[Hidden-tech] need thoughts on future search tools for kid's book

[Steven Solomon]

Amy,

I second (or third) what Lou and Scott had to say. We are at the  
beginning of seeing computers "disappear". The first manifestations  
of this trend is powerful cellphone/computers and iPods that slip  
into your clothing, such as jackets and pants with pockets designed  
just for such devices. Some ski jackets now come with MP3 players  
built into their collars. This trend is now just at the tinker-toy  
stage, but it shows industry awareness of where this can go and is  
the foundation of a strange convergence of computing and fashion.

Before not too long, multi-purpose electronics that now take up  
several square inches or more (PCs, palm-tops) will shrink to a size  
that can fit in a belt buckle. Wireless connectivity will become much  
more robust. Optical computing will have arrived. Two decades from  
now it will likely be routine for packages of consumer commodities  
and medicines to communicate to the Internet. Walmart and other  
companies are already using RFD to control inventory, plane ticket  
ordering, etc. These functions are largely invisible to the consumer  
but the adaptive, somewhat intelligent networks that they rely on are  
working pretty well at this early stage.

So, let's assume that the developed world finally gets its act  
together and develops Africa, making a new market for our goods to  
compliment Africa's abundant resources that we rely on (metals,  
diamonds, etc.). That kid in, say, the Republic of Congo in the year  
2525, would plug in a set of wireless ear buds and talk to his  
trousers. His trousers would understand human speech and reply in  
kind while sending the response to the printer at the school or home.

Finally, you might want to speculate on a more distant future. 2100.  
Neural implants for machine/human interaction? The first experiments,  
successful ones, are happening now.

S
>


> In social studies class you are studying Africa. Your teacher asks
> you to find an article on your desktop computer about the people of
> Central Africa. By 2030 there is so much information on the web that
> you need a software tool called a 'bot to help find the data. 'Bots
> are animated computer figures that ask questions to make your data
> search easier.
>
> Here is my suggestion for changing it...
>
> In social studies class you are studying Africa. Your teacher asks
> you to find an article on your desktop computer about the people of
> Central Africa.By 2030,computer memory has grown so large, that all
> knowledge since the dawn of civilization will be available on line.
> Using special "thinking" software called Artificial Intelligence, the
> computer will not only find the answer to your question but will also
> try to guess what else you might need before you ask it.
>
Steven Solomon
Writer, Inventor, Near Futurist
ssol at interactiveguild.com
http://www.interactiveguild.com
Mobile: 413.537.4536
Home Office: 413.585.0229

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