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At the beginning of the Third Millenium (and
third year of Java Skyline) the future is now. And it's time to take a look at the technology future into which
we have arrived. So, first we turn to MIT
Tech Review, (see articles in From the Top: Aspect Programming,
Kurzweil vs Dertusos). The current issue, following a Lettermanicial trend that began in the 90's, has a Top Ten list. But no ordinary
list this - it has 10 scientists in emerging technologies the Tech Review editors assure us "Will Change the
World."
Speaking of Hal, we can also see a potential future for database
from a company with the auspicious name "Lazy Software."
They're pushing a database called "Sentences" that comes in a new form called "associative."
(See Servers).
TechMetrics, as others have recently done, looks at upcoming changes in the Net with the rise of Web Services,
and Oracle has just released their Web Services UDDI interface. (See Servers).
While waiting for the world to change, we
may face more pressing needs: like saving the environment (ignore it and it will go away). And also saving the Net. From itself. They say computer speed may
double every 18 months, but the Internet doubles every month.
Were it not for economic hiccups,
the Information SuperHighway might have already fallen victim to its own success, suffering the same indignity
we feel from asvault-and-morter highways we usually drive on: grid lock.
To prevent info-grid lock, our Inter-nation turns its lonely eyes to the
word: "fibre optics." (What's that you say Mrs. Robinson?)
And to the Scientific American article, the Triumph of Light see (Top).
The search for HAL continues
Like so many others, Karen Jenson, one of Tech Reviews Top 10 (see Jensen M. Mitchell Waldrop), is also searching for HAL. Karen Jensen is one of Microsoft Research's top
scientists, chief of the Natural Language Processing group, who previously worked at IBM. Ironically, IBM, in combination
with Motorola may be the first to put a HAL inside an everyday appliance: your car radio.
So, Hal may be unable to make it to Jupiter this year. But 23 months
from now, he may make it to your grocery store - inside the Motorola Telematics iRadio which, thanks to IBM will
respond to voice commands.
"Please, open the trunk, Hal."
"I'm sorry, Rich, I can't do that right now."
"Hal, open the trunk now! I need to put the groceries in!"
"Rich, if you'd just listen to reason..."
"Reason? Hal, what reason could you possibly have to keep from me stuffing grocery bags into the trunk?"
"The Motorola Telematics iRadio Model 2541 is the latest and most advanced and totally flawless version ever
assembled. It has never made a mistake in over 12 billion hours of operation by 35 million drivers."
"Yeah, Yeah yata yata. So what??"
"So, iRadio hasn't been hooked up to the trunk release yet, Rich"
"Oh."
One of HAL's purposes was not only to artificiallly lead the mission
to Jupiter, but to diagnose any problem that came up, including problems with itself. Cars are already equipped
with computer-based diagnostic systems and have been for years, so they could make an excellent platform on which
to place a HAL. But will your car radio be able to know when something is wrong with itself?
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