Radical Simplicity: Transforming Computers into Me-Centric Appliances (Hewlett-Packard Press Strategic Books) - Softcover

Hayes-Roth, Frederick; Amor, Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0131002910 ISBN 13: 9780131002913

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2003

Synopsis

End-user expectations will go through a radical change within the next 10 years. Don't miss the wave--rearchitect products and services now.

Provides insights into new technology trends, business cases and paradigms and explains future paradigms of computing in laymen's terms.

Explains the technologies behind the next generation of the Internet. Shows how new business can be generated through the creation of me-centric devices.

This book is about change. Me-Centric computing will revolutionize how we approach computing and appliances of all types. In fact, we won't have to approach them at all. In some cases they will "know" what it is we want them to do. In this book, technology and business strategists learn how to make me-centric computing work for them. Until recently, the growth of computer usage has been driven primarily around the ability of computers to crunch numbers, handle text, and edit documents and slide presentations. Computers in the backroom were invisible to us. Productivity gains were modest initially and probably reached diminishing returns some time ago. The world is about to be turned upside down, however. This new technology is called "me-centric" because it fits into the individual's life in a natural way, conforming to preferences and requirements, taking orders, and performing a variety of delegated tasks. In me-centric computing, every appliance becomes part of my environment, my team, my extension. I get increased power, save time, have more fun, do fewer menial tasks because the vast power of computers, communications, and software is working in concert to do my bidding.

About this title

About the Author

DR. FREDERICK ("RICK") HAYES-ROTH is Hewlett-Packard's Chief Technology Officer for Software. He formerly served as Chairman and CEO of Teknowledge, a company focused on intelligent Internet transactions. A Fellow of the American Association of Artificial Intelligence, he has held faculty positions at Stanford, Carnegie-Mellon, and MIT.

DANIEL AMOR, Chief Technologist, E-commerce for HP in Germany, is author of The E-Business evolution, Second Edition, and Internet Future Strategies.

From the Back Cover

Radical Simplicity: Transforming Computers Into Me-Centric Appliances

The next computer revolution will be built around one person: you

Imagine computers you can delegate to... computers that tell you things you want to know about ... adapt to your needs and preferences without being told ... work together on your behalf ... and respond to your voice, language, and gestures. It's all coming, sooner than you think -- and when it does, today's computers will be recognized as the dinosaurs they are.

Radical Simplicity previews the "Me-Centric" computing revolution, in which the vast power of computers, communications, and software finally comes together to do your bidding-seamlessly, easily, and naturally. This "plain English" guide covers both the technology and its implications-and shows how you can prepare, starting today.

• How tomorrow's personalized intelligent appliances will extend your power, save you time, improve your productivity-and make life more fun
• From agents to Web services: emerging technologies that are making Me-Centric computing real
• New business opportunities in virtually every key industry-with realistic business cases
• The coming revolution in end-user expectations-and how IT must respond
• Rearchitecting products and services around users, not infrastructure

Whether you're an executive or an IT professional, Radical Simplicity will help you take the lead in a new technology revolution that will dwarf everything that's come before it.

About the Web Site

You'll find even more articles, updates, and ideas about Me-centric computing at this book's Web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0131002910
• ISBN 13: 9780131002913
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 300