Technology will never replace the expertise and compassion of a living and breathing caregiver, but we re already seeing how it can improve and extend the delivery of services while increasing efficiency and reducing costs. There is clearly more work that the IT industry, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government must do to ensure full and equitable participation of all Americans in science, engineering and technology fields, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation or disability. A decade from now, we will see the Internet as one of the most revolutionary tools in our system of democracy. By increasing participation and awareness among voters young and old, online voting has the potential to transform the landscape of electoral politics. Just as the digital revolution has harnessed the power of computing over the past two decades and transformed the way businesses operate, technology holds the promise of creating exciting and relevant new learning opportunities for people, any time and any place.
Technology can make life easier for everyone.
But for people with disabilities it can mean the difference between employment and unemployment, between staying home and venturing out, and between a life of exclusion and one of community. Innovation comes from a broad public and private commitment to both basic and applied research. If America fails to act to increase the number of H-1B visas for foreign professionals, and on needed improvements in education, we risk unilaterally disarming ourselves in the global competition for brainpower. As Microsoft continues to monitor and improve our own Web practices and policies, we are also committed to developing technologies and tools that will help lead the way in placing power and choice in the hands of consumers regarding the collection and use of their personal information. The explosive growth of the Internet and other information technologies is creating a wide range of new opportunities for the software industry and many other businesses abroad.