The road ahead /

Many have referred to the Internet as the information superhighway; Gates is not one of them. He sees it more as a gravel road, a primitive precursor of the information superhighway. The Road Ahead describes a possible road map for this highway. Although no one knows what the future holds, Gates has a more qualified perspective than most. He draws from his experiences at the center of the personal computer (PC) revolution to give the reader valuable insights as to how the Internet could evolve, what impact technology will have, and what roles companies and the government should and should not play. Present technological capabilities are discussed, but Gates is careful to use a common vernacular. The book is written for the nontechnical reader; many practical examples make it easy to understand. This is not Gates's autobiography, yet some of the earlier chapters explain the role Microsoft played in the development of PCs as we know them today. The companion CD-ROM contains the entire text of the book, complete with hypertext links, as well as brief video clips explaining how the information superhighway might affect future homes and businesses. A web browser is also included. A must for undergraduate libraries. All levels. W. M. Baer Brigham Young University