Scott G. McNealy '76, the 40-year-old CEO, president and chair of Sun Microsystems, Inc., on Tuesday enthusiastically introduced Java, a universal programming language that will created enhanced access to the Internet.

"Right now Java obsoletes every programmer on campus," McNealy said.

But he cautioned that the Internet is a relatively new concept to which society will gradually need to adjust itself.

"We have to get used to being online," McNealy said. "There are a lot of privacy issues that need to be sorted through."

McNealy espoused a more libertarian perspective for approaching the Internet and emphasized that extensive regulation will hamper freedom of communication.

"We cannot let the Internet become a planned ecosystem, economy or market," McNealy said.

McNealy admitted that the Internet is far from being a pervasive means of communication--especially considering that two-thirds of the world's population has never even made or received a phone call.

The Sun CEO presented a number of projects which could help make future societies more computer and Internet literate. One of McNealy's proposals involved putting as many primary and secondary schools as possible on-line.

"We understand that the kinder-garden through 12th grade environment is really critical," McNealy said. In the future, universities may also use the Internet more extensively for student registration and handing in papers, he added.

Sun will launch a state-wide effort in Massachusetts in October, similar to projects in California which have connected many schools to the Internet.

McNealy interspersed his delivery with reference to both his alma mater and his chief rival in the computer industry, William H. "Bill" Gates, the CEO and chair of Microsoft, Inc.

"I'd like it to be known that I actually graduated from here," McNealy joked in reference to Gates, who did not finish his undergraduate education at Harvard. "I'm still trying to make up for the two-and-a-half year head start," he added in jest.  --By Amita Shukla

Balancing Regulation, Privacy Rights

The need for personal security on the Internet will become increasingly important and increasingly difficult as we try to balance privacy rights and government regulations, according to a panel of experts who spoke on Thursday, May 30.

"People from all over the world can attack you, and it's very hard to find the source of the attack," said panelist Butler Lampson, who is an architect at Microsoft Corporation.