A BRASSY fanfare blared and spotlights careened around the venue as the stars of the show took to the stage. Outside, the stairs were lined with 2-metre-high posters of the performers, and inside massive video walls ensured no one missed any of the action. But this was no Hollywood extravaganza. It was the welcome afforded Microsoft vice-president Rick Rashid as he launched the Computing in the 21st Century roadshow at Beijing’s Tsinghua University earlier this month. Such is the thirst for technological knowledge in today’s China that experts in the field are treated like celebrities.
Rashid was addressing 3400 students…
