Did We Ever Really Want Personal Computers?

As I am less than a week away from owning my first post-pc device (while naturally receiving another PC and installing a new OS on the same day), I've had some thoughts on this new era of smartphones and tablets. I've come to the conclusion that the "normals" have never wanted personal computers. Oh sure, the tech hobbyists formed a market that influenced form, function, and style, but as you've probably seen what desktops, laptops, and notebooks looked like after the iPhone and iPad were introduced, those things have looked almost exactly the same, whereas the real innovation has been in portable devices. The iToasters I call them, and that includes all the Android junkfood. Why? The tech hobbyists were happy with what they got up until 2009. It was the "normals" who were always frustrated for not having what they wanted, but forced to use things that looked like TV's but sure as hell didn't act like them.

The "normals" wanted to listen to music, have their nerdy friend tag along to answer questions, make sure there were plenty of friendly strangers to ask for directions and shopping and dining advice, maybe read a newspaper, magazine, or book, and to watch TV whenever they wanted. The "normals" didn't even really want a phone to carry around, and that was forced on them too. They just wanted to send quick messages to friendly strangers, either to say hi, ask quick questions, or get some attention. And with the introduction of the iPhone and its competitors, the "normals" finally got what they wanted: portable music, map apps, social media, search apps, and shopping. If they're bored while waiting for a friendly stranger to respond to their text blast (twitter update or facebook status), they can now play games like the ones that used to come for free with Windows like Solitaire.. You tech hobbyists know what I'm talking about. The only "gaming" the "normals" ever did on a desktop was play Solitaire. These days: Angry Birds or the next equivalent. And the tablets are the little TV's and portable bookstores they always wanted.

The "normals" never wanted a PC at home or out in public. The PC was for work. The walkman, TV, nerdy friend, friendly strangers, books, newspapers, magazines, shopping catalogs, road maps, Gameboy were for everything else. And now, they're all there, in one hand, glowing, ready, waiting for a familiar touch.

Update 11/4/2012: Here's a report on how "normal people" are reacting to Windows 8 and touch-centric computers sold on HSN. Mildly surprising on how Microsoft is moving in tune with the "normals."

What Disney Did With Sound Projection...

...is equivalent to what they will soon do with 3D printing, finally making 3D visual projection viable everywhere.



I literally sat through this entire video open-mouthed and slack-jawed thinking of the possible applications. This is big.

via Engadget

I See a Disturbing Lack of Net Power Calculation

In this story about an interesting idea of making wind energy portable or able to be stored in some fashion, the omission of net power with current turbine engineering belies its conceptual usefulness. The idea of using wind energy to liquify nitrogen, then let it expand again to fill in turbine downtime is novel, but the net power consumption does not even come close to rivaling battery technology right now. Either the turbines need to produce much more power, or the liquification process needs to become much more efficient. Still, lots more basic engineering research needs to be done even to determine if this is a viable solution. Thermodynamics is not a very forgiving branch of physics.