15 Important Tech Concepts In 2006

MBoy wrote to mention a Popular Mechanics story discussing 15 technology concepts that are likely to be important in the coming year. From the article: "Body Area Network (BAN) - Like everything else, implantable medical devices are going wireless. A new in-body antenna chip from Zarlink Semiconductor is in preproduction, and should appear in pacemakers and hearing implants this year. By transmitting data to and receiving instructions from nearby base stations, BAN chips can reprogram your heartbeat at your doctor's office or make a diagnosis from a bedside wireless monitor at home." I prefer Personal Area Network (PAN), myself.

Comments

FIOS, Baby!

[gbulmash]

I like their prediction of the expansion of FIOS (fiber optic broadband to the home at speeds of 30 megabits). I'm a Verizon customer and I've been salivating, waiting for them to bring it to my area.

There are those who will put forward the argument that 30 megabits isn't going to improve the average Internet experience over the 5-8 megabit speeds being offered now by a lot of cable and some DSL providers. But didn't Bill Gates once say that 640k of memory should be more than enough for anyone? :-)

Just like most broadband service offerings, speed will be asynchronous. Right now, my 8 megabit downstream line is only 768k upstream. But the 5 and 15 megabit service will be 2 megabits up, which gives you better than a T1 into the home. The 30 megabit service gives you 5 megabits up. The consumer packages, according to their FAQ, do not allow you to run a server, but give it a little time. 5 megabits up is enough to run a nice little web server so long as you don't get Slashdotted or DDOS'ed.

Of course, it also means that compromised PCs will be able to do nasty things their botnet masters command 6-7 times faster. But when I go FIOS, I go 100% Linux.

- Greg

Concept exists?

[cralewyth]

From TFA:
Ajax
When you use Google Maps, the Web site doesn't pause to reload the page each time you zoom in or pan to the side, and the URL remains "maps.google.com" instead of the meaningless string of letters and numbers you see at older sites like MapQuest. Google Maps is using a new technique that Web-watcher Jesse James Garrett has dubbed Ajax, for Asynchronous JavaScript + XML. Weaving together existing technologies, Ajax will help make Web services feel more like programs that run on the user's own computer, Garrett says, releasing Internet content from the limitations of conventional Web design by reimagining the browser as an operating system.

Surely, if the concept already exists, people know (of) it, and it's not one to know for 2006, but one already known from 2005?

4 they forgot:

[Anonymous Coward]

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP): Think of it as DRM for your display. Microsoft will be supporting this technology into the upcoming Vista operating system and others may follow as well.

Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI): As seen on the new Intel Macs, EFI is an upgraded BIOS specification as created by Intel. EFI allows for hardware drivers to remain in the firmware and operate independently of operating system. The EFI can also detect and select operating systems, eliminating the need for a separate boot loader.

Simple Sharing Extensions (SSE): While this was created in 2005, Microsoft hopes for SSE to gain momentum and compete with the RSS standard in 2006. SSE extends the RSS 2.0 specification from unidirectional to bidirectional information flows. Microsoft even released it under the Creative Commons license, the same license covering RSS 2.0.

BAN?

[smoon]

Radio controlled pacemaker? This will have to show up on 'CSI' pretty soon then. Would _you_ want a pacemaker that someone could re-program wirelessly? Say someone sitting behind you on the train/bus/subway/airplane?

Or maybe they use some strong security... WEP anyone? Now that would be freaking hilarious. Security Alert: "We regret to inform you that your heart implant is vulnerable to a wireless attack. The risk is mitigated by the fact the attacker must be within 5 feet of you, and own a laptop with special radio components that can be built using plans freely available on the internet for about $26 in parts.Please do not worry, sue us, or be surprised if you die when your enemies figure this out."

Heart attack waiting to happen

[Hecatonchires]

Havent read the article.

Is there security on that? You know someone will walk through a crowd with a portable transmitter, setting everyone's pacemaker to 'off'. Some people are just antisocial. (Me, I'm cynical)