The Computer of the 21 st Century Mar Inseok Hwang Mark Weiser 1991

Outline Introduction Introduction Directions Directions Ubiquitous: Examples Ubiquitous: Examples Technical Issues Technical Issues Other Considerations Other Considerations Conclusion Conclusion

Mark Weiser’s Vision

Introduction Preliminary Preliminary –“The most profound technologies are those that disappear”

Introduction Example: Writing Example: Writing –At first, maybe.. Careful attention would have been required to write or read something. Careful attention would have been required to write or read something. Limited people with skills and knowledge Limited people with skills and knowledge Limited surface to write something on Limited surface to write something on –Now.. We can see some writing anywhere. We can see some writing anywhere. We can also notice, read, and write without much active attention. We can also notice, read, and write without much active attention. It is very difficult to imagine our life separated from the writings. It is very difficult to imagine our life separated from the writings. Today, “the Literacy Technology” is ubiquitous. Today, “the Literacy Technology” is ubiquitous.

Introduction Current Status of Computing Current Status of Computing –Far from ‘Ubiquitous’ like writings More than 50 million PCs have been sold. More than 50 million PCs have been sold. But the computer still remains largely in a world of its own. But the computer still remains largely in a world of its own. Currently, we should know pretty much to do something via computers. Currently, we should know pretty much to do something via computers. Like that somebody had to know how to make ink or to sculpture to write something, a long time ago. Like that somebody had to know how to make ink or to sculpture to write something, a long time ago.

Direction How should it progress? How should it progress? –The computer should vanish into the background of everyday human life. –Such a disappearance is a fundamental consequence of human psychology, not of the technology itself. –Only when the computers disappear into the background, we can be freed from using them with thinking. –Then, we can also focus on new goals beyond them.

Direction “Ubiquitous Computing” “Ubiquitous Computing” –Not just means the mobile computers that can be carried almost everywhere. We might be able to have such computers with great mobility and computing power. We might be able to have such computers with great mobility and computing power. But we must still focus on a single box called a computer, a laptop, or etc.  Far from fading into the background. But we must still focus on a single box called a computer, a laptop, or etc.  Far from fading into the background.

Direction “Ubiquitous Computing” “Ubiquitous Computing” –Example: Owning one very important book Focusing on that important book Focusing on that important book Not the today’s real power of literacy Not the today’s real power of literacy –Example: The Motor In the beginning of industry, a typical factory might have one steam engine that drives the entire system. In the beginning of industry, a typical factory might have one steam engine that drives the entire system. The engine was unique and important. The engine was unique and important. Now, we have tens of electric motors in an automobile, and each motor drives its own component. Now, we have tens of electric motors in an automobile, and each motor drives its own component. But there’re no points to the motors themselves. But there’re no points to the motors themselves.

Ubiquitous: Examples “Tabs”, “Pads”, and “Boards” “Tabs”, “Pads”, and “Boards” –Possible ubiquitous computing devices that the author suggested. All of them have capabilities of networking, display, self- locating, and so on. All of them have capabilities of networking, display, self- locating, and so on. Prototypes were suggested at PARC. Prototypes were suggested at PARC. –Tabs Inch-scale computers, like nametags Inch-scale computers, like nametags –Pads Feet-scale computers, like notebooks Feet-scale computers, like notebooks –Boards Yard-scale computers, like charts or bulletins. Yard-scale computers, like charts or bulletins.

Ubiquitous: Examples How many? How many? –Imagine how many papers with writings there are around us. Post-Its notes Post-Its notes Label stickers Label stickers Note-size papers Note-size papers Charts Charts …  Hundreds of papers on desks and walls in an office room  Hundreds of papers on desks and walls in an office room –For each room, Hundreds of tabs, Tens of pads, Several boards. Hundreds of tabs, Tens of pads, Several boards. They will become invisible to common awareness. They will become invisible to common awareness.

