Customer Reviews

What Will Be: How the World of Information Will Change Our Lives

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I gave this two ratings because (in spite of what the book cover spiel says - ".. written for every reader affected by technological change - both the digital sophisticate and those still struggling to understand e-mail"), my guess is that most net heads will find this book boring, as a lot of this is self-evident. Having said that, because netheads are a minority (at least today), *MOST* people will find this book very good. I think that Michael does an *EXCELLENT* job of keeping the techno-babble to a minimum, and clearly explaining *HOW* the net, the information highway, the WWW or whatever you want to call it, will affect us todmorrow, and how it is affecting us today. Another good book that complements this is: The Digital Estate, by Chuck Martin

This book as mentioned by the author is seperated into three parts: 1) Shaping the Future, 2) How Your Life Will Change, and 3) Reuniting Technology and Humanity. I feel Dertouzos did a good job balancing the technical side and the human side of the various issues and changes individuals and society will face in the twenty-first century. The book discusses changes various industries - education, business, government, and religious organizations - will experience in obtaining customers and paradigm shift in performing various tasks. At points throughout the book I found it hard to follow and read, many times I had to put the book down and reflect on what I had just read. Dertouzos closes with an excellent summary of the key discovery's presented throughout the book and some final words concerning the human aspect of the twenty-first century. In the conclusion as well as throughout the book, the author asks thought provoking questions - some which he answers, and some he does not

How will the information superhighway, or information marketplace as Michael calls it, change our lives? He has been there, seen that done that, and now, he has put together an excellent book on how it will impact the way we live, whether we like it or not. It opened my eyes to the new wave and how those who do not address it, will be left behind. Excellent reading for everyone, not only computer buffs. CEOs, Managers, Engineers, Doctors, Taxi drivers....READ THIS. A very good insight into what the future holds for mankind

In the early 1980s, Dr. Dertouzos boldly predicted a place where people could freely exchange information and services using a personal computer. Today this place is widely known as the Internet. Dr. Dertouzos, head of the MIT Lab for Computer Science, uses this book to share more of his ideas and predictions of "What Will Be" in the future.
His book, without getting too technical, explains how society will be changed by a new revolution he calls the Information Marketplace. His examples of new networked technologies that will simplify our lives opened my eyes and got me excited about what lies ahead in the future. His idea of a 'Bodynet,' a personal mobile network which enables you to make phone calls, watch the news, and mingle with strangers as you stroll down the block is realistic. But other ideas, such as a database that keeps track of your clean clothes in your closet to help you decide what to wear seems farfetched and even useless.
Overall I was satisfied with the content of Dr. Dertouzos' book. It was clear and concise and provided some humorous examples of how the new technologies will be used. I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in how technology will shape society's future.

What an excellent book. If you want a clear and concise review of the possibilities of the coming technology, this is the one for you. As the director of computer science at MIT, he allows you inside his lab, to see and hear about the new technology waves. He cuts through all the hype that the media bombards us with, and is very detailed in his thoughts. Overall a great rea

Dertouzos churns out the usual 'information wil change the future' vision that dominates books of this nature. Unfortunately, nothing here is really new, nor does Dertouzos write with much passion nor pizazz - his pronouncements come across as somewhat pretentious and trite. I prefer Esther Dyson's Release 2.0, which hawks much the same vision but in a nicely homey, conversational style that reveals how personal her book is compared to this one.

This really is for people "trying to make sense of this Internet/computer business." There is little new or insightful here, especially when the author strays from his field of expertise-- the technology itself. The beginning to intermediate reader will find his thoughtful explanations of current technology helpful and unbiased. The extrapolations into how the technology will affect our lives and institutions are far less convincing or believable. Take the sociology and politics with a grain of salt-- and ask your self simple questions on the extrapolations of technology that he provides. For example, in one futuristic scenario he has a computer check the weather, a company database and a database containing the contents of clean clothes in a commuters closet to determine what outfit the person should wear that day. Would you pay for this? Would you even allow this to happen in your home

As head of MIT's laboratory for computer science, Dertouzos uses the "Information Marketplace" as a metaphor to illustrate "What Will Be" in the 21st Century. Though some of his ideas have already become reality, his narrative is easy to read and is interlaced with numerous scenarios about how our lives will change during the technology revolution. Many examples relate to the author's experiences at MIT, yet it's not too technical for a novice. The Information Marketplace will affect changes in our daily life, entertainment, health care, education, business and government, and Dertouzos describes how the paradigm shift will have understandable influence on us all. This is a book that helped me put the future in a more global perspective

Michael Dertouzos' book, "What will be", discusses technology in three areas, the past and how technology and his life intertwined, the present and how technology affects our everyday life, and the future offering a highly imaginative yet plausible glimpse of what we may expect in out lifetime. Skip parts one "Shaping the Future" and part three "Reuniting Technology and Humanity" which are repetitive and unoriginal and concentrate on part two "How Your Life Will Change" the book will be enjoyable

I've come to expect alot from MIT, but Dertouzos' effort in "What Will Be." is a disappointment because it contains little that hasn't been said by others. In fact, Nicholas Negroponte in his 1995 book "Being Digital" (the other MIT Lab guy) said most if not all of what Dertouzos does here-- nearly two years ago! The author has an annoying habit of telling you what he's going to tell you about-- literally. On the up side some of his individual short scenes of how he expects daily life to change in the digital age are good. But he does stray into the "Jetsons" by describing the kitchen of the future. If you expected new insights or cutting edge advice on how the Internet will change your personal life, it's been said better elsewhere. Don't expect much help with your business either (I'd recommend "The Digital Estate" by Chuck Martin). Or get a subscription to WIRED magazine.