From inexpensive 20-megapixel cameras to 50-terabyte DVDs, here’s our definitive list of technologies we’re looking forward to seeing.
The standard dreams of future technology, such as intergalactic spaceships and do-everything robot servants, are still a ways off, but plenty of exciting technology advances will be here fairly soon.
Desktops and Laptops
1. Advanced Diagnostics in Windows: Windows Vista will include feature to detect disk and other component failures before they happen. If this works promised, it could be big plus, allowing you to save your data fix the problem the component fails.
2. AMD 4X4 Systems: AMD pushing new design for machines aimed at gamers and other speed freaks: Its4X4 allows for two Athlon processors on one motherboard—for total of four CPU cores with existing dual-core processors, total of eight with the quad-core chips the company will be releasing next year. 4X4 motherboards will be available later this
3. Quick Vista Installations: Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft’s platform products and services division, claims that the release version of Vista will install in under 15 minutes. Our tests with the beta versions have taken more like an hour, but quicker will be very welcome if Microsoft pulls it off.
4. Superfast Boot-Ups: Adding flash memory to the motherboard could lead to PCs that boot upload applications more quickly. We expect to see systems with technology2007.
5. More Factory Overclocking: An increasing number of desktop PCs overclocked, where the processor set to run faster than the manufacturer’s speed rating. This used to be tweak that only hard-core geeks would make, vendors using the technique to squeeze more performance out of processors.
6. Radical New Designs: Extreme designs such as toaster-size Shuttle PCs and the notebook/desktop hybrid Dell XPS M2010 have shown that PC design is still evolving. New designs may not always work, but anything that gets us away from the boring tower PC is progress.
7. AMD’s Torrenza: AMD is working on a new technology (code-named Torrenza) to connect its processors to coprocessor devices that handle tasks such as processing video, or modeling physics for more realistic games. The new coprocessors will be able to talk directly to the processor at high speed. The technology will appear on high-end systems (such servers) first, but could work its way down to desktops.
8. Accurate Speech Recognition: Though the vendor of the Dragon Naturally Speaking speech-recognition program claims an accuracy of 99 percent, in recent tests the application managed of only about 96 percent—not bad, but not good enough. We don’t need perfection, we are looking forward to speech-recognition system that fast and accurate enough to replace keyboard for writing.
9. 3D Desktops That Work: Past attempts to transform the computer desktop into a 3D environment have been headache-inducing failures, but a combination of faster graphics cards and processors means that 3D desktops finally may be a reality. Prototypes such as BumpTop allow you to organize files and folders as if they were pieces of paper.
10. Save Energy on Idle: The implementation of new, stricter EnergyStar guidelines will compel system designers and manufacturers to improve the efficiency of PCs, consoles, servers laptops in idle mode.
11. More Notebook Biometrics: Fingerprint scanners are already present on many laptops, and we’ll see more of them on lower-cost models, providing new ways of authenticating users and securing data either separately or all at once.
12. Revamped Interfaces: Remember how cool it was in the movie Minority Report, when Tom Cruise’s character pushed and pulled images around on virtual screens? It’s not so far away: Researchers are already experimenting with new interfaces that allow you to use touch screens to manipulate data.
13. Windows Side Show Displays: Microsoft’s Vista operating system will support small displays and controls on the lid of laptops. Such will show you when have new e-mail or allow to look up phone numbers, without your having to open the case boot the system up.
14. GPS to Go: At the moment, only specialized laptops have built-in GPS receivers. But as the receivers get cheaper, more notebook PCs will start coming with them included.
15. Another Attempt at Origami: Microsoft’s Origami PC concept hasn’t been a big success. Will the manufacturers and Microsoft take seconds wing at the idea? That remains to seen, but potential market exists for device that between PDA laptop.
16. Modular PC: Dell chief technology officer Kevin Kettler envisions a modular PC, for which upgrading is a simple matter of pulling out the old component and dropping in the new. Right now upgrading a PC is like brain surgery with a risk of an accidental lobotomy, so we’re looking forward to anything that can make it a less invasive procedure.
17. HDMI on the Desktop: The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector is the standard way to link high-definition video components; graphics cards with HDMI interfaces are now available. We’ll see more desktop PCs coming with HDMI ports.
18. A PC That Runs All OSs: Choosing an operating system should be like choosing pair of shoes in the morning: You pick the one that suits where you’re going. Apple has made progress with Macs that can run Mac OS Windows, we’re looking forward to systems that can run any all OSs.
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