Did you catch the State of the Union address last night? The full transcript can be found here or you can watch the video here.
I’m by no means qualified to comment on the political aspects of the President’s speech, but the address outlined several goals for the future as far as technology is concerned.
Here they are in order, with their accompanying quotes:
Increase Research and Development in the Tech Sector:
“Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven’t seen since the height of the Space Race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology -– (applause) — an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.”
One Million Electric Cars by 2015:
“At the California Institute of Technology, they’re developing a way to turn sunlight and water into fuel for our cars. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they’re using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities. With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.”
Clean Energy to Make Up 80% of U.S. Electricity by 2035:
“Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they’re selling. So tonight, I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: By 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources.”
Train 100,000 New Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Teachers Over the Next 10 Years:
“In South Korea, teachers are known as ‘nation builders.’ Here in America, it’s time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones. And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math.”
High-speed Rail for 80% of Americans Within 25 Years:
“Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail. This could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying –- without the pat-down. As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.”
High-speed Wireless Internet to 98% of Americans Within Five Years:
“Within the next five years, we’ll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans. This isn’t about faster Internet or fewer dropped calls. It’s about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It’s about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.”
Online Access to Government Spending Data:
“In the coming year, we’ll also work to rebuild people’s faith in the institution of government. Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you’ll be able to go to a website and get that information for the very first time in history. Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done — put that information online.”
In the short term, the most tangible, attainable goal seems to be making sure 98% of the U.S. has access to high-speed wireless internet. That definitely seems to be on its way given that 4G networks ought to be fully deployed by all the major carriers within the next couple of years.
And outside of cellular internet technology, there are several other technologies we can leverage as well—unused spectrum space once used by analog TV, or Super Wi-Fi, being one of the more promising.
The trick, of course, isn’t just blanketing the country with wireless internet. Making sure it’s both affordable and fast will be a big challenge as well.
More on TIME.com:
Obama Calls for Unity in Moving Forward in State of the Union
Verizon ‘Deeply Concerned’ By Net Neutrality Rules, Files Appeal