Abstract

Abstract

In the first half of the 21^st century, important changes and paradigm shifts are emerging in information science and technology (IS&T):

• (1) Information technology (IT) is entering a stage of mass adoption, and it is possible that we will see in the 21^st century the “Cambrian explosion” of information technology applications. Computing for the masses will become the main theme in the next several decades.

• (2) Saving energy and reducing pollution have become an important requirement in the development of IS&T. More attention will be paid to sustainable development and social harmony.

• (3) In the next 10 to 15 years, Moore’s Law that has been valid for the past 50 years will face unprecedented challenges.

• (4) The existing arena of IT is changing from a man-machine symbiosis to a ternary universe of the cyberspace, the human society, and the physical world. Traditional IS&T is to be adapted to suit developing application systems in such a ternary universe.

• (5) IS&T is penetrating various application areas and intersecting with biology, nano science, and cognitive science, to form new disciplines. Computing is becoming the fabric tying various scientific and technological disciplines together.