Experts Mull 'Next Big Thing' In Computing

Zardon

A Comdex panel on "The Next Big Thing" in IT didn't yield any definite answers, but industry executives did offer attendees some strong ideas about the direction of ubiquitous computing over the next several years.

Hosted by CRN Editor in Chief Mike Vizard, the panel discussed present and upcoming innovations designed to foster a hyperconnected digital world that links all technology segments, including everything from wireless, display technology and printers to databases and content management.

Panelists included Mike Millikin, president of Comdex Worldwide; Tony Scott, CTO of General Motors; Derek Burney, president and CEO of Corel; Brian Connors, vice president of business development and quality and CTO at IBM; Ralph Tang, president of BenQ; Croswell Chambers, CIO at Lexmark; Joseph Marc McConnaughey, senior vice president at ViewSonic; Rey Roque, CMO at Samsung Electronics; Jim Hunt, president of Cap Gemini Technologies LLC; and Allyson Frynhoff, COO and vice president at Oracle.

Wireless, security and display technology headlined the list of discussion topics as executives outlined their companies' strategies to realize the vision of a highly networked world where content intuitively knows which device it will be displayed on and every household has a large-display, Web-connected television.

GM's Scott said his company is experimenting with a network-enabled automobile that could bring drivers a new realm of services, including Tivo-like television on demand. But safety remains GM's primary concern, he noted.

"[There won't be] driver-side screens or keyboards in a car," Scott said. Referring to the Windows function for restarting after a system crash, he said, "You won't be doing control, alt, delete while driving."

ViewSonic's McConnaughey shed light on the future of display technology and how it would enable smart content, allowing viewers to read information on demand. Such technology will enable users to "be anywhere and view information anytime, anywhere," he said, adding that the display industry will drive that content with higher-resolution devices.

BenQ's Tang agreed, adding that display and wireless technologies are essential to realizing the vision of ubiquitous computing.

Executives also agreed that Web services will drive the future of hyperconnected devices. Although Web services standards are key to the entire ubiquitous computing scheme, they aren't the only major technology driving that IT model, panelists said.

"Web services is not the answer to every single problem," GM's Scott said.

Corel's Burney said his company's support of smart content that formats itself according to the device it's displayed on is a major factor driving the proliferation of Web services on multiple devices.

However, Cap Gemini's Hunt said that for any of these technologies to extend to multiple wireless devices, solution providers and their customers must solve the security problem inherent in mobility. And if there is significant return on investment involved, they will find a way, he said.

"If the business case is compelling, security officers will find the means," Hunt said. Elizabeth Montalbano, CRN, Las Vegas