Reading Group: Computer of the 21st Century
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The document discusses Mark Weiser's vision for the future of technology from the 1990s. Weiser envisioned ubiquitous computing where many small, interconnected computing devices would be integrated seamlessly into everyday objects and the environment. This would allow people to access information and computing resources unconsciously as part of their normal activities. The vision was for technology to recede into the background and enhance people's awareness of each other through computer links.
Reading Group: Computer of the 21st Century
- 1. The computer for the 21 st Century Discussing Mark Weiser’s 20 th Century Vision of the future of Technology Results of Discussion Preparatory work ILdV 25.11.08
- 2. 1991 in the world… Average House Price £ 70,987 The last episode of the soap opera Dallas airs The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 3,000 for the first time ever Seventy tornadoes break out in the central United States . A tropical cyclone hits Bangladesh killing an estimated 138,000 people Collapse of the Soviet Union and Russian s elect Boris Yeltsin as the president of their republic
- 3. 1991 in the technology world… Internet is made available to unrestricted commercial use and number of computers on the net reaches 1 million Linus Torvalds releases first version of the Linux operating system kernel The first version of QuickTime was released Microsoft releases MS Dos 5.0 Tim Berners-Lee introduces the web browser Invention of Airbag USA by Geoffrey L Mahon and Allen Breed 1 st IP Video Conference UCL
- 4. Most quoted Invisible Transparent Disappear Activity/Interaction Ubiquitous It’s becoming… cliché …a reality
- 5. Fabric of everyday life Invisible Disappearance Periphery Aware Integrate seamlessly Ubiquitous network New way of thinking about computers Most quoted
- 6. Not so quoted Focus (on device) Information overload Security
- 7. Not so quoted Free (humans) Fast and easy Less strain Refreshing Attention (demand) Workplace/Physical world Human Psychology Getting accustomed/casual use Desires
- 8. What’s the Vision? By Mark Weiser interpreted by Mobisys Group Making EVERYDAY life easier Through technology By Tech not always easy to use Continuous learning
- 9. What’s the Vision? By Mark Weiser interpreted by ILdV Invisible computers in many different devices Interconnected in a ubiquitous network Activate the world People use them unconsciously to accomplish everyday tasks Will make individuals more aware of the people on the other end of computer links Future dominant way of accessing computers
- 10. Metaphors Writing Walk in the woods Electric motors
- 11. What we read vs. what we imagine Clip-on computers Scrap computers Single room networks Transparent connections
- 12. Some thoughts Social issues Society of control vs. transparency How people live & work Spatial issues Technology in the Built Environment Meaning of location