unless it is trustworthy. At Microsoft, tackling these fundamental software issues is just as important as delivering new products and features.
Name: Ciku
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
I’m a first-year information systems and technology major at United States International University-Africa. What does it take to be a successful business woman in the IT field? I’m 19. What can I begin doing now, while still in university?
At Microsoft, we’re committed to diversity throughout our organization, and we recruit talented graduates from around the world. We look for people who are motivated, willing to work hard, and totally committed to creating the technologies of the future. I really encourage you to get involved now with organizations that use technology to make a difference, and to seek out opportunities to work with technology during your summer breaks. Good luck, and call us when you graduate!
Name: Chris
Hometown: Bettendorf, IA
I have read you are now the richest man in the world, the typical “genie in the bottle” wish for most people. What is your “wish upon a star” now?
I would wish for a vaccine to make AIDS as rare as polio. And I would wish for all children in America, regardless of their background, to be able to attend great schools. These are big wishes, but I’m optimistic that we can make them happen–even if we don’t find a genie.
Name: Andre King
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Why do you think, in this time of great technological advancement, people are still working harder and not smarter?
One of the greatest opportunities today is for software to more closely mirror the way people want to work, so they can focus on getting things done rather than managing all the technology in their lives, searching for the information they need, or adapting how they work to how their computer works. I believe the productivity breakthroughs we’ll see in the next decade will be as significant as those we’ve achieved in the past quarter-century.
