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Babbage
Science and technology
Babbage: December 28th 2011
Room for anyone else?
Dec 27th 2011, 20:25 by The Economist online
PREVIEWING 2012 with a look at the tech world's four largest companies, the smart phone and tablet computer market and futuristic technologies in the coming year
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In this blog, our correspondents report on the intersections between science, technology, culture and policy. The blog takes its name from Charles Babbage, a Victorian mathematician and engineer who designed a mechanical computer.
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The new generation is pluged in so tight that they cannot see reality anymore. They say that is a good thing because the old generation is milking the planet dead. Who is right?
heated
I think it's particularly interesting that GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon) are anointed as the top four tech companies without room for anyone else. Oracle, Amazon, Sony, etc have been relegated to the past. I happen to agree...
Wonderful overview.
But I think the big breakthrough technology trend is underplayed: Voice Activated artificial intelligence of SIRI.
This is Generation 1.0
Technology gets better year after year.
It starts off very clunky and primitive.
Imagine how advance it would be in 5 or 10 years if the progress imitates smart phone evolution.
We will be talking to machines even more than people.
And machines may be our mates and a sympathetic tireless ear.
Finally, a cure for loneliness.
HELP! Gimme the good ole days, PLEEEZZ!!
Talking of children, my 11-year old asked why Skype-within-Microsoft wasn't covered. Thanks for the format, I would never have got him to read such a discussion in print.
Very annoying that I can't download these podcasts to my phone any more.
I want to read not listen. How do I do so? ianbartlett17@gmail.com
Yeah, what is it with these video-articles (webcasts, podcasts, whatever) nowadays (and nope, not THAT old, in my thirties)... I read a lot of this at work or on the subway, and I have no interest in listening to it. I would expect an article to accompany it, or at least stick up the script. Sheesh!
I dont understand why microsoft doesnt even get a mention here
This podcast is not iTunes. Last week's wasn't either.
Too many, too complicated, too little compatibility. I had more fun with two cans and a string as a child.