|
| THE
FUTURE OF COMPUTING |
|
So what will computers look like in the 21st century?
Well if we're lucky, we woun't have to actually see them.
Computer futurists are working towards getting computers
off of the desktop and onto the road. Computers will begin
to be everywhere, and at the same time less visible.
This trend has already begun. Look around were you are
sitting. Most of the objects probably having a computer
chip inside. Clocks, watches, radios, phones, refrigirators,
heaters, televisions, and even some pens all have more
computing power in them then the first Apollo mission
to the moon.
Most of these devices have been remarkably simplified
through the use of technology. Just take the new clocks
that are being sold as you read this. What do you do when
you want to use it? Just plug it in. They automatically
set their own time, more acurately then a person ever
could have. Soon everything in your household will have
this functionalilty.
Right now they are designing refrigerators that email
you when your out of milk, and call the maintence man
before they break down.
But have you ever tried to program your VCR? To most people
it seems incredibly complicated just to tape a show at
a certain time. The same effect happens with most devices.
If you know how to use it, it only takes a second... but
it takes an hour to figure out how to use it.
A company by the name of Home Automed Living, HAL(Link
is below),has developed a system with which you can speak
to your house. Once setup, the system is incredibly simple.
If you want to tape a show at 7:00 just say "Hal, tape
channel 10 at 7 o'clock" and the systems confirms your
request with it's own voice. Right now this technology
costs a substaintial amount of money, $5000 just for the
computer system and software, but this cost should go
down as other companies get into the game to compete with
HAL.
The next step is being able to access anything from anywhere.
Right now this is being accomplished by an array of interactive
cell phones, and personal organiers. The leader in the
technology would have to be Palm Computing. Palm develops
organizers that are about the size of a wallet, and can
do most of the things your computer can do. You can search
the web, write email, play games, do your taxes, or almost
anything else from almost anywhere. Right now the web
service is limited to the major US cities, much as cell
phones were when they first came out. But in the quest
for transparent computing, research is being done to surpass
the ease of use of the palm.
Researchers at MIT have developed the first wearable computers.
Right now these computers are slightly bulky. Most have
a waist belt onto which clips the CPU, Hard Drive, and
other equipment. What is in the future for the wearable
computer? Well a merge between a palm type device, a talking
computer, and glasses with a computer screen inside. Once
a palm type device has enough power to understand spoken
commands this new device will be possible. You'll slide
your computer into your pocket, put on your glasses, and
you'll be ready to compute on the go. Currently two control
designs are emerging. In the first you'll speak commands
and the a small microphone in the glasses will pick up
and then send to the computer. This sounds fine, except
that people around you might get aggitated it you keep
saying "Scroll down" to yourself.
The second option, and better in my opinion, is one in
which your glasses watch the movement of your eyes. If
you want to click on a link, you look at it in the glasses,
and blink twice. Want to shut the system down, then wink.
Little cameras in the glasses will determine where you
are looking and blinking, and send the command to the
computer. Sure, accidently winking at someone can cause
a problem, but it's not as bad as talking to yourself.
So what will computing be like in the future? Stay tuned
and imagine the possibilities! |
|
|
|
|
