The proposed National Information Infrastructure promises a radical transfor- mation of the way Americans at all levels generate, transmit, access, and use information. Whether it is a schoolchild writing a report on black holes or loss of biodiversity, the librarian who assists the child in assembling the information from a digital library, the astrophysicist or ecologist who generates the primary data or the child's parents and teachers communicating about the homework assignment, all Americans may use NII in their daily lives and will be enriched by that use.
Achieving the goals of the NII requires not only new technologies but also life-long training in and exposure to the methods for taking full advantage of NII. NSF is uniquely qualified to lead the research efforts in creating the technologies and to provide the educational foundations on which NII will be built.
NSF's unique qualifications derive from several different factors, all of which must be integrated in order to achieve the NII vision. First, NSF supports scientific and engineering research across the spectrum of disciplines. Second, NSF has a record of actually building the infrastructure for bringing people with a wide spectrum of interests and expertise together through networking and other facilities. Third, NSF is involved with all aspects of the educational enterprise, ranging from graduate education to K-12, and ranging from teacher training to systemic change. NSF's support of diverse communities enabled it to build an effective communication link, NSFNET, between the research and education community at large and the foci of research enterprises in the various NSF centers.
The development and implementation of an NII is not a matter of technology alone. It involves: technology based on knowledge creation, development of expertise of how to use new technology in a meaningful and efficient manner, what tools and interfaces are needed for specific application domains, policies for public use of provided services, general socio-economic aspects of introduction and application of infrastructure services and, last but not least, training of the potential users for whom these services are beneficial.
Using the NII will not be similar to using a telephone system that can be used without much training. It requires sharp minds to develop practical access to information, but also helping people how to utilize it creatively. It is more in the style of setting up an aquarium or learning to play an instrument. It requires familiarity with the technology and understanding of its potential application which may vary by individual and purpose. Hence training comes first and then a host of applications emerge for individuals, from the very young to senior citizens, to acquire information, learn from it and to connect with others. Information plays a vital role in every aspect of life and work. Those who are information "literate" will not just survive in this new information environment but will prosper while participating in advancing the frontiers of knowledge.
NSF's support for and implementation of the NII is largely coordinated through the HPCC Program, including the new IITA component. NSF has unique experience in building partnerships between the inventors, producers, educators, and users of NII technologies. The variety of users NSF can bring to participate in prototype development and use is without equal. Research conduct is changing radically. Researchers and educators will interact with information in realtime and from remote locations. What can be done today on site can be done remotely over the whole world tomorrow. NSF's leadership role in applying advanced computing and networking technologies in education and training for all citizens will enhance the deployment of the NII and new ways of conducting research and education.