Intel chief says Korea strong technologically

The scientific and technological advances that humans make over the next 10 years will eclipse those of the past 10 years, Intel Corp. chairman Craig Barrett told a symposium here yesterday. Predicting that wireless broadband Internet will become ever more important in the future, Mr. Barrett said Korea is well placed as it is already a world leader in such technology. “Further alliances with other developed nations will help the country spearhead other Internet technologies,” he said. The holder of a doctorate in materials science from Stanford University, Mr. Barrett has overseen lntel’s growth into the world’s largest semiconductor maker. He was in Seoul to deliver the keynote speech at a symposium celebrating the 10th anniversary of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. As impressive as today’s technologies may appear, Mr. Barrett said, in just a few years they will seem like antiques. He predicted that pretty soon, unmanned automobiles that find their way around by using a global positioning system will be on the roads. And in another 20 to 30 years, robots will be lining up to take on human teams in soccer matches. But for these and other technologies to become available, it is crucial to maintain high standards in education. Mr. Barrett bemoaned the fact that despite its reputation for producing a large number of engineering majors, undergraduates in Korea are increasingly turning away from the discipline, just like in the United States. “Kids should be taught the importance of engineering from when they are very young, for which the reeducation of teachers is critical,” he said. He also urged greater investment in research and development in the sciences. “Cutting-edge technologies for the next 10 years will be powered by research into the fundamentals,” he said. by Seo Ji-eun, Kim Pil-kyu