I must say that I am always amazed at how many people think the average user already has enough bandwidth. I believe this is only because the services current bandwidth can provide are so limited. But talking to "average users", people in my family and friends who are not necessarily computer literate, convinces me that demand is there if the services are commensurate, and that there is already demand there for current services. Examples of services that require greater bandwidth today, or will likely in the future (for the average user):
1. Uploading photos. I and others in my family regularly fill an entire memory card then attempt to upload it all at once to our favorite photo services. Impatience is a virtue in our family and even waiting a couple minutes, let alone the typical hour, can be too long. [Indeed, for some of the computer-challenged in my family, such waits typically cause them to think they broke something on the computer! I've had to reassure them that this is just the normal thing.]
2. Sharing home videos. Similar to the photo service.
3. Video phone. Friends of mine (we're graduate students) doing research abroad often use such services to communicate with people back home. These are not necessarily computer literate people. But the quality can be much improved. And such improvements, I believe, are linked to improved bandwidth.
4. Movies and television. Cable and satellite tv netoworks are already trying to increase on-demand options. I think that consumers will increasingly want such services and that the internet will be the way to provide them. And forget netflix or blockbuster mail services. I want my movie now! (Once again, the impatience virtue.) And why not be able to rent a high-quality download, streamed from the computer to the TV (or a box already with the TV), and get it instantaneously. Similar services are already available, but bandwidth is still a major issue.
5. And what if multiple members of my family want to do all of these things and more at once, using the same internet connection?
So I sincerely hope that some of the predictions about increased bandwidth in the near future are true!
Slashdot Mirror
I must say that I am always amazed at how many people think the average user already has enough bandwidth. I believe this is only because the services current bandwidth can provide are so limited. But talking to "average users", people in my family and friends who are not necessarily computer literate, convinces me that demand is there if the services are commensurate, and that there is already demand there for current services. Examples of services that require greater bandwidth today, or will likely in the future (for the average user): 1. Uploading photos. I and others in my family regularly fill an entire memory card then attempt to upload it all at once to our favorite photo services. Impatience is a virtue in our family and even waiting a couple minutes, let alone the typical hour, can be too long. [Indeed, for some of the computer-challenged in my family, such waits typically cause them to think they broke something on the computer! I've had to reassure them that this is just the normal thing.] 2. Sharing home videos. Similar to the photo service. 3. Video phone. Friends of mine (we're graduate students) doing research abroad often use such services to communicate with people back home. These are not necessarily computer literate people. But the quality can be much improved. And such improvements, I believe, are linked to improved bandwidth. 4. Movies and television. Cable and satellite tv netoworks are already trying to increase on-demand options. I think that consumers will increasingly want such services and that the internet will be the way to provide them. And forget netflix or blockbuster mail services. I want my movie now! (Once again, the impatience virtue.) And why not be able to rent a high-quality download, streamed from the computer to the TV (or a box already with the TV), and get it instantaneously. Similar services are already available, but bandwidth is still a major issue. 5. And what if multiple members of my family want to do all of these things and more at once, using the same internet connection? So I sincerely hope that some of the predictions about increased bandwidth in the near future are true!