SAN FRANCISCO — A small, but attentive audience gathered here for the morning keynote by Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author (“Closing the Innovation Gap) Judy Estrin here at the Software Summit sponsored by the Software & Industry Information Association.
Estrin warned the audience of software developers and others that there are a number of fundamental problems wrong with the economy and infrastructure that are holding back innovation and the larger economy. And while computers and communications technology have long been the main drivers of growth, that’s changing.
“I believe in the future the key drivers will be different, said Estrin. “Clearly energy and the environment are key areas and also healthcare — that’s different than just medicine but the delivery of those systems and how to provide it. And there are other drivers we don’t even know of yet.
“That doesn’t mean the computer industry is dead. But you have to be thinking more about interdisciplinary ways to address these new problems.”