We are moving towards an integrated and well-connected world where geographical boundaries will remain only in the geography books when it comes to Information Technology. Change is a continuous process.
I envision that we will have virtual web-based existence such that we can access our data anywhere in the world by simply logging into the net. All our work related files, music, movies and other data will be stored in virtual drives which will be secure as well as available 24X7X365 anywhere. Google is coming out with newer applications each day. Soon our entire workplace will look like a portal where we can work on our files, read the news, play games, check emails, sms our friends, book tickets, buy stuff online and publish our material through a single interface.
Networking technology will also grow leaps and bounds so that accessibility becomes faster and securer. The physical distance will cease to matter. These technologies will become cheaper and accessible by the masses and not restricted to corporate only. But managing these futuristic technologies will require lot of skilled staff. These equipments will also be powered by renewable solar energy so that they don’t add burden to our depleting energy resources.
The mobile gadgets and phones have become highly evolved but they will develop further. Nokia’s new ad says - It is not one thing it is many. Phones will act as normal computers too. They will become much more compact and power packed with features. Memory capacity of phones will also increase simultaneously to decreasing sizes of memory cards and chips. Presently the phones have smaller screens and keyboard facility. I envisage that we will come up with futuristic features like projection screen and keyboard such that we can put our phone anywhere and generate a screen and keyboard like a projector image. This will bring in a new meaning to anywhere anytime!
Though I have the vision that everything will be on the web but we cannot simply write off the existence of a personal computer or laptop. They will continue to form an integral part of our lives. We will be able to synchronize our web contents to our personal computer each time we start working on it. This will ensure that we have a single copy of data both on the web as well as on our local work station.
Personal computers and laptops will become more efficient and standardized. There will be generic drivers applicable to a particular family of gadgets like RAM, video card, soundcard etc. This will ensure that the OS itself will detect the devices and make them functional. Hence even layman can buy, install and maintain his own machine without too much dependence on hardware staff. With the advent of flatter and larger screens, the computer can also work as a television for some people. The DVD drive can be used to double as a regular DVD player of movies which it already does. The monitors will have more evolved and futuristic speakers with excellent sound quality which is lacking at the moment.
Computers in general will also come with faster chips, larger disc space (and smaller disc size), compact space conserving design with plug and play features. The CPU designs will change and can have the option of being docked with the monitor directly so that a work place will have only the monitor and the wireless keyboard with navigation device integrated in it.
One major area where there will be significant improvement is recovery of data in case of crashed machines. This will take disaster management to newer heights. We hope that the open source program will grow leaps and bounds thus ensuring that we have much more stable OS and programs. Easier licensing norms should be focus where users will not have to wield through a gamut of clause and sub-clauses to understand what is required for them. Database technology especially will evolve further to become more robust and dependable like a flight’s black box.
Free, open and standardized is where the world is headed towards. Reliance has made telecommunication cheap and accessible by the masses. This was unthinkable way back in the early 90s. Though we see lot of expensive gadgetry around us today, the prices are headed southwards. People will derive better value for money in terms of tangible benefits too. I also visualize utilization of lot more recyclable eco-friendly material in IT. The times have changed from the days of shell scripts and slow telephone lines to connect to the net which would snap in an instance to broadband connection and graphics rich interface. There is a lot remaining to be changed. A few more Linus Torvalds will change this world of information technology in the years to come and today’s vision will become tomorrow’s reality.
