Computers, Notebooks, Laptops, PDAs etc. keep on getting more powerful and more compact every day. Simply put they all do one thing and that is to store and analyse data which they then output for us. Nothing else. They do this in a linear way by following exactly the instructions given to it by a programmer, or in larger programs, a programming team. Programmers also continually improve their programming and the way the data is stored and analysed also improves all the time although people being people they make mistakes and the results are sometimes wrong, in hardware this is a design flaw, like a battery pack that falls off, in software this is a bug, like a program crash or more likely a miscalculation. The hardware and software are improving all the time as they become more sophisticated. This is a good thing.
Despite this continual improvement they have two major issues that they have not yet overcome, the Input/Output devices and security.
We have no way around the IO issue as we need to be able to input our questions and data and we need to see the results. Until we understand enough about the human body to interface directly, either via reading and writing into the nervous system wirelessly or via direct connection we will continually tinker around the edges with new ways to display data such as 3d holo images and input devices such as voice. Each will be useful to a small group but so far has not managed to replace a keyboard, mouse and a monitor or LCD screen. The same thing just different technology) So we await a medical breakthrough in reality, one that is being developed as we speak. I for one can’t wait, although I won’t be among the first for something that modifies or plugs directly into my brain. (Remember the bugs)
The second issue, one we can overcome, is security. At the moment security issues on personal computers are insignificant in the scheme of things. Sure, it is a big problem for each individual and can lead to the loss of money and private information but the major issue is one of inconvenience. You need to get new credit cards, rebuild your computer, contact your friends and give them your new EMail address and so on. Somethings can never be recovered such as contacts in your EMail program and corrupted pictures etc. It is really companies that suffer from security issues and they do suffer to the tune of millions per year at places like banks and thousands per year at online shops because of our slack security.
I won’t deal with corporate security here because that is a subject in itself. I will however offer a solution that would get rid of 99%, imo, of the attacks on personal computers.
Most people never add any software to their system once they have bought the computer. They simply get by with what was purchased at the shop or over the Internet. These people get their security compromised by changes made to the OS or applications without their approval because they don’t understand what is being done on their system when they download a bit of code or click on an external web page. Who does? Personally I see no reason for any code running on a web page to be able to run code on my computers and modify data on there either. Some brightspark did though as so code written by bad people runs and installs itself without your permission. Personally, I disable Java and ActiveX but that means there are some sites I can’t use and I have to use them for banking or because they sell cheap CDs. No alternatives except inconvenience or paying more because of their lazy programming.
Anyway, my solution is simple. All computers can handle more than one drive. We build a system drive on C: that can take the OS and all the layered products such as Office our games and we make that disk have an external write enable switch. Our other drive D:, E: etc. will have just data on it. Nothing else no executables, overlays, or system configuration data. Data is of course your word files, your pictures, your videos, your spreadsheets and soon. Nothing that can be executed by a browser.
Of course this would require changes to the OS and application software so that they wouldn’t use C: for data and that the user configurable registry type data was relocated to D: or something. These changes are not significant and should be simple configuration changes in the definitions. The only real issue is shared objects such as DLLs. The way these work now is not perfect now with many incompatibilities and imo with the cost of storage being what it is the only shared components we need are in the base BIOS. With the changes since the BIOS was introduced it is due for an upgrade and these shared objects can be installed there rather than in many places on your system disk but in general lets stick to a complete working system in one place makes for easy install, removal and reduces compatibility issues when the latest application head office gave you requires XYZ 7.1 but your tried and tested main application won’t work with XYZ 7.1. As an aside, while they are doing this they can remove the facility to manipulate and execute code on a system that can be provided by a user or a third party by validating the drives and halting if it tries to run something on D:, E: etc. Yes, Mr Developer it may be handy for one or two people but for the 300Million others using the software it only allows our systems to be compromised by a bad guy. You enable that thinking you are smart.
Then what would happen is that when your system is built. The Write enable switch would be on. This would enable boot only from a small OS that only allowed you to load in programs from disk and the Internet to install or upgrade your programs. The OS and all the programs you want would be loaded from the shrink wrap and then the upgrade patches applied. There will always be patches and of course program suppliers would need to ensure their programs met the upgrade API, again not a major task The Write switch would be turned off when finished. The system would then be able to boot from the disk, load the OS and load the drivers etc. and then come to a waiting state, preferably a login screen. This waiting state would be saved to drive C: and would in effect be the built OS which would be used by the system at boot time.
Startup times would be instantaneous and dependant on hardware checks only. Make the C: drive a SSD and it’s up and ready to use in seconds. Takes me longer to sort out my workspace and scratch my bum.
Downloaded viruses, executable code etc. would still be downloaded but unable to corrupt the operating system they would disappear when the system was switched off. No more keyloggers reporting back daily or whatever, excluding of course the backdoors the Stasi tell the software companies to put in. (Nothing is perfect)
Now for those that don’t stick with the basic OS or write their own code then you simply flick the switch to install the latest game or utility then when done back again to rebuild with your new application installed.
Nice and simple. Yet this would make most personal systems secure. You could even have the OS on a USB stick if you wanted to for portability.
On the downside it would force small software companies to add a new layer of installation and upgrade code in instead of a simple executable file but think of the benefits.
The removal of most of the SpamBots would significantly reduce Spam and that would allow the ISPs to track what remains to its source. Users would save time not rebuilding and re-entering data. Think of the money you would save on anti virus software, firewalls and security code. The time you would save checking your EMail for what isn’t really Spam but has been detected as such. The time you would have on line instead of contacting some self appointed blacklisting company in a different timezone to explain that it wasn’t you and some spammer had spoofed your IP address because you can’t contact someone you need to urgently.
Simple and effective but the hardware and software companies would rather develop a very sophisticated hardware and software platform that would stop you doing what you want just so it can build DRM into the hardware level. What a bunch of bastards. Luckily it won’t take off on its own. They will require legislation to make it happen. Although, with the current bunch in charge you never know.
In the land of the blind
A bionic eye like this is a lifesaver.
Of course as it directly connects to the retina at the back of the eye it is only useful if your blindness actually left you that functionality but even so. It will improve the life of many.
Of course once the interface to the retinais up and running the sky is the limit for special gizmos that will connect to it. A night vision unit would be handy but think about microscopes and telescopes depending on what you want to do and all in a hot swappable unit for ease of use.
Imagine surgeons with the ability to zoom in close for intricate work.
Only question is that who will be the first to have healthy eyes removed to give them enhanced vision? Once is it perfected of course. Or would you only do one eye? I would like the enhanced facility but, yet again, I wouldn’t be at the front of the queue.