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What the future holds is a column about the future of technology. Adam Berger contributes ‘WTFH’ to Gadgetell every Thursday.

So wouldn’t it be nice if everything you ever needed could fit in the palm of your hand? This is called the “All-in-One Card” or AIO Card” (or Advanced Input Output Card). In the size of a credit card you can fit almost everything you need and more. The Sun Security Coordination Team Engineer started to look into this card and what it could actually do.

The processing that takes place is hosted on a server (thin client technology), offering virtually unlimited storage possibilities (unlike iPods and MP3 players, which have a limited memory). The card itself only needs a small processor that does nothing but send inputs to the server and in turn, the server sends the display and sound back. Since its applications run on the server, it can run many rich applications like your favorite games or other productivity apps like web browser or Office. All the apps and songs are instantly available.

The device is envisioned to use E-Ink (like Sony’s new Reader), requiring a very small amount of electricity to power the cells. It will run on solar energy, with solar cells mounted on back. This can interface with any Bluetooth device, allowing you to listen to audio and hear video tracks. It has the same size as any credit card, and is compatible with Java Card or Smart Cards. Therefore, you can use it as an ID card or credit card. You can keep it safe in your wallet. Since nothing is stored on this device, if it ever is lost or stolen, your data and personal identity are intact (and some has a blank card). You can borrow some one else’s and login with your account. Alternatively, if you have many of these cards, you can arrange them next to each other and get a bigger display area.

If you need a bigger display, you just insert it into a special smart card reader connected to any normal monitor or TV or projector and it will show the display. Which means for people who use a PC for email, browsing or just games, they longer need a home PC. You have a terminal that gives you terabytes of disk storage with super computer like processor! All you may need are Bluetooth keyboard, mouse and monitor! Needless to say you don’t have to worry about your home PC getting infected with virus and worms - there would be administrators at the server regularly upgrading the system and backing up your data.

Will everything turn into this? We will wait and see…

Read [Sun Blog]
Energy Requirement Calculations [Sun Blog]

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