Location Aware Computing

The numbers of computing devices we all have access to has increased massively in recent years.  In "olden times" users either had a laptop or desktop, or if you were really lucky 1 or each.  These days, there are laptops, hybrids, tablets, smartphones, desktops, all-in-ones, consoles, smartwatches and very soon, what I like to call - faceputers (Microsoft Hololens, Sony SmartGlasses, Oculus Rift etc.).

As devices (mobile devices in particular) become more powerful, some clever people at the likes of Intel and ARM have decided that we could perhaps start to use some of these devices to replace the traditional desktop.  That presents a few problems, however.  Mobile devices are notorious clumsy when it comes to using them at the desk, for instance when connected to a larger monitor.  Problems with wires and physical connection, the issue around proprietary docking systems, and even the software you use all mean that using a mobile device at your desk like a normal PC is far from straight forward.

What Intel and ARM are suggesting is a new breed of device that is location aware.  It will "know" when you are at your desk and when you are not.  It will automatically connect wirelessly to a dedicated screen, and even change it's display and operating mode accordingly, to adapt to it's new surroundings.  It's a neat idea, and one that could indeed reduce on the number of devices we need in order to work, or learn.

Intel's Vision

Intel are obviously pushing their new WiDi Pro (Wireless Display technology), along with their new range of chipsets and processors.  As the following video shows, they foresee a wireless world where devices connect, sync, charge and display wirelessly.  Plus apparently it will make you fitter and more popular with your kids... ;)

Seamless ARMs

ARM are predicting similar technology, this time called "Seamless Computing" and along with technology like wireless charging and NFC, ARM suggest the smartphone could become even smarter.

They both present an exciting vision of the future when we no longer have to wade through pages of on-screen settings, or raid overcrowded desk drawers looking for cables, adaptors and chargers.  I wrote a previous blog post on the idea of a wireless nirvana.  It looks like it's getting closer to reality....

Rise Of The (small) Machines...

Ok, here goes.  A technology prediction for 2015.  Computers will get smaller.  OK, I admit, that's more Mystic Meg than Nostradamus, but it's clear from the current trend in new devices that are starting to appear, that interest is growing in er...making things smaller.

Now we're all used to having relatively powerful computing devices in our pockets, courtesy of the modern smartphone, but the devices I want to talk about are a bit more focused on doing the same jobs as your typical work-based desktop PC - but in a much smaller form factor.

These types of devices aren't new.  With the introduction of things like the Mac Mini and the Raspberry Pi, we're used to seeing small computers performing some very useful tasks.  But now the big boys are coming to play.  The likes of Dell, HP, Intel and others, all have devices now that are even smaller, easy to use, cheap and better supported than those before.

Dell Cloud Connect
Let's start off with the one that already available and (fairly) well developed.  The Dell Cloud Connect was originally conceived as a portable Thin Client (VDI) device, able to provide access to your work desktop through it's VDI receiver app.  It came about through Dell's purchase of Wyse (Thin Client technology company) back in 2012.  It's a very small, HDMI dongle, style device (think Google Chromecast) and runs a custom version of Android KitKat 4.2.  It's an ARM processor based device with 8GB of onboard storage and a MicroSD card slot currently supporting up to 32GB of additional space.

Dell Cloud Connect.  It's small...

Basically, once up and running it turns any TV or monitor into a massive Android tablet.  But the clever thing about it is the use-cases that Dell have dreamt up for it.  Apart from the VDI-in-your-pocket use cases that corporate banking IT departments would no doubt find useful, if you plug it into a compatible Dell touchscreen monitor you can use it as a locked down kiosk device.  And when you consider that the device itself currently sells for £75+VAT, and a 23" touchscreen monitor costs around £200+VAT, things start to get interesting.  Potentially, a 23" touchscreen kiosk for less than the price of a 10" iPad.  I've setup and tested it in this mode - it's pretty good and definitely worth considering if you're looking for a kiosk solution.

A 23" Android Touchscreen Kiosk - setup in just a few taps...

The other use-case worthy of note is that of digital signage.  Dell have partnered with a couple of digital signage software companies; Nanonation and Screenscape, to provide the means to stream digital media playlists and information to the devices, whilst controlling and managing the devices centrally.  Again, I've setup and tested it in this mode and again, it's pretty competent.  Pricing for the signage software subscriptions is still unknown, but with the hardware being so cheap, I would hope it would also turn out to be a relatively cheap way to deliver digital signage to pretty much any large format TV or display screen you like.

There is also the cloud based management solution for the device (Dell's Cloud Client Manager), to manage users, device settings etc.  It's not needed for the Nanonation digital signage mode, but it's not clear if it's a mandatory requirement in the kiosk use-case or not.

More details:

http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/cloud-connect/pd
http://nanonation.net/
http://screenscape.com/

Intel Compute Stick
Similar to the Dell Cloud Connect, this is another mini HDMI dongle, but this time it's a fully-fledged Windows 8.1 PC. Using a CPU and chipset found in low end (but still good performing) tablets, this little device shows a lot of promise.  It comes with WiFi, Bluetooth, 2GB RAM, MicroSD and 32GB of onboard storage - all for $149 (potentially around £100).  Being able to run Windows apps and software puts it slightly ahead of the Dell device due to the flexibility that brings, and could potentially be used for similar use cases.  I'm hoping to get hold of one to test as soon as they are available.  ETA is sometime in Q1 2015.

Intel Compute Stick.  Great potential.  Rubbish name...

More details:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html

The Hive Amplicity
OK - let's go oddball.  New startup company The Hive has announced it's releasing 2 devices based on a modular system of performance and storage options.  The first device simply called "The Amplicity" is a smartphone-sized PC running a modest Intel Core-M CPU, 4GB RAM and 128GB of on board storage.  Pretty unimpressive so far.  However, the party-trick for this device is that you can dock it with an optional larger unit to enable an external graphics card within that uni for a bit more grunt.  It scheduled to be released later in 2015 priced at around $400 for the device itself.  The second device called "The Amplicity Anywhere" is slightly lower on performance than the first model, in that it uses a Intel Atom CPU rather than the more powerful Core-M.  Other than that they are identical.  Again it can be docked to connect to external graphics and other options for both models include 4K monitors, kiosks and even furniture with built in docks.  The really interesting thing about the Amplicity Anywhere is the cost.  You lease it rather than buy it, for $99 every 6 months, after which you either renew, hand it back or upgrade to the other model.  Sounds expensive until you realise that their plan is to have both models ship with Windows, Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud Subscriptions built in.  And the Amplicity Anywhere also comes with 1TB of cloud storage included.  Overall it sounds an interesting concept of modular computing and the relatively low cost subscription could potentially appeal to budding web workers, graphics designers and other creative types.  Whether it finds a home in other work places is yet to be seen.

The Hive Amplicity.  The future's bright.  The future's (black and) orange?

More details:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2866077/the-hives-amplicity-is-a-modular-smartphone-sized-pc-with-a-graphics-card-dock.html