During the last 30 years, dramatic advances in technology—the development of the minicomputer; the rise of the personal computer; the emergence of the Internet—have revolutionized the way information is created, stored, shared, and used. These changes have transformed the world in fundamental and exciting ways. Today at work, we communicate and collaborate instantly with colleagues, customers, and partners around the world. Global supply chains speed the flow of products from factory floor to store shelf. Productivity is higher than it’s ever been. Sellers have access to markets that were once beyond reach. The amount of information companies collect about customers, competitors, and markets is unprecedented.
At home, technology allows us to stay in contact with the people we care about no matter where they are and share our experiences with those people with incredible richness and immediacy. Using the Internet, we can shop the entire world from the comfort of our home. Digital technology has given us new tools that help us manage our lives more efficiently and it has dramatically expanded our entertainment choices.