Reddy was delivering a key-note address on `Information technology trends and implications for distance education through the Internet,' at the Nasscom 2000 conference here.

Reddy, who is a professor of computing services and robotics at the Carnegie Mellon University, said that by eLectures, learning will be made available through Internet on demand.

Reddy who has been closely associated with the Maharashtra Government sponsored Indian Institute of Software Engineering at Pune said that eLibraries will provide an access to information in the 21st century.

However, according to him, challenges in data access will be related to high bandwidth networking for multimedia access, intellectual property protection while facilitating access, intelligent information retrieval, delivery and protection of critical information and above all access to very large extra genetic memory.

Reddy said that video phone and video fax, flash forward video and digital libraries will play a majaor role in distance learning. He informed that the Project Listen and University Library Project implemented in the US have become successful as the emphasis was given on having an interface with the learner.

Reddy said that though computing has yet to fulfill its promise to have a major positive systematic impact on education in the countries like India, computers will finally achieve their potential in education especially in the 21st century.

According to him, computer literacy (knowing how to exploit the Web) and ubiquitous and wearable computing will play a major role in the days to come.Reddy said that with the penetration of computers and internet, everyone can access educational materials to discover learning styles best best surited to them. Moreover, it will also make available customised educational programmes.