Information Appliances: Gadget Netopia
Information Appliances: Gadget Netopia
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信息家电：小工具 Netopia
作者：
T. Lewis
随着过去几年许多不同技术的融合，我们现在看到PC的后代作为一种全新的产品出现，以创新的方式使用他们继承的技术，这是有道理的。这些继承的技术包括无线连接、互联网接入和超便携性。这些技术和其他技术的结合正在形成一种新的设备类别，称为信息设备（IA）。IA是一类产品，也包括支持Web的电视机，它与台式计算机有关，但与网络计算机不同，IA不是残缺的PC。IA是定义新应用程序集的单独一类设备。事实上，他们正在定义几个新的计算类别。最初，这些设备将为消费电子产品的两个杀手级应用程序增加功能：电视和电子邮件。然而，最终，他们将摆脱更明显的扩展（如无线手持设备和支持电子邮件的蜂窝电话），并找到进入汽车、手表、厨房电器以及几乎任何其他可以通过用新技术扩展典型功能而变得更有用的东西的方法。每个设备最终都会成为IA，但不会像一些人想象的那样快。供应商面临的挑战是如何以吸引大众的价格设计和制造极其易于使用但复杂的设备。技术障碍很大，市场风险也很明显，但回报将是巨大的。这种紧张局势非常适合煽动下一次计算机革命。
With the convergence of so many disparate technologies over the past few years, it makes sense that we are now seeing PC descendants emerge as a breed of entirely new products that use their inherited technologies in innovative ways. These inherited technologies include wireless connectivity, Internet access and ultraportability. The combination of these and other technologies is forming a new class of devices known as information appliances (IAs). IAs-a class of products that also includes Web-enabled TVs-are related to desktop computers, but unlike network computers, IAs aren't crippled PCs. IAs are a separate class of devices defining new sets of applications. In fact, they are defining several new categories of computing. Initially, these devices will add functionality to the two killer applications of consumer electronics: television and e-mail. Eventually, however, they will pull away from the more obvious extensions (like wireless handhelds and e-mail-enabled cellular phones) and find their way into cars, wristwatches, kitchen appliances, and just about anything else that can be made more useful by extending typical capabilities with new technology. Every appliance will eventually become an IA, but not as soon as some people think. The challenge for vendors is how to design and manufacture extremely easy-to-use yet sophisticated devices at prices that will attract the masses. The technical hurdles are great and the market risks are clear, but the rewards will be huge. This tension is perfect for fomenting the next revolution in computing.