U.S. No Longer Global Tech Leader

Singapore and countries in Europe have topped the United States in the latest World Economic Forum "networked readiness index" survey.

The index, which measures the range of factors that affect a country's ability to harness information technologies for economic competitiveness and development, also cited the United States' low rate of mobile telephone usage, a lack of government leadership in information technology and the low quality of math and science education.

The U.S. has fallen to seventh overall in “Networked Readiness,” a measure of availability and usage of information and communications technology. The top spots are held by Denmark, Sweden and Singapore.

While the U.S. still ranks first in some categories, such as access to investment capital, ease of setting up a business and availability of loans, it’s lagging seriously behind in Internet infrastructure and adoption of new technology. It’s a problem shared by both public and private entities. Report co-author Soumitra Dutta said:

The U.S. has to observe trends in technology adoption around the world...In many parts of the world, in Asia and Europe, you have societies that are moving forward, leapfrogging the technology.

High speed networking infrastructure is the key to making advances in the global economy. We need a comprehensive new national high speed internet policy to once again put America in the lead of the high tech race.  

World Economic Forum Report

U.S. Loses Top Spot in Global Tech Study - AP via Salon.com

Denmark ahead, U.S. behind – San Francisco Chronicle