| Information on the move. The use of mobile computing is growing as more people need access to information when not in an office environment. This includes use by meter readers, gas inspectors, tele-managers (one of the recent fads), and even those needing to write AXIS presentations (whether in the caravan or the garden). The solutions currently on offer are somewhat piecemeal, the lap-top is contrained by it's power requirement, the PDA's by their limited functionality. Conceptually, mobile computing can be split into two main strands, devices which carry all their data with them, and devices which access remote data. This section, "replacement of the lap-top", is intended as a "concept car" type of approach, to examine some the technologies which are already available, or which are just around the corner. These are all in the context of supporting a "Business Computer" architecture (BCA), but have mostly been developed with PC's in mind. The components of a PC lap-top are examined, in turn, with corresponding BCA examples. So what are the components? Screen. No real difference between lap-top and BC, except that I think that screens generally need to get bigger, for ease of use, with A4 sizes being a good starting point. Size is currently limited by power consumption, but this is about to change. (See section on the power supply.) The cold-cathode, carbon sheet screens currently being developed by Motorola could well replace LCD screens, for improved viewing and brilliance. Processor Major changes will happen here. Instead of the power-hungry offerings from Intel, there will be a place for a much simpler device, as there will be less local processing required. The Berkeley IRAM project (Web.iram.cs.berkeley.edu) headed by Professor David Patterson has ideas for such a device. Able to produce a combined processor and memory chip, all for about 10 US dollars. The existing processors used by Psion, in their organisers, could also be re-engineered for use in a BCA. The tie-up between Psion and most of the main mobile phone producers should lead to some interesting devices. Memory The introduction of non-volatile ferroelectric memories (NS 4/7/98 Pg 37), possibly by Seimens next year, will be revolutionally. These will replace existing DRAM chips, and also have the potential to make hard discs a thing of the past. (N.B. Ferroelectric devices are already being used in most mobile phones.) Communications Integrated systems will be the name of the game. A built-in phone/modem using the existing GSM (Global Systems for Mobile Communication) system (which runs at a pedestrian 9.6 kilobits per second), will be replaced by the GSM 2 system (running at 28kbits/sec). By 2001, the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) running at between a nifty 150 kbits/sec and 2 mbits/sec should be up and running. Also, for those people who like to know where they are, BT is working on a GPS system based on the mobile phone network (NS 30/8/97 Pg 7). GPS, for civilians, should also reach the same accuracy as for the military (about half a metre) in 2001 (NS 1/2/97 Pg 5). Home:Index Previous: Business Computer - The Benefits Next: Replacement of the lap-top |