where is computing going?

~>Dg<~ · 11 Dec 2011 at 23:44

scale of time and what you expect would help

we talking in thousand years or 5 years ?

why would you even use a device in the future? something would either be embedded in the brain or attached someway. using perpherials to access something is so old hat

gropingmantis · 11 Dec 2011 at 23:46

Johnnytoxic said:
I'd like to see someone use Visual Studio on a tablet.

Fact is, there will always be a market for both.

+1

Reaper 392 · 12 Dec 2011 at 00:09

ScoTTyBEEE said:
2019 computers powerful enough to mimic human brains, probably at the same time where we understand enough about the brain to put it in a model

you might want to push that date back another 50 years or so. there is no way we know anywhere near enough about the human brain to have even a theoretical computer model of it in 8 years time

processor wise i think we will carry on with die shrinks until someone works out how to get new materials to work such as diamond or graphene which will allow much higher temperatures, therefore much higher clocks.
in the longer term future we will carry on looking into improving the material until we can get quantum computing to work at a commercial level

Angilion · 12 Dec 2011 at 02:00

It's possible to print components and connections onto almost any material, which raises the possibility of computers more integrated with other objects. If you can simply print a transparent computer onto a very thin transparent sheet and you can fold it almost any way you like without breaking it, you get more options. You could, for example, have a computer that's a watch strap or a bracelet. They've just got up to roughly a performance parity with traditionally fabricated chips.

Right now, it's an interesting result in a research facility and it's far too expensive to be practical for anything. But the basic printing process is just a very high quality inkjet printer. It could bring production costs down by a vast amount.

It will also raise new piracy issues and that will no doubt result in ever-more restrictive and draconian responses. Copyright holders will have a point - if it's viable to simply print your own hardware at home, many people will. Print your own Playstation 9!

I think it'll move more and more towards almost all computer use being controlled by businesses and/or governments, with most people having nothing more than a very dumb terminal. Most people won't care as long as it works and they'll get used to businesses/governments controlling their use of it all. I wouldn't be surprised to see any hardware with more than minimal power being increasingly viewed as grounds for suspicion because it will allow you to use your stuff in unapproved ways...and why would you want to do that? Must be up to no good.

mrk · 12 Dec 2011 at 02:02

It has started.

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/resea...scientist-creates-lifelike-cells-out-of-metal

Scientists trying to create artificial life generally work under the assumption that life must be carbon-based, but what if a living thing could be made from another element?

One British researcher may have proven that theory, potentially rewriting the book of life. Lee Cronin of the University of Glasgow has created lifelike cells from metal — a feat few believed feasible. The discovery opens the door to the possibility that there may be life forms in the universe not based on carbon

Best not read the comments though, retardation overload in there.

KNiVES · 12 Dec 2011 at 02:11

Oil runs out within 20 years so what's the point? We'll all be back to the 1800s by then.

The internet, these fancy gadgets, the phones... enjoy it. Enjoy it all while you can.

PermaBanned · 12 Dec 2011 at 02:18

KNiVES said:
Oil runs out within 20 years so what's the point? We'll all be back to the 1800s by then.

The internet, these fancy gadgets, the phones... enjoy it. Enjoy it all while you can.

Not really, since ARM PCs with minimal power draw that you could easily generate yourself are just around the corner.

In fact gadgets are probably the things that will suffer the least, it's your kitchen you need to worry about. Fridges, ovens, kettles, microwaves - they all use tons of power and there isn't really much you can do about that.

James J · 12 Dec 2011 at 03:25

Strife212 said:
You can't do any sort of productivity on a tablet whatsoever.

I have an iPad2 before you say I need to try one. It's great to browse content on.

I agree with this and also own an ipad 2. I use mine for lecture notes at uni and general web browsing when I can't be bothered to sit at my desktop PC.

I love the power of a proper desktop PC though and how quickly things load and how good graphics and sound can actually be. I'm currently toying with the idea of getting a 27" screen with 1440p res, which obviously a tablet just cannot compete with.

What I'm trying to say is theres definitely a place for tablets and laptops, yet there will always be one for desktop PC's also, simply due to power and heat issues with the mobile devices limiting their power compared to desktops.

flynlr · 12 Dec 2011 at 03:44

i dont know the future. but after finding this in my basement tonight I will see what they thought was coming. .
.

mrk · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:06

That did come though?

Chicago was WIn95's early codename wasn't it!

Cosimo · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:09

mrk said:
That did come though?

Chicago was WIn95's early codename wasn't it!

Well spotted,

it was the internal codename.

mrk · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:12

I know it only because I installed it on a virtual machine

It then did something quite reminiscent of Win95, bluescreened with a VXD error on boot!

Cosimo · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:17

mrk said:
I know it only because I installed it on a virtual machine

It then did something quite reminiscent of Win95, bluescreened with a VXD error on boot!

Well there you go. Maybe you didn't install it properly, who knows, who cares. Water under the bridge.

mrk · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:21

Oh it was installed properly but Win95 is too primitive to understand and work even in basic GFX mdoe via VMware's hardware passthrough. That and the fact that Win95 would BSOD even with a tiny change that it didn't like.

elmarko · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:29

Tummy said:
What relevance has this got to do with anything?

@ OP, smaller, handheld devices seems to be where it's going. More "Jack of all trades master of none" types.

I can't see desktop types being replaced for a long time.

This.

Crappy devices for the masses of casual gamers, none tech type droves.

Until I can play a decent game on one, with it hooking up to a large screen - with a good interface device - it's a load of pointless rubbish.

Mostly they are toys for adults more than practical devices.

TommyV · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:29

Monserrat said:
If tablet computing does take over, I guess fixed-line ISPs will decline in favour of mobile internet.

Not until charges drop drastically enough to justfiy using only mobile internet :confused:

Telecomms companies are becoming more and more reliant on their data services to customers which obviouslly equates to revenue, mobiel data is still in a rising age and unfortunately prices won't drop enough anytime soon to do so.

Cosimo · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:35

mrk said:
Oh it was installed properly but Win95 is too primitive to understand and work even in basic GFX mdoe via VMware's hardware passthrough. That and the fact that Win95 would BSOD even with a tiny change that it didn't like.

Everyone says that.

and that's what happens when you use sixteen year old software. Still that's the past and not the future.

Glaucus · 12 Dec 2011 at 10:41

Monserrat said:
If tablet computing does take over, I guess fixed-line ISPs will decline in favour of mobile internet.

We still need fast Internet, we need it faster. Tvs, consoles and tablets will still need it through wifi. It's heading towards cloud service and all online content.