Questions Raised By New Computer
The innovation generation the most buzz at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was an ultra-slim pocket-sized computer.
It may have enormous potential, but also raises big questions.
The Compute Card has a processor, memory, story and the ability to connect to stuff, all the essentials of a computer.
At 95mm long, 55mm wide and 5mm thick, it is about the size of a credit card but twice as thick.
Intel unveiled it as ‘a PC that fits in your wallet.’
However, it is neither intended to replace your laptop nor to be carried around in a handbag.
Then intention is to make it available to developers to slot it into other products.
From smart fridges to security systems to automated airport check-in machines, Intel want to encourage manufacturers to put one of these in instead of printed circuit board based electronics.
The advantage would be that it can be whipped out and a replacement slotted in upon failure or a need for an upgrade, reducing repair costs and extending the life of a device.
All very good, but I see two fundamental questions. Firstly, many of the devices Intel are suggesting could be controlled by one of these things, for example security cameras were much quoted in reports from the show, would barley touch the capabilities of such a computer.
Rather than scatter unused processing and storage capacity around, would it not be better to control devices remotely over wifi from a centralised powerhouse?
Secondly, hackers are already taking over wifi connected gizmos.
Would a barely used but functional PC inside a smart fridge just make such abuse much easier?
