High performance computing and communications have already had a profound impact on the lives of all Americans. Among the benefits: better prediction of natural disasters such as hurricanes; more rapid deployment of needed services in times of crisis; the use of more and more powerful computers to solve complex problems never dreamed of a decade ago.
In the past year, the concept of the "Information Superhighway" has captured the imagination of persons from all walks of life and around the country. Millions of Americans have discovered its precursor, the Internet. Millions more have read about it. Even more are vaguely aware that computers can somehow help them obtain information rapidly and communicate instantaneously with others around the world.
Americans are also discovering that computing and communications help to save lives, direct scarce resources, and locate survivors. When an earthquake struck Southern California this winter, a record number of persons logged onto commercial and nonprofit networks to learn about the safety of loved ones.
A typical example is that of a 62-year-old woman in Arizona who was concerned that she could not reach her son in the Los Angeles area following the quake. She called her brother near Indianapolis who called his son in Dallas, who in turn used his home computer to inquire about the whereabouts of his cousin. Several hours later, a total stranger in California called the mother to report that her son was unhurt.
A record cold spell and snowfall paralyzed much of the East Coast this winter. Tens of thousands of businesses were closed. What happened? Hundreds of thousands of workers stayed home, but many of these continued working. As snow and ice blanketed the East Coast, they communicated electronically and telecommuted while avoiding the icy roads. Similarly in California after the quake, where demolished freeways and unstable buildings made a normal business routine nearly impossible, a record number of workers and businesses turned to telecommuting as the region began to rebuild.
Imagine the possibilities with a ubiquitous information infrastructure, one accessible by all Americans, which allows users to use two-way video as easily as they use the telephone or fax today.
The Federal government and the HPCC Program firmly believe that the NII should and will be built primarily by the private sector. One role of government in this monumental undertaking will be to conduct government information intensive activities in ways that support the testing, development, and deployment of new technologies to meet the nation's networking and computing needs in the coming century.
The following scenarios illustrate how high performance computing and communications and the NII can benefit all Americans in the coming years. Many of these activities are already or will soon be taking place in research and educational settings. Much of the future described is already here, but only for a relatively small number of users. The challenge faced by the government is to ensure that these benefits are accessible by all Americans from all walks of life. And that we spur the development of the best possible technologies for a truly National Information Infrastructure to be shared equally by all our citizens.