Page 91 - IBT December 2020

The Road Ahead Business @ the

Written by Bill Gates, Nathan Speed of Thought
Myhrvold, and Peter Rinearson,
The Road Ahead was published Business @ the Speed of Thought is a
in the year 1995 and then book written by Microsoft founder Bill
revised in the following year. Gates and Collins Hemingway in 1999. The
The eloquent founder and (then) book talks about technology and its
CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates implications for business. The book has an
serves up an incredibly futuristic optimistic tone as it explores the
and visionary book describing intricacies of business and technology and
how the future will be a explains how the synergies created by the
kaleidoscope of change- from marriage of digital infrastructures and
choosing what to buy to who to information networks can make that
interact with and everything in difference between good and great
between- thanks to the “information highway” that can business sense. The book talks about the
and invariably will transform the lives of those who Age of Information and the change that businesses must now go
tread this path. The book highlights twelve points that through in order to succeed in digital times. As the book was
may have to be faced in the future and how to prepare written in the late 1990s, it was still well ahead of its time as
for them. Without giving away the contents of the book, business and technology are still the most revered “power
let it suffice to say that the book is as relevant today couple” of the age. At a time when digital technology was still a
when the world is immersed in digitalization as it was mistrusted newcomer, and business owners still faced some
when the book was published and the world was only inertia when it came to incorporating technology into their day
just waking up to the unbelievable possibilities of the to day transactions, Gates emphasized the need for technology
digital age. Although back in 1995, the book was termed to be seen as a friend and not as a burdensome fad that would
as a “tepid read” and Bill Gates desperate and fearful soon pass. The book also talks about how businesses who have
reaction to the World Wide Web and its ability to shift accepted technology are all but realizing only about 20% of its
control from the physical computer to its network, the potential benefit and to centralize all systems and processes so
book spent more than 7 weeks topping the bestseller that businesses can really juice out profit and growth.
charts for New York Times and has sold more than 2.5 Rekindling customer/partner relationships, employees and
million copies. If the reader’s response is anything to go processes through integrated technology have been discussed by
by, this book is a clear winner; Billy really knew what he Gates at length to provide a thorough guide to business owners,
was talking about. making the book a must-read for that particular clientele.

Your Life, Uploaded Earth Capitalism

Life, once digitalized, has been Capitalism has been a buzz word in
truly amazing. With more and world economics for a while now.
more customized offers of What has just now emerged and from
shopping to uploading selfies none less than the pen of Bill Gates is
and locations on Facebook, the what is being termed Earth
world is now one big cloud Capitalism. The book, written by the
where everyone knows what legend himself talks about
everyone is up to. What can be inappropriate macroeconomic policies
deleted from social media might and the free reign given to financial
still exist somewhere on the institutions to grow beyond need, in
cloud and reappear as their insatiable thirst for profits- both
recommendations and of which cause world recession and
advertisements tailor-made just for you. In the economic distress. Depleting Mother
author’s opinion, the cloud is the reservoir for Earth’s bounties in the name of
countless memories and digital footprints. To prove development and destroying whole ecosystems for other beings
this, an experiment was carried out, using researcher are all very heavy consequences of modern-day capitalism. What
Bell as the subject, where Bell would upload Gates proposes in this book is a more healthy, give and take
everything from photos to biometrics to his computer relationship with nature and society that balances out nature’s
activity on the cloud. What resulted was an amazingly generosity with humankind’s integrity and good sense. In
curated experience of the internet where everything simple terms, he proposes using nature to one’s advantage but
from Bell’s health to his other preferences became also replacing what has been given so freely with something
customized to the t. What is also amazing to know is else. If a tree cut here can be replaced by a seedling planted
that once dead, Bell’s uploaded memories could one somewhere else, nature stands preserved. The book also talks
day benefit his offspring or even his grandchildren- about gratitude for everything one has instead of losing oneself
the data was so sifted that anyone could get to know in trying to attain that which one does not. The Earth and all
him once they went on the internet. Published in her natural resources should be managed appropriately and
2010, this is one of Gate’s most celebrated works and humans should live a simple life. The book puts forward certain
undoubtedly one of his more detailed inked creations. ways in which cutting edge business models and economic
While the synopsis is transparent, the book is worth concepts can lead to a slowing down of the overheated
reading, even if only for the detailing and the capitalism concept and give way to a cooler, more relaxed and
optimistic and hopeful way it is written. yet rewarding earth capitalism.

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