The pace of everyday living may be hectic,
but the pace of innovation is downright
frenetic. Technologies barely imagined a few
years ago are now poised to change the face of
computing, as digital devices continue to burrow
into every aspect of daily life.
The world of science fiction is rapidly
becoming fact, from tabletops that charge your
laptop wirelessly to wall-mounted PCs that
recognize your face and gestures. Thanks to
breakthroughs in miniaturization, you'll be able
to tuck products into your pocket that wouldn't
have fit into your briefcase a few years ago,
such as projectors and photo printers. The next
generation of Internet technology will change
everything from TV to Coke machines. And
standard computer building blocks are growing
ever more powerful, as processor makers squeeze
more cores onto each chip and drive makers pack
more bits into each platter--guaranteeing that
even ordinary PCs of the future will be anything
but ordinary.
In the pages that follow, we spotlight a
dozen major innovations, from ones right around
the corner to a few that won't show up until at
least 2012. On multiple fronts, the future
you've been waiting for has almost arrived.
Here's what you need to know to prepare for it.