The first time I met Dr. Jian Wang (we call him the Doctor), I was shocked by his vision of the future of internet technology. I wish we had met earlier.Jack Ma, cofounder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, from his foreword
"In Being Online Jian Wangoffers an expert view into the future of information and interconnectivity. The convergence of digital technologies promises to transform the economy and the society in ways that will affect every company and every individual. This book provides a roadmap for managers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and ordinary citizens."Mauro F. Guillén, dean, Cambridge Judge Business School and bestselling author of 2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything
Dr. Jian Wang was, and is, a moonshot thinker. From Alibaba Cloud to City Brain, his own brain seemingly knows no limitation, and he puts it to the task in this book by distilling complex ideas into approachable frameworks, philosophies, and tangible examples. True to form, Dr. Wang doesnt hold back on making bold observations or predictions. This book is for those who are curious about how the online world came to be and interested in where it is going. K. Guru Gowrappan, CEO of Verizon Media/Yahoo
Being Online reads like an encyclopedia of technology knowledge at your disposal. Dr. Wang can expound on the fact of 'data in the cloud' and match it with his understanding of the human experience and inevitable interaction that transforms the relationship, resulting in organic growth much like that of humanity itself. Beyond that, the concept of 'being online' is an apt metaphor mirroring our unique, expressive interaction with our most important technologies. Dr. Wangs book can serve as a launching pad for the creative technical minds that will build the essential tools for our future.Ed Bennett, former president and CEO of VH1, former CEO of Prodigy
Few people in the world have Jian Wangs perspective of our webenabled futurespanning eastern and western cultures.Being Online offers unique and valuable insights into the cloud and our increasingly interconnected world. It is not to be missed.Robert Buderi, journalist, entrepreneur, and author of Engines of Tomorrow and other books
"Jian Wang presents an extremely knowledgeable and compelling account of our emerging online lives. His exposition of the City Brain Initiative is particularly inspiring for the future of smart cities. I thoroughly recommend reading this book."Peter G. Rowe, Raymond Garbe Professor of Architecture and Urban Design and Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor
Whatever your background, this fascinating book will likely enrich your understanding of the potential for data once it is interactively available online. Wang believes being online will be the essence of this era and that our understanding of it has just begun. At the highest level, having real-time interactive access to data, knowledge, partners, and users is ultimately a major amplifier of innovation. He persuasively makes the case that the 'new continent' he describes will be constantly expanding in valuable new ways.Curt Carlson, former chairman and CEO of SRI
Through his cross-disciplinary training and working experiences, Dr. Wang gained a unique and profound understanding of data, cloud computing, and the internet. Being online is what makes big data interesting and valuable. This book will help you think deeper and further about the future of digitization and its impact on our societies. Its a must-read for anybody who cares about data and its potential business opportunities.Zuo-Jun (Max) Shen, Chancellor's Professor, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research & Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley; vice president and pro vice chancellor (research), University of Hong Kong When I first met Dr. Jian Wang ten years ago, he couldnt stop talking about the exciting future of cloud computing. Today, he has become a pioneer and doer of Alibaba's fundamental technology infrastructure. In the book, he not only shares his unique experience, but also makes bold predictions for the future. I believe that no matter what industry you are in, this wonderful book will open your mind.Joseph Tsai, executive vice president, Alibaba Group Being Online can greatly inspire the younger generation. In it, the Doctor generously shares the stories of YunOS and the De-IOE of Aliyun (Alibaba Cloud), which demonstrate both the reach of his ambition and his persistence. Reading his book is knowing the person.Ming-Kai Tsai, chairman of the board and former CEO, MediaTek Inc. You dont really understand the internet if you dont understand what being online is. At the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, I was so excited after listening to Dr. Jian Wang speak that I sent a text message to Jack Ma saying. 'Jian Wang is Alibabas treasure!" Jack replied, 'He is China's treasure.'"Shuo Qin, former editor in chief of China Business NewsDaily
