Technology continues to follow Moore's Law, increasing at a hyperbolic rate.
This year more than 2,000,000,000,000,000,000 transistors will be manufactured. Enough that every ant in the world can have several hundred for himself, and they damn near can afford them as transistors now cost in 10's of nanodollars each.
IBM is building ASCI-Purple and Blue-Gene Lite two computers ASCI-Purple for delivery next year and Blue-Gene lite in 2005. ASCI-Purple will match the speed of the human mind, Blue-gene lite will exceed the human mind by a factor or 3.6. Moore's Law would predict that machines of this power will be on your desk top in just 10-15 years.
Microsoft is working hard on "Natural Language Processing" allowing you to communicate directly with your computer by speech. Other companies are working on self programming, still others on genetic programming, (programs that evolve new programs or inventions, more than 15 inventions by computers have been patented.)
The export of manufacturing jobs has been proceeding at a rapid pace in the United States. The export via the Internet of Office Jobs is just beginning but will soon accelerate.
Where will these products and trends lead?
Rodney Babcock |
