ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


2 2 /C&RL News

C onference 

C irc u it

EDUCOM ’ 9 4 :  The promis
of technology

e 

B y  R i c h a r d  M e y e r

Surveying technology’s practical 
a n d  fu t u ristic applications

C
onference attendance at EDUCOM ’94, held 
in San Antonio, Texas, October 31-Novem

ber 3,1994, topped the 3,300 mark, an increase 
over 1993 of about 500, but a lack of excite­
ment about electronic information resources’ 
fulfillment of early promises may have damp­
ened some of the attendees’ enthusiasm. As 
usual, the EDUCOM program bracketed the 
breakout sessions covering the practical issues 
o f integrating computing technology into the 
educational environment, with presentations by 
several prominent players in electronic infor­
mation infrastructure development. Although 
San Antonio can be pretty bleak during the end 
o f October, the weather initially offered fiesta 
brilliant sun combined with crisp fall air. How­
ever, both the promise presented by early good 
weather as well as information-rich opening 
preconference institutes gave way to a muggy 
ambiance of electronic promise gone somewhat 
limp with humidity and clouds from the coast 
as the conference closed.

Much o f the conference was characterized 
by differing points of view offered by two of 
the keynoters. George Gilder, senior fellow of 
the Discovery Institute and prolific author on 
the future, offered enthusiastic predictions of 
exponential growth for network technology. He 
punctuated his com mentary with frequent 
double-armed gestures that seemed to mimic a 
puppet of the information industry. Listening 
to the words, which included predictions of 
8.0 gigabyte carrying capacity of ordinary co­
axial cable, combined with Gilder’s exceptional 
ability to paint vivid images through metaphor, 
attendees might have left the conference with

the impression that electronic information nir­
vana was imminent. However, Gilder also used 
his metaphoric brush to suggest that we are 
not using technology effectively: “For the past 
decades, w e’ve been using computers like cars 
in a jungle. The jungle dweller who discovers 
a car will readily uncover the technological 
wonders of headlights, radio reception, com­
fortable seats, and numerous other aspects of 
an automobile, but the real value of automo­
biles surfaces only when they are joined with 
highways.” He went on to say that “just as the 
personal computer essentially displaced the 
mainframe over the past ten years, the personal 
computer will displace the television set, the 
telephone, and an array of other appliances.” 

Unfortunately, Gilder’s metaphorical prom­
ise of untapped information bounty gave way 
to the practical reality of empty content servers 
on the information infrastructure as well as on 
television. Gilder expressed disappointment in 
industry’s ability to recognize the noncompeti-

“ just as the personal com­
puter . . . displaced the 
m ainfram e . . . the per­
sonal computer w ill d is­
place the television set, the 
telephone, and an array of 
other appliances.”

tive, synergistic aspects of combined technolo­
gies presented by glass fiber, silicon chips, and 
direct satellite TV. Instead, Gilder’s comments 
reminded this attendee o f surface hype under­
lain by the hollow reality of technology which 
is only partially employed.

R ichard Meyer is director o f  the M addux Library a t Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas; e-mail: 
richard_m eyerSlibrary.trinity.edu



Ja n u a ry  1 9 9 5 /2 3

Technology and education
On a more practical level, Anita Jones, director 
of the Department o f Defense’s Research and 
Engineering Office, offered somewhat stiff, but 
solid comments on the impact o f technology 
in improving education. She showed summa­
ries of several research projects which demon­
strate substantial improvement in test scores 
when technology is incorporated into instruc­
tion. Jones noted the exceptional faith placed 
in the promise of technology by the combined 
expenditure of the military on education; nearly 
$10 billion per year. While much o f this ex­
penditure provides for basic training o f new 
recruits and maintenance o f combat readiness, 
a large portion goes into fundamental programs 
of higher education. In fact, the largest single 
supporter o f higher education research as well 
as technological application is the military. Jones 
reminded the listeners “that the Department of 
Defense runs half a dozen institutions o f higher 
education including three research universities.” 
Her pride in this accomplishment did not over­
whelm her willingness for input. She shared 
her Internet address with those who wanted to 
express their ideas regarding future directions 
of Department o f Defense input to governmen­
tal information policy. Jones issued a challenge 
to EDUCOM attendees to address her statement 
“that even as chair o f a national information 
infrastructure task force" she had “never heard 
from EDUCOM.” Perhaps she forgot that the 
Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is a 
joint initiative o f ARL, CAUSE, and EDUCOM.

Balanced between Gilder’s exaggerated ex­
pectations for the future and Jones’s careful pre­
sentation of the pragmatic improvements in 
education provided by current technology, other 
speakers provided significant examples of the 
o n g o in g  p ro g ress o ften  d em onstrated  at 
EDUCOM programs. Staff from the EDUCOM 
program office indicate that this conference was 
supported by more vendors than earlier ones 
even though the extravagant outpouring of food 
and favors previously enjoyed by attendees 
mostly was missing in San Antonio. Instead, 
information software providers, such as Claris, 
demonstrated new and improved products that 
deliver exceptional processing pow er com ­
b ined  with efficien t utilization o f current 
hardware. Instead o f the hype and giveaway 
glitz o f previous EDUCOM gatherings, this 
conference was marked by more practical 
systems and sensible purveyors o f informa­
tion highway resources.