Alt Visions

This idea has been rolling around in my head for a while and I’ve heard inklings of it on podcasts such as TWIT and Buzz Out Loud but have never heard/seen it really put together in the way I see it. I keep hearing about how cloud computing is the next big thing, how it is going to take change the we work, and how we will never be tied to computers because everyone will use web apps or desktop apps that sync to the cloud.

The problem with this way of thinking arises when you look at people, like myself, who need to use power hungry applications like photoshop that simply can’t currently function well as a web app. Now, I know that there are options available like Aviary or Adobe’s Photoshop.com but these are, in my opinion, hobbled apps that are just short of what I need in my work flow. What is very interesting however are the emerging technologies like the cloud gaming device/software, OnLive, that promise to bring full fledged, powerhouse computing to you through a minimally spec’ed computer or through a tiny device that can be plugged into your tv. What is amazing about this tech, if it indeed works in the real world environment, is that you will no longer need some incredibly expensive gaming rig to play games at their highest potential.

This becomes even more exciting when you think about this same logic when applied across all processor and graphics intensive computing. Graphic designers and photographers like me as well as video editors, engineers, and others will be able to use the computing power of some far off server farm and just view the resulting video feed of your work. Currently, the high speed connections that would make this possible aren’t really there or are a bit expensive to get but I think we are right on the verge of a bandwidth break through for home and mobile connections that will revolutionize the internet and make this type of computing possible.

Now most of this, so far, has already been said in one way or another so what I really want to focus on with my prediction is how this will be implemented and functionally used. To put it simply, computers in their current state (desktops, laptops, netbooks, etc) will cease to exist and will converge into a single mobile computing device such as an iPhone, Palm Pre, Android phone or whatever it will be. What I think is different about what others have said is that the keyboard and large screens will still be around but instead of being tied to some large desktop or laptop, they will instead be able to seamlessly communicate and interface with the mobile device in your pocket. Think of it this way: you need to do some work so you simply walk up to one of the displays around your house and as soon as you are within a given radius it automatically talks to the device in your pocket and all your files and programs show up in front of you.

Where the convergence really happens is that your mobile device now works as a conduit between the display and the massive computing power of the server farms. Company’s will begin selling you memberships to their products so you don’t have to worry about what computer your software is installed on your device. Your mobile device simply logs into your Adobe Creative Suite membership and you can now magically work on your projects from any display. To take this a step further, think if this worked everywhere, not just in your home. Any display anywhere becomes your computer. Are you at the kiosk in the mall or at a internet cafe? Just walk right up to a display and go to work. While i do believe their are security risks to having this stuff transmitted over the air, I believe it would still be much more secure than actually logging into someone else’s machine where you could accidentally leave yourself logged into accounts.

Right now the cell networks are scarred out of their pants of becoming “dumb pipes” where all subscribers want or need is a data connection to use their phone or access the internet and this is going to happen whether they like it or not. In my vision of future computing, mobile devices will go through the same transition and will become “dumb devices” that simply interface with your services on the web. You will be able to download and customize user interfaces for your device, giving it your own unique look and feel. Additional improvements will come with the advancement of display technologies resulting in products like pico-projectors, glasses with transparent displays, contact lens displays and other displays such as the one shown below.

Well, that is all I have for now. If you like or hate what you read, feel free to leave me a comment below or, better yet, give me your version of how you think this technology will evolve.