Ubiquitous: Examples Possible Applications Possible Applications –Tabs Badges: Badges: –Personal ID, Personal Location Detector –Phone Forwarding –Make machines know who is operating it now –Electronic votes in conferences –As well as Personal diaries, organizers, etc. Labels: Labels: –Attached on documents, books, or any equipments –Provide self-locating functions: For missing or searching –Provide information such as the vendor, contact info, etc. –Any active functions

Ubiquitous: Examples Possible Applications Possible Applications –Pads Key difference from current laptop computers: Key difference from current laptop computers: –There should be no individualized identities or importance –Like scrap paper –Release people from small, limited computer display area Use pads as using sheets of paper Use pads as using sheets of paper –Spreading many pads on the desk, just like spreading papers –Handy like paper, Functional like computer displays

Ubiquitous: Examples Possible Applications Possible Applications –Boards As a large display: As a large display: –Video screens, Bulletin boards, Whiteboards, Charts, etc. –E-bookcases: Books are downloadable to pads or tabs

Ubiquitous: Examples Sample images Sample images

Ubiquitous: Examples Sample images Sample images

Ubiquitous: Examples Sample images Sample images

Ubiquitous: Examples Sample images Sample images

Technical Issues Required Technologies Required Technologies –Computers With low price, low power, convenient displays With low price, low power, convenient displays –Networks Ties the computers all together Ties the computers all together –Software Implement the ubiquitous applications Implement the ubiquitous applications

Technical Issues Computers Computers –In 1990s Perspective Prices of flat displays, CPUs will fall Prices of flat displays, CPUs will fall Weight of display panels will fall, to about 100 grams Weight of display panels will fall, to about 100 grams CPU performance will rise continuously CPU performance will rise continuously Low-power displays & CPUs, Longer-life batteries Low-power displays & CPUs, Longer-life batteries On-board tens of MB memory, A/V, network capabilities On-board tens of MB memory, A/V, network capabilities Removable storage devices with abundant capacities Removable storage devices with abundant capacities

Technical Issues Computers Computers –Now we have.. Tens of, Hundreds of MB memory is common. Tens of, Hundreds of MB memory is common. We have CPUs running on GHz clocks, but still expensive & power consuming We have CPUs running on GHz clocks, but still expensive & power consuming We have feet-wide LCDs, yard-wide PDPs, but still expensive, heavy, & power consuming for ubiquitous uses We have feet-wide LCDs, yard-wide PDPs, but still expensive, heavy, & power consuming for ubiquitous uses Batteries are serious problems in portable devices Batteries are serious problems in portable devices Many kinds of removable storages with hundreds of MB capacity: Flash memories, Microdrives, etc. Many kinds of removable storages with hundreds of MB capacity: Flash memories, Microdrives, etc.

Technical Issues Software Software –Challenges H/W configuration may change H/W configuration may change Add/remove H/W & S/W modules in run-time Add/remove H/W & S/W modules in run-time We cannot shut down the entire system in a room We cannot shut down the entire system in a room We should have tiny kernels which is able to grow & shrink their functionalities dynamically We should have tiny kernels which is able to grow & shrink their functionalities dynamically We should have more distributed & shared S/W systems We should have more distributed & shared S/W systems

Technical Issues Network Network –Challenges We already have Gbps-speed networks We already have Gbps-speed networks Seamless linking of wired & wireless networks Seamless linking of wired & wireless networks Number of wireless channels: We should support hundreds of ubiquitous devices in a room Number of wireless channels: We should support hundreds of ubiquitous devices in a room Range of wireless networks Range of wireless networks It is still challenging to support all of tiny range wireless, long range wireless, & very high speed in a single network connection It is still challenging to support all of tiny range wireless, long range wireless, & very high speed in a single network connection

Other Considerations Privacy Privacy –Potential problem: Hundreds of computers, Active badges Hundreds of computers, Active badges Somebody can abuse the power or crack the system, and he can observe almost everything Somebody can abuse the power or crack the system, and he can observe almost everything –Possible solutions: Cryptography Cryptography Digital Pseudonyms Digital Pseudonyms

Other Considerations Community Community –Lack of humanity in current computerized community –As the computers fade into the background, The computerized connections will become more transparent The computerized connections will become more transparent Bring the communities closer together Bring the communities closer together Computer Addicts Computer Addicts –Computers will be no more than just a part of everyday life.

Concluding Remarks The author predicts that his vision will be realized in 20 years The author predicts that his vision will be realized in 20 years The computers will melt into a part of human life The computers will melt into a part of human life Eventually, the machines will fit the human environment, not forcing humans to enter theirs Eventually, the machines will fit the human environment, not forcing humans to enter theirs