John Warnock
Without television and mass communication, that knowledge wouldn't exist. So I think it actually has the possibility of turning people into more understanding and more empathetic people.
What I try to do is factor in how people use computers, what people's problems are, and how these technologies can get applied to those problems. Then I try to direct the various product groups to act on this information.
We started the company out of frustration with the employer that we had because we were building great stuff and there was no way that this stuff was ever going to get into the hands of the people who could use it.
We look at their ability to learn, how fast they are, how quick they are. And their experience. What have they done with their life? What concrete accomplishments have they made? Are they a finisher? When they start a project, can they finish the project, or do they start 20 projects and then have them all open-ended?
This is really interesting. When I was in the 9th grade, I flunked 9th grade algebra. I couldn't cope with 9th grade algebra. And then I remember taking an aptitude test when I was a sophomore in high school, and they said, "You should probably consider not going to college." Then they said, "Well, what would you like to do?"
The products associated with the internet are where I spend a lot of my time right now. It is a revolution that is bigger than the invention of printing. It is a revolution that's bigger than the invention of the telephone, radio, or any of the major revolutions that we've had in the past.
The personal contact is a personal thing. The fact that some people don't know their neighbors, I don't think that technology is at fault. You don't lose anything with technology. You gain other avenues of understanding.
Learning how to communicate your ideas on paper is very important. Get a good, strong foundation in the liberal arts, philosophy, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry , history. Get a good, well-rounded education.
I'm a pretty happy camper. Look a little more like Paul Newman, maybe. Haha.
I would never speculate on the limit. Every time you speculate, you're way too conservative.
I would love to have more women in management. It's been tough getting to that point. Not only finding people who are willing to step up to management, but also people who are qualified and have the background and education to do it. We've had a number of women in senior management positions, and two of them burned out.
I have seen that technology has contributed to improved communication, that it's contributed to better health care, that it's contributed to better food supplies, that it has contributed to all the basic human needs.