An Academies committee will update the “tire tracks” figure published in CSTB’s 2012 report Continuing Innovation in Information Technology. Drawing on a literature review, input from experts, and suggestions solicited from the relevant communities, it will identify emerging research areas and significant new industries, products, and firms. Using a graphical approach similar to that used in 2012, it will depict the interconnections across research areas and with the creation and evolution of IT industry sectors. It will illustrate the roles of industry, academia, and government in computing innovation and the development of IT products, services, and industries and consider if and how these roles may have evolved since the last report. In addition to presenting established computing research areas and industry sectors, it will also consider emerging candidates in both categories.
A panel focused on the subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) will prepare an approximately 5 page report that will include: (1) A short narrative description of the subfield, its accomplishments, and likely future research directions; (2) Key examples of developments, research outcomes, the flow of people and ideas, and associated sources of (federal) research funding; and (3) A visualization of key developments and funding sources in the subfield following the framework and visual presentation used in the main report.
An Academies report will be prepared containing the figure together with a review of lessons learned about the structure and nature of information technology research and its impacts. The material prepared by the AI panel will be included as an appendix to the main report and cited or integrated in the main report as deemed appropriate by the study committee. Two derivative products will be prepared: (1) a brochure containing the figure and a summary of the report’s analysis and (2) a Web interactive infographic that links the figure to more detail on selected topics and connections drawn from earlier Academies work and other sources.