Technologies New Technologies Emerge Rapidly

¶ … Technologies

New technologies emerge rapidly enough to warrant daily dissemination of news and information, but so prolific is the high tech industry that each among the plethora of technology news web sites offers readers a different flavor or focus. However, recent headlines reveal several core trends in gadgets, software, and wireless communications. Privacy and personal data protection issues seem central; from "Jitterbug" keyloggers installed in ordinary keyboards to Internet data tracking devices to the announcement by the American State Department that all new passports will contain Smart Chips. While information espionage raises neck hairs, most technophiles enjoy hearing about the latest handheld gizmos including "smart" phones, PDAs, IPods, and multi-function gaming devices. Another major issue in the ever-changing world of technology relates to the way information is transferred; Sprint recently announced its plans to upgrade their infrastructure to fourth-generation standards offering WiMax, or "WiFi on steroids," (Reardon). At the same time, communications vendors are coming up with new and improved ways of transmitting bandwidth-intensive data including digital television feeds viewable on mobile phones. One potentially significant yet still immature development in the tech world relates to ways firms are dedicated to the development of "green" products and technologies. Researchers at MIT have a number of odd-sounding but promising projects under their belt including solar cells made from spinach. Finally, entertainment executives have been waging a losing battle against information protection and the ability for users to share copyrighted data; the film industry appears to have relented at least somewhat. Major Hollywood studios recently announced plans to permit video-on-demand subscribers to burn copies of the movies they watch through the service. Therefore, emerging technologies currently focus on the issues of privacy; information protection; media portability; and next-generation communications network infrastructures.

Privacy issues plague the high tech industry and continue to be one of the underlying forces guiding the development of new technology. AOL recently embarrassed itself by leaking the search logs of about 500,000 of its customers, drawing attention to the potential for ISPs to sell out their customer's privacy "long past any reasonable period for business purposes" (Mike, TechDirt). However, ISPs may not be the only culprit in the gradual eroding of personal privacy. Researchers note the clear possibility of tracing the authors of SMS text messages sent via mobile phones based on the user's texting style and diction ("Texting Study to Catch Criminals"). The potential for SMS tracking remains definitively low, however, given the immense effort it would take researchers to trace an author. Criminals stupid enough to text message their plots might want to reconsider their code words.

Devices called Jitterbugs that physically attach to keyboards to log user keystrokes also raise privacy invasion fears. Unlike keylogger software, used by intelligence-gathering organizations like the FBI, the Jitterbug is a piece of hardware attached directly to a keyboard. The device may reveal the user's information without having to bypass encryption and tests have revealed a fairly accurate and rapid transmission of data. However, Doggs notes that Jitterbugs pose "a purely theoretical threat" and are unlikely to make their way into the common keyboard. Like telephone wire taps, however, law enforcement and intelligence-gathering agencies may be able to plant Jitterbugs on the keyboards of potential suspects. The device can therefore be classified among emerging espionage technologies.

On the flip-side of personal privacy protection, major entertainment corporations such as Sony have for years fought for their rights to prevent users from sharing copyrighted information including music and movies. At the same time, Internet users have long expressed their wishes for free and relatively unrestricted file sharing mainly through peer-to-peer networks. A recently announcement by Hollywood studios reveals that the entertainment industry may be relenting to consumer demands, by allowing subscribers to services like Movielink to burn what they watch onto a DVD-R for personal use. Currently, the DVD Copy Control Association's copy-protection technology prevents users from being able to burn what they see and subscription rates have consequently been low. Subscribers to digital content providers have complained that by not being able to burn the movies onto a DVD disk, they are forced to watch films on their PC monitors. The relaxed copyright restrictions would enable subscribers to watch what they pay for on their brand new flat-panel large screen television instead of on their 14" laptop monitor. Although the decision does not herald a novel gizmo or technological breakthrough, the decision to allow DVD burning does signal the burgeoning demand for increased access to digital content as well as the increased demand for integrated multimedia hardware. In other words, the media center PC links directly to the LCD flat-panel television, which is also linked to the iPod docking station connected to the home theater system.

IPod docking stations are becoming increasingly more integrated into standard audio systems in automobiles and home stereos. A set of reasonably-priced TEAC systems offer, for less than $300, the chance to dock and charge the iPod while listening. Moreover, the systems come with CDRW-compatible players that can read and play MP3s burned onto disks. Home audio and video systems are becoming more integrated and compatible with portable media storage too. The ability to link digital storage with analog sound systems means also that audiophiles have their entire music collection at their fingertips and can launch files using their PC, their iPod, or their ISP's digital music service. Moreover, sound systems such as the TEAC are streamlined, urban-friendly and ideal for use in small spaces.

Portable media devices are becoming requisite technology and PDAs are no longer geared for the business elite. Surfing the Web, playing games, and instant messaging are becoming standard features of mobile phones and PDAs. Cameras, microphones, high-capacity MP3 players, and GPS navigation systems are also commonly integrated into handheld devices. More specialized wares offer a plethora of services, at a cost. Gizmodo happily reports that Sprint will be offering full services compatible with the Treo 700w phone/PDA. Perhaps even more radical, Nintendo will soon release a Web browser compatible with the DS. Reviewers point out, however, that the browser's performance is "sluggish" on a WiFi connection.

New hardware requires massive systems upgrades and some communications vendors are upping the ante with regards to their high-speed data transfer infrastructures. In Europe, upgrades to the touted 3G system has yet to meet expected profits but undoubtedly as new gizmos enable high-power users to multitask online, such infrastructure upgrades will pay off. Sprint has recently announced plans to transform its communications infrastructure to fourth-generation (4G) WiMax. WiMax will ostensibly "quadruple download speeds over current cellular technology and offer cost-effective chipsets that can be embedded in everything from cell phones to digital cameras," (Reardon). The upgrade will ease the transmission of bandwidth-intensive data such as streaming video and would also enable users to work and play without being stuck at the coffee shop: WiMax signals can be transferred up to two miles away from the signal station (Reardon). Infrastructure upgrades always seem promising; yet their pace of development sometimes belies the rapid emergence of new hardware incompatible with the new systems, or in light of the lack of standardization firms offer differing technologies that confuse consumers and cause more confusion than excitement and interest. Emerging communications technologies remain promising, however, and with improved regulations and standardizations, the industry is likely to prosper.