CNET reports that a key to many hard problems, from using nuclear power to combating diseases, is better software modeling, Bill Gates said on Aug. 6. While it’s not surprising that he’s a fan of using software to help solve hard problems, it is somewhat surprising that there aren’t already good models for some diseases. “There’s no disease-modeling software,” he said, speaking at the end of the three-day Techonomy conference here. “There is none. Why is flu seasonal? We don’t know.” Gates said he aims to make sure that gap is filled, supporting development of the tools needed to do such modeling, while he also wants to use modeling to further explore nuclear power options, such as the Terrapower effort he is backing. “On paper it’s quite amazing but it is hard to go from here to there,” he said. Gates said he also plans to offer up the modeling software package for free for others to use…
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What Bill Gates is learning online
It’s no surprise, really, but it turns out Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates is a strong supporter of the open-courseware movement that has swept through higher education in the last few years.
On a new web site that Gates launched this past week, he discusses some of his favorite sources for online lectures and other learning materials. He also offers his thoughts on education reform and a host of other topics.
“There are some great examples of how technology can enable almost anyone to learn from the world’s greatest minds,” he posted to GatesNotes.com.…Read More