The boom of smartphones is the best example

And if the reality just beyond science fiction In the sector of new technologies, it is far. Believe engineers at Intel, the world's leading manufacturer of computer chips, the future of computing will be concentrated around man, needs and the ability of electronic terminals to adapt to his immediate environment. It is the concept of "Context Awareness", or contextual recognition. The ideology is not new. It echoed that of the "ubiquitous computing", developed by Mark Weiser at the end of the 1980s and adopted by the big names in the computer industry. For the scientist, "the most profound technologies are those that disappear." They based themselves in our daily lives until they become invisible. "The theory is verified in recent years. The technology takes more and more in our life. The boom of "smartphones" is the best example.

Intimacy man-machine

Intel engineers now want to go further. The continued growth of the performance of microprocessors to develop products that anticipate the needs, provide advice and assist people in their daily lives. What do the "Smartphone", and other mobile terminal, the best friend of man - if it is not already the case. "We focus more and more on the experience of users to shape the products of tomorrow, said Justin Rattner, Vice-President in charge of R & D at Intel. The intimacy between man and machine will become increasingly important. Combining information on our local environment with those of our agenda, our social network and our preferences, Terminal of the future will be able to continuously learn on our way to work, to live. Therefore, they will be able to anticipate our needs. "This approach applications can be many.

Intel in outlined last month, at its annual Developers Conference in San Francisco. In the "smartphones" first. Informed of tastes and desires of their owner and its location, the phones will soon be able to advise the latter on nearby businesses possible promotions in store, restaurants and the proposed type of cuisine, etc. Several companies are already working on software of this type, in collaboration with Intel.

Another proposed application: a chip in a remote control TV, able to recognize the user and offer him accordingly, on the screen, the programs likely to interest. The viewer will be previously configured profile, so the system can know his preferences. The same principle is to study for automotive embedded systems. Such a device, which would be already in phase of testing in some manufacturers, including would automatically adapt the cabin to the habits of different drivers (air conditioning, seat position and mirrors, musical environment, etc.). Contextual recognition should also invite in the medical field. Intel is working on the development of a sensor located around the ankle that would detect a weakness in the nervous system of the elderly and therefore prevent any falls.

Voluntariness and privacy

Among the projects under development in the research laboratories of the California group, one of them calls. It is the project meaning ("Socially Enabled Services"). With the installation of chips and sensors in multiple connected objects around us, this technology allows to account for the activity in real time, and offer the opportunity to share and make it visible by other persons, on the screen of a "smartphone", a tablet or a computer through an avatar animated replicating the movements - the result could be akin to a lively Facebook... These technological developments and their applications, which most will be available in the next five years, there are some ethical questions.

Respect for privacy and the free will could be wrong. Intel is aware. "While we develop these new forms of collection, analysis, and contextual information-sharing, we are still more focused on respect for privacy and security while billions of terminals are more connected and intelligent", guarantees Justin Rattner, who note however users have already decided to abandon part of their privacy by Slacker on social networks.

The Californian Group also notes that his research work is accompanied by a sociological reflection (read below). In Intel Labs, researchers are working hard on machines that could read in our thoughts. And they are more very far from reaching the goal...