While the number of publications might have plateaued, this might be because the number of venues for publications hasn't been increasing. One thing is definitely for sure in the research area (at least computer science) - the grant money is not increasing very fast (or at all) and the number of venues for publications is not increasing very fast (or at all), however the competition for grant money and publications is certainly increasing. With only a select amount of grants being offered, and a select amount of publication venues available, of course the number of publications won't be increasing. Quality on the other hand, hopefully will, due to more rigorous selection of grant recipients and published papers.
Also, I highly doubt that many of the companies which use windows on most if not all of their desktops would enjoy confidential, secret, or other company information being looked over and possibly sent over the Intertubes to serve up ads.
Slashdot Mirror
You mean the ruling class in the poor countries will make a bundle, and the poor will remain poor.
While the number of publications might have plateaued, this might be because the number of venues for publications hasn't been increasing. One thing is definitely for sure in the research area (at least computer science) - the grant money is not increasing very fast (or at all) and the number of venues for publications is not increasing very fast (or at all), however the competition for grant money and publications is certainly increasing. With only a select amount of grants being offered, and a select amount of publication venues available, of course the number of publications won't be increasing. Quality on the other hand, hopefully will, due to more rigorous selection of grant recipients and published papers.
Also, I highly doubt that many of the companies which use windows on most if not all of their desktops would enjoy confidential, secret, or other company information being looked over and possibly sent over the Intertubes to serve up ads.