But the enthusiasm for online education, driven as much by the profit motive as by altruism, goes much further. Universities and government are putting money and effort into setting up a system of virtual education to rival, and in part supersede, the traditional system. It is also being driven by the pot of gold so many people believe lies at the end of the Web. They know a market when they see it. The rush online promises to channel much more of that money to software and computer hardware companies.
Universities also see a pot of gold.
First, online education promises an influx of donations from corporate sponsors eager to get the system set up. Second, it holds out the hope of adding students. Students could complete their studies by working with a series of computer programs designed to impart and test knowledge. A professor's lectures could be recorded on CD or video and sold for profit each year. All this could be closer than it seems.