Portable Personal Computing

Already we're seeing powerful computers in non-desktop roles. Laptop computers, smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have taken computing out of the office. Wearable computers built into our clothing and jewelry will be with us everywhere we go.

Photo courtesy IBM By the end of the decade, we could be wearing our computers instead of sitting in front of them.

Our files will follow us while our computer provides constant feedback about our environment. Voice- and handwriting-recognition software will allow us to interface with our computers without using a mouse or keyboard. Magnetic RAM and other innovations will soon provide our PC with the same instant-on accessibility that our TV and radio have.

As the computer moves off the desktop and becomes our constant companion, augmented-reality displays will overlay computer-generated graphics to the real world.

One thing is an absolute certainty: The PC will evolve. It will get faster. It will have more capacity. And it will continue to be an integral part of our lives.