ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the benefits that might be brought to education by new information technology. If the economic well-being of Western countries declines steadily over the next 20 years, education budgets will be cut year by year. The educational system in each country will be in a state of contraction, decline and decay during the years up to 2000. Few new buildings or facilities will be constructed. In these circumstances, new information technology will be kept outside the schools, outside the colleges and universities and outside the informal education agencies. If the technology thrives, it will be in the hands of the military, in some sectors of industry and commerce and perhaps in agriculture. Central government will point to wasteful duplication of provision, for example in higher education where similar institutions in neighbouring regions offer roughly the same courses, leading to the same degrees.
