Information Unbound #3 Introduction - by Erick Von Schweber

Computing Fabrics: The BIGGER Picture (a 4 part series) # 3-1: Computing Fabrics extend the cell phone paradigm # 3-2: Virtual Personal Supercomputers (VPSCs) # 3-3: Computing Fabrics and next generation Interface Devices # 3-4: Hyper-Reality - A Wild and Crazy GUI
Introduction to the Series: Beginning this week (and continuing for the next three) we'll be expanding the vision of Computing Fabrics. The analysis in our PC Week Special Report (Oct. 5^th 1998) presented fact-based speculation, discussing technology directions that stem directly from vendor plans. Over the next several weeks I'll be exploring more speculative territory, drawing out possibilities of how and where other developing technologies may integrate with Computing Fabrics, creating highly innovative applications. This week (and next) we specifically look at a particular application of Computing Fabrics, creating virtual machines that follow us around. In two weeks we'll examine how a new generation of personal interface devices will form a powerful synergy with these virtual machines for exploiting the fabric. And in three weeks we'll look at human computer interface issues that emerge from this pairing of personal interfaces with Computing Fabrics and discover why only a through-and-through 3D interface will do.