http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/streaming-your-entire-computer-to-a-television/
Alright, here goes blog number two for the semester. The article I chose for this week is from the New York Times and is not much of an article, it's really a short update on a new technology that has recently come out and spurred some thoughts for me. The article is on a new USB device from a company called Warpia, which allows you to wirelessly stream whatever you are doing on your computer (i.e. watching a Web video, movie, or just surfing the Web) to a TV. The TV and laptop have to be within Line of Sight and the signal is only good for about thirty feet.
I see this technology as the next step before TVs, PCs, and cell phones will all be merged into one device, with maybe a few different sizes you can choose from. I mean really what is the point of having a laptop that you can put a DVD in and watch a movie or stream Netflicks and at the same time have a TV that can serve the same function. You can get online with a computer, but I have seen technology lately where you can hook your TV up to the internet as well. The trend with cellphones is the same thing. You can surf the Internet with your phone, watch movies/videos, and make calls. Skype and other programs on your laptop can make calls as well, so the laptop really is just a larger Iphone/smartphone or you can think about cellphones as being smaller computers, however you want.
I suspect that in the future laptops, cellphones, and TVs will all be very similar devices and the only difference will be the size. All of these devices will be able to surf the web, stream video, make calls, and do anything else that comes along in the next few years. Sizes will vary but the range of functions will essentially be the same. You can probably think of them in three seperate sizes: portable size (Iphone), semi-portable (laptop), and nonportable (TV sized). I think in the future there will be no reason for devices to have specific functions when the technology will be such that it will only really matter on what size you want the device to be.....60 inch flat screen for your house or 4 inch to be able to fit in your pocket.
Josh, I have to agree with you. All of this technology is amazing and I bet even our parents are thinking back to what they would have thought if someone said all of this tech would be around. Technology is such a thriving business because everyday a bigger or smaller, faster, better device comes out whether it is a computer, phone, TV, etc... The only problem I see that will arise from it is that a lot of companies will fail. Sure they will make a killing before hand, but what do honestly think people are going to do when they go home and are able to stream everything wirelessly to any TV in the house. They no longer will care to have a desktop or laptop, and if so, for what? To have laptop to carry around to the living room so they can hop on the internet without being at their desk? They can load it up on their TV. What I am getting at is this technology is going to lead to the end of one or two of the devices, and if it does, the only companies that will survive are the ones who can master the integration process. I truly feel that computers will be obsolete in the future. In my mind, if I'm going to be able to do all of my work on my 50" TV and not strain my eyes on a small laptop and then when I'm on the road be able to access everything on my phone, what’s the point?
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I can see your argument, but I think lap tops will be here for a while. Coming from a design stand point I think lap tops will be around as portable workplaces if for nothing else. A cell phone can do many things but I can't see anyone working on autocad or photoshop on their cell phone when going on a busness trip or traveling to a job site to give a presentation. I can definetly see a device in the future that can do it all and also comes in "separate sizes" as Josh pointed out in his blog above.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I also can see your point of view. However, I believe that all of these devises have certain uses to certain people. Individuals have different values as to what types of devices are most useful to them. Some people like myself live by their cell phone and computer. Many others like my father, chose laptops, USB's, top shelf USB's and TV is very important to him. Things he feels he cannot live with are not important to me at all. I believe all these items have value and will continue to thrive in our society due to the uniqueness of all individual people and their choices.
ReplyDeleteJosh your article hit upon a thought i was having earlier this week. It seems that we have our devices to check email hit up google watch tv make calls etc... A powerful desktop computer can do all of this except that it's not portable. However, if our TV's and our cell phones had the right connections and enough bandwidth, or a device like the one you found, you could use your computer from your cell phone. Basically you could play halo on your phone or throw your video chat onto your tv. Essentially, each device would outsource the computing load to the desktop and simply show what the desktop shows. Basically it's like you said, what size screen do you want to work with? 4" 15" 60" it's all the same picture, just a different size and weight. Oh and no more owners manual fatigue! I hate getting a new phone and relearning how to use it!
ReplyDeleteJosh, I agree with you and can also imagine how tough it would be for an engineer to integrate all necessities in one techno piece serving different purposes through a single chip. As for this device, it reminds me of what I used to think before I knew about it. I use the 15-pin VGA connector to transfer my laptop screen to the TV when needed, but thought it would have been better to have this possible wirelessly. And here is one serving the purpose. Thirty feet is a reasonable distance considering the web-enabled video facility it offers.
ReplyDeleteI think that a few variations in features offered by Android (now under Google), Apple, etc. will keep the gizmo freaks want to have these masterpieces to explore individual technologies in depth. Nowadays, I rarely use my laptop to check emails, or access my social networks. Thanks to my Android. The future of technology has become so unpredictable that every now and then, a new device is being invented with features never seen before. One of the things that engineers would worry about if they want to integrate web surfing capabilities in each of their devices is widening of the licensed spectrum so to increase their consumer population and be ahead in the competition.