IP: ERCIM News editorial on American dominance - Microsoft &

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 12:38:10 -0500
To: iris () nsf gov
From: "H. Moraff" <hmoraff () nsf gov>


Go to http://www-ercim.inria.fr/publication/Ercim_News/enw26/editorial26.html
to see the editorial (by Jan Borgman), or I have reproduced it in-line
below for your convenience.


Borgman's allusions to Napoleon and self-proclaimed rulers is troubling.
Language like this could easily impede our endeavors to foster
international cooperation and collaboration, and could have adverse impact
on the European view of our digital libraries effort.


Historically, big companies - including European cartels - have often
exploited (and served) the world.  I see no difference now.


Howard
=======================


Editorial


"Will Microsoft become the self-proclaimed ruler of the software industry,
just as Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself nearly two centuries ago when he
tried to shape an integrated Europe?


On the other hand, if the Internet develops into the dominant reference
environment then perhaps Netscape is a contender. Where are the European
challengers such as the newly created Task Force on multimedia educational
software?


These are simple-minded questions but they serve to illustrate that there
is cause for concern. Both Microsoft and Netscape are American companies; a
European challenger is nowhere in sight. Excellent software in all
languages, made in USA, is flooding the market at record-low prices, or is
even just given away to increase the market share of the company.


The software industry is revolutionising the way in which we think, act,
access information and work together. It is rapidly simplifying and
rationalising our culture, reducing pluralism in favour of uniformity. This
may cause uneasiness but there is no way back; with a trace of irony it
could be argued that this development is advantageous to European
integration.


Meanwhile, it should worry us that the talent we have in Europe has not
resulted in satisfactory commercial visibility. There is no reason
whatsoever for complacency. The American example points the way to what is
needed: young people should leave their academic research environments and
take the risk of starting their own businesses.


The information society needs full European participation, moderated by a
keen sense for undesirable effects of an autonomous development of the new
technology. The traditional European sensitivity for pluralism could be
turned into an advantage, not only for conquering the European markets but
also for a good positioning within the multi-cultural Asian markets. Clever
initiatives may well fit into the Framework Programmes!"


[by Jan Borgman, Chairman, European Science and Technology Assembly,
in ERCIM News No. 26, July 96]




======================================
Dr. Howard Moraff
Program Director, Robotics and Machine Intelligence
National Science Foundation
Rm. 1115
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230
        703-306-1928
        703-306-0599 fax
        hmoraff () nsf gov
        http://www.cise.nsf.gov/iris/RMIhome.html
======================================