I just came across this interesting list of the 10 technologies to watch in 2004.
So here they are by category and with my comments in between.
1. Home networking : Ultra-wideband
Ah, pure delight. An ultra-wideband wireless network at home would be a dream come true for me 🙂
2. Supply chain : RFID
There’s been quite a buzz about RFIDs in this past year, some people loving them and some people saying they’re a threat to privacy. My opinion is that they’re a great way to keep accurate records of stock and all, but if they go further and start tracking customers histories and behaviours with them, well it could go sour.
3. Wireless broadband : 802.16 WiMax
Hmmm, i guess i’ll have to wait for the prices of regular broadband to go down in Tunisia before i even dream of Wireless broadband.
4. Energy : Micro fuel cells
Anything that extends the energy life of mobile phones, pdas, laptops, …etc. is great, so i’m all for it.
5. Household products : Gecko tape
This is rather interesting technology they’ve come up with. But i don’t think i’ll ever need to use it, unless… oh well, nah, i don’t think i’ll ever become a thief, lol…
6. Software : Antispam software (that works)
Now that would be a great piece of software. A must for my inbox which gets an average of 103 emails a day, 100 of which are spam.
7. Consumer electronics : OLEDs
Seems cool. If they consume less energy for mobile screens and stuff, i think it’s great.
8. Lighting : LED lightbulbs
Last longer, consume less. What else would we want ?
9. Computer memory : MRAM
More than 1,000 times faster than the fastest current nonvolatile flash memory and nearly 10 times faster than DRAM = Beautiful.
10. Medicine : Bioinformatics
Hopefully this will help to identify potential drugs faster, and so save more lives quicker. I can’t think of anything better than that.
[via CNN]
RFID was tested stealthily by WalMart. They planted it in ladies’ knickers, would you believe it. Now, in branches of ASDA (in the UK), they’re RFIDing small but expensive items such as Gillette razors, sensing product movements twice. Once when item is picked up, triggering the video recorder, then again at checkpoint, to check that customer has paid. This is Big Bro technology come true. ASDA is owned by WalMart btw. Recently, a customer sued one famous hotel chain in the US when he found a hidden camera in the toilet. Be afraid, be very afraid…