What is Next Big Thing in Computers?

[Wrecked944]

Just tapping the Pelican Brain Trust to see what you folks think will be the next big thing(s) in computers (i.e. where will the big $$ be for programmers?). I got involved in the financial services industry back in the late 80's when they were moving from paper securities to a completely digital paradigm and that has kept me employed for 15-odd years - enough to let me ignore the whole internet boom and bust. But that application is pretty much matured by now. I am thinking the internet is yesterday's news. Same with voice recognition systems, most animation stuff...even things like neural networks seem to be old hat these days. So where do you folks think the big dollars will be in the next five to ten years?

For example, there was an article recently about some breakthroughs in "non-algorithmic" models for artifical intelligence - mostly involving parallel processes hitting huge databases. Seems interesting. I also saw some stuff about people developing distributed processing models in order to use networks of relatively cheap pentium PC's to emulate supercomputers. Slick idea if it works.

Comments? Informed predictions? SWAG's?

[legion]

I've been working on this thing called Skynet.

[RickM]

Security, security, security.

[84porsche]

I personally think the next big thing is the mobile web industry, software/programming for digital phones, more automation in the automobile and more mobile technology.

[Tim Walsh]

security, hackings and attempted hackings are not a rare occurance at all. once you're "hooked up to the interweb" be prepared for the worst.

[Hetmann]

It certainly seems like they're building the infrastructure for wireless on a big scale. Seems like the next killer app will do something new in that domain.

[JeremyD]

a dual band internet to make full size pages viewable on handhelds - less memory intensive graphics.

[Overpaid Slacker]

The Internet?! Pffft. Is that thing still around?

JP

[id10t]

I also saw some stuff about people developing distributed processing models in order to use networks of relatively cheap pentium PC's to emulate supercomputers. Slick idea if it works.

Works, and works well. Most of the "computers" in the Top 100 are commodity based clusters, as opposed to big iron like Crays,etc. Check out Mozix and a few other projects for an idea on how it all works...

Also, have you thought about embedded development, RTOS stuff, etc?

[badcar]

Just bought a TRS 80 by this company called Comodor...wow...fast but expensive.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
The Internet?! Pffft. Is that thing still around?

JP

LOL. The internet? That's so 90s.

[id10t]

badcar - interested in a Z-80 assembler manual, or a C64 CP/M module/kit? Both, along with an original TRS-80 Model 4 (dual drives, more RAM, white case) manual is sitting here at my desk....

[ronin]

Originally posted by badcar
Just bought a TRS 80 by this company called Comodor...wow...fast but expensive.

ummm, sorry. the Trash 80 was Radio Shack. Commodore had the PET, the C64, C128, SX64, Amiga...

[COLDBASS]

Years ago, I was lucky enough to work at a Research Facility located in beautiful Maa-lee-boo. Memory storage via a hologram was one lab project...not sure what ever became of that...

[VINMAN]

A new game called "PONG" supposedly really high tech!

[Blanco]

We just attended a class that most major Telecom co's are moving to. VoIP.

THIS is going to be the "next" big thing. No need for telephone handsets etc... a call can just ring to your IP enable device ie palm/laptop/ pc etc.

I guess this is where the computer part comes in.

[RickM]

Originally posted by COLDBASS
Years ago, I was lucky enough to work at a Research Facility located in beautiful Maa-lee-boo. Memory storage via a hologram was one lab project...not sure what ever became of that...

Nearby at Bell Labs they invented a glass cube that was capable of storing large amounts of data using light. Great thing was that it could be made very small becase there were no heat issues. At the time light computers were the thing to develop. Not sure where it lead.

[dd74]

Why change a good thing when we already have it?

[Wrecked944]

Originally posted by VINMAN
A new game called "PONG" supposedly really high tech!

Hell yes!! Especially now that you can play the game "hands free" using a new technology to control the game using just your thoughts!!

http://wired-vig.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/brain.html

Hmmm...I googled "RTOS" but I don't understand how a "real time" operating system is so different from any other operating system.

[nostatic]

p2p in all your stuff (home, cars, etc). Streaming content over moving nodes and all of the issues associated with that.