I am honored to receive an honorary doctorate from Tsinghua University, a world-class university. Tsinghua is a famous school with a history of one hundred years, and many outstanding scientists, business and political leaders were born here.
The last time I went to Tsinghua was in 1997. At that time, I was deeply impressed by the talents, enthusiasm and creativity of China students. After that, I decided to set up Microsoft Research Asia in China. Under the leadership of Dr. Shen Xiangyang and with the help of outstanding graduates from Tsinghua and other universities, Microsoft Research Asia has achieved great success and made great contributions to Microsoft. They can be seen in various international conferences. They also worked hard for the birth of new Microsoft products, such as Windows Vista. With the rapid development of computer science today, it is exciting to be a student in Tsinghua.
We are just beginning to get in touch with the wonderful experience brought by software magic. There are one billion computer users all over the world, and they are just beginning to share information. With the development of semiconductor and optical fiber technology, software can do more things:
Now TV is still passive. In the future, you can download programs from the Internet, and TV will be able to communicate and interact with people.
Yesterday, I visited the Rice Research Institute of China Academy of Agricultural Sciences. I saw that technicians there began to use software to distinguish and classify different kinds of rice. Later, through the analysis and calculation of the software, we can cultivate high-yield varieties with less pesticides.
The medical community has begun to use software to manage databases;
Today's mobile phone has become our "digital wallet", which can display maps online, search information and communicate with people in the future;
The appearance of tablet computer makes it possible to surf the Internet wirelessly in the classroom and record and recognize handwritten characters with computers. In this way, students can study more effectively without textbooks, and teachers can also see excellent teaching plans from all over the world.
Of course, the future of software still faces many challenges, such as: how to make it easier for users to master? How to realize artificial intelligence? But in any case, as far as computer science is concerned, we are in the most exciting era.
China is developing rapidly, and making more and more contributions to the world economy and scientific and technological innovation. Microsoft is willing to help the growth of China company and all citizens in China enjoy the fruits brought by the progress of computer science:
Microsoft launched a project in China to help migrant workers, disabled people, especially blind people enjoy scientific and technological achievements;
Microsoft has donated money to establish five hope primary schools and five online hope primary schools;
Microsoft has also established many academic exchange programs in cooperation with the government and universities in China to encourage outstanding foreign experts to give lectures in China.
More than 2,000 students from 39 universities in the Asia-Pacific region worked as interns in Microsoft Research Asia, and 120 students received research funding, among which Tsinghua had the largest number of students.
This academic year, researchers from Microsoft Research Asia will open a course in Tsinghua: "Hot Areas of Computer Research".
I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that Microsoft will set up an "Outstanding Visiting Scholar" program in Tsinghua. Under this project, Microsoft Research Asia will invite a world-famous computer expert to give a lecture at the Institute of Theoretical Computer Science led by Professor Yao Qizhi every year. The first person who was invited to visit was Professor frans Keshould of MIT.
In a word, I am very happy to come to your school today. Before I was awarded an honorary doctorate by my alma mater, Harvard University, I became an honorary doctor in Tsinghua.
I just shared with you some possible breakthroughs in the future software field, as well as the opportunities they bring to enterprises and the help they provide to disabled people and students. I hope you can be as optimistic as I am: as long as you can surf the Internet, you can get equal educational opportunities.
Microsoft's attention to the China market is long-term. We have high expectations for Tsinghua University, which is famous for its academic rigor. Let's join hands to create a brilliant future of information technology!