A report by the President's Info. Technology Advisory Committee on future directions for Fed. support of R&D for information technology (IT). The Committee has concluded that Fed. support for research in IT is seriously inadequate and should be increased. This report includes: executive summary; rationale for government support of long term, fundamental research; IT: transforming our society; setting Federal research priorities: findings and recommendations; technical research priorities; socioeconomic research and policy priorities; and creating an effective management structure for Federal IT R&D. Charts and tables.

The flood of information technology (I.T.) products and services entering the market place often obscures the need to nurture the research enterprise. But as I.T. becomes integrated into all aspects of society, the need for research is even greater. And the range of issues that need to be addressed is broader than ever. This new book highlights the fundamental importance of research to ensure that I.T. meets society's expanding needs. Against the background of dramatic change in the I.T. landscape, the committee examines four key questions: Is the scope of I.T. research broad enough-particularly in the arena of large-scale systems-to address government, business, and social applications? Are government and industrial sponsors providing sufficient funding for I.T. research? Is the research net big both big and diverse enough to capture sufficient financial and intellectual resources to advance the field? Are structures and mechanisms for funding and conducting research suited to the new sets of research challenges?