Once in place, EDES will later become the Russian Electronic University, a part of the Global University system. The system will allow transmission of voice, color video, and data over an inexpensive voice grade channel. This system will firstly be developed around the Pacific Rim countries utilizing existing satellite and earth stations, and later in other regions of the world. GU attempts to provide cooperative, experiential learning opportunities on the widest possible scale and for the purpose of fostering peace and sustainable development. The time is ripe for global education.
Technology is now available.
What we need now are people who are eager to face the challenges of our time and to forge ahead toward the 21st century education. For that reason, science fiction authors are probably more likely to stretch our minds in thinking about a future world completely different from the world of today. I must admit that I find little time for fiction, and even less for science fiction - and that is probably too bad. As a result, I have only now come across Snow Crash, a book that presents some interesting ideas and user-interface metaphors for those of us who use the Net on a regular basis. Snow Crash presents a dystopian view of a world in which governments have become franchises and a megalomaniac leader has found a way to enslave the minds of millions through the use of a linguistic virus.