Info Tec

• Neural networks
  • Networks that solve problems themselves, discover and fix problems before they become serious.
    (McVitty,A 1996 Jul)
• Desktop managers (personal information managers PIMs)
  • include calculators, clocks, electronic card files, calendars
• Hypermedia
  • Hypertext connects text and pictures as in this V/2-knowledge base
  • Multimedia links text, graphics, video or sound.
• Groupware
  • incorporating everything from email, calendaring, scheduling, document management, workflow tools, corporate and individual database access, video clips, graphics and voice messages, to name some
  • Groupware is a concept rather than a particular product or class of products. Lotus Notes is often associated with the concept of groupware, but groupware can take many forms, incorporating everything from email, calendaring, scheduling, document management, workflow tools, corporate and individual database access, video clips, graphics and voice messages, to name some
  • Conceptually is may be thought of as "Information broking". Groupware tools allow companies to put information in the right place, where the right people may access it.
  • [Ref 90]MTB '95
• Artificial Intelligence
  • the ability of a computer to make decisions, usually based on a set of rules.
• Fuzzy logic
  • To make decisions based on incomplete data or based on a range of inexact criteria.
• Virtual reality
  • interactive sensory equipment (headgear, gloves) and software creating 'alternative realities'. to the physical world.
  • Computer simulation of actual occurring events. During the Americas cup, data was fed to a computer system and an animation of the yachts were produced enabling "live" animation that could zoom from the position and action of a keel through to the positioning of the yachts.
• Nanotechnology and Quantum computing
  • Working at molecular level, scientists are attempting to superceede the silicon chip.
    (McDonald,G. & Crotty, C. (2000, Feb)

• Synthetic "Talking head"
  • DECface. Digital's smartface kiosk. Allow humans to interact with prople in a natural, human like way. Customers interact with a computer generated real-time customisable synthetic talking head, complete with six universally recognised human expressions; happinesss, sadness, surprise, anger, disgust and fear. It includes a prompter for action or help.
    Ref: Digital introduces Smark Kiosk (Dec/Jan 1998)
  • Ananova: The world's first virtual newscaster developed by Press Association New Media. Capable of delivering real-time news on-demand over the internet. The computer generated presentor is a combination of Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham), Kylie Minogue (Ausy singer) and Carol Vordeman (British TV presenter)
    Ananova
• Touchy-feely PC
  • IBMs Blue eyes research program is built around biometric technologies, attempting to recognie facial expression, eye movement and sensing mood changes. Eg. Mouse senses pulse, temperature and skin responses.
    (McDonald,G. & Crotty, C. (2000, Feb)
• Perpetual persona
  • Information will follow you on-line. Eg. When you log on to the internet your personal layout will be displayed. Issues of privacy.
    (McDonald,G. & Crotty, C. (2000, Feb)
• Micro-displays
  • Tiny LCOS (Liquid Crystal-on-silicon) displays, smaller than 3cm LCDs attached to silicon integrated circuits. Used in sunglass sized Virtual reality goggles to colour projectors and 80" computer screens. 
    Essex, D. (1999, Jun 21)