The computing industry is in the midst of a technological revolution. The Internet and the Web began this revolution by enabling information to be electronically distributed and rendered without regard to the underlying end-user machine or system software architectures. Java is now enabling that same cross-platform distribution and execution of software applications. The result is the emergence of a computing model where end-user machine architectures and system software are commodities rather than industry drivers. The value is moving to the applications and persistence is moving into the network. This fundamental change is driving new industry challenges and opportunities, requiring new models for analysis.

As President of Sun Microsystems' JavaSoft business unit, Dr. Alan Baratz is in charge of developing, marketing, and supporting the JavaTM software platform, as well as associated software products. The majority of this work is performed in close partnership with other major information technology and software companies, setting a new standard for open, industry participative software design and development.

Dr. Baratz, 42, joined Sun when JavaSoft was established in January, 1996. At that time, he also became a member of the company's Executive Management Group, reporting directly to Scott McNealy, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Java is the first programming language to provide a comprehensive, robust, platform-independent solution to the challenges of programming for the Internet and other complex networks. It features portability, security, and advanced networking but is not tied to any particular operating system or microprocessor. Java applications can be written once and run anywhere.

Before joining Sun, Dr. Baratz was President and CEO of Delphi, the on-line business unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. In that role, he was responsible for transforming Delphi into the first fully Internet-based on-line content and access service. This included establishing Delphi's leading-edge Web publishing studio, which is still being used to develop and deliver a broad range of new on-line editorial content.

Prior to joining Delphi, Dr. Baratz held a number of senior management positions with IBM in New York, culminating in his being named IBM's Director of Strategic Development. He was selected for that role by IBM's Chairman to develop the company's corporate network services strategy, addressing industry-specific solutions, cross-industry service opportunities and underlying global platform issues. Dr. Baratz holds both a Master's Degree and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of California at Los Angeles.

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