Computing technology is nothing if not fast moving. Generations of products
and their underlying electronics are introduced every 18 to 24 months. The
se developments are driven largely by competition and commercial reward, bu
t many have their roots firmly in research funded by both the government an
d private sector.
New products, processes, and services typically stem from the complex inter
action of government, industry, and academia. But are there specific patter
ns in past successes?
Over the years, a particular blend of government, industry, and academia ha
s been the foundation of computing innovation. If the US is to sustain its
past growth in computing, researchers, business leaders. and policy makers
need to understand the elements of this synergy. One way to gain insight is
to analyze past successes in significant areas
The Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) produced a report
that overviews the innovations since World War II in five critical areas of
computing technology: relational databases, the Internet, theoretical comp
uter science, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. The studies dem
onstrate significant interaction among industry, universities, and governme
nt in developing and commercializing computing technology.