CeBIT brings forward tomorrow:. CeBIT'95, Hannover, Germany, 8–15 March 1995
| Pages | 151-157 |
| Date | 01 February 1995 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb045357 |
| Published date | 01 February 1995 |
| Author | Robert Bailey |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Conference Comment
CeBIT brings forward tomorrow:
CeBIT'95,
Hannover,
Germany,
8–15 March 1995*
Robert Bailey
Convergence is a buzzword increasingly used to describe the development trends
seen in the various sectors that make up the information technology
industry.
Partici-
pants
in this
industry
are
seen
as
new
age
architects of an epoch-making era where not
only telecommunications but also entertainment technologies converge into com-
puter products. In turn, these seem destined to impact on every sphere of
life:
com-
merce, education, communication, medicine and consumer electronics.
Martin Bangemann, the European Union's Industrial Affairs, IT and Telecommu-
nications Commissioner, believes that 'the new information society is reshaping
most of the basic aspects of our economy and
society.
Several technologies have now
reached the state where their applications will deeply affect our lives.'
Hannover's vast annual CeBIT show displays solutions to just about every task
that can be supported by
a
computer. There are other major
IT
events in
Europe,
such
as SMAU, which is held in Milan in September, but CeBIT's scale is unmatched.
This year some 6000 companies from 57 countries exhibited
in 21
halls covering 314
000 square metres of
space.
CeBIT's success reflects the size of Europe's markets for
IT
products which were valued at
$95
billion in 1994.
Focus on software
This year's CeBIT focused on soft-
ware, which in the next few years is
destined to be the driving force of
mas-
sive change expected in the industry
and its products.
A key lies in the introduction of a
new generation of microprocessors.
These are allowing users of telecoms
devices such as handheld personal
digital assistants to exchange text,
voice and fax. Microprocessors pro-
grammed for voice recognition and
electronic mail are being developed.
As a result the familiar graphical user
interface may well give way to spoken
commands in the future.
Speech dictation systems capable
of transferring up to 100 words a min-
ute of spoken language to text are al-
ready being sold for under $1000. IBM
is offering systems in English, with
similar products in French, German
and Italian due soon.
Jonathan R. Langley, Manager of
IBM PC Company, says 'speech rec-
ognition technology has always had
enormous potential. Now we are
reaching a stage where it can be avail-
able to everyone.'
The pace of change
Cost parameters, as much as market-
ing skills, will determine the degree of
success of the new products bursting
onto the scene. Predictions as to what
may lie just over the horizon are diffi-
cult even for professionals, some of
whom believe two years constitutes
long-term planning.
A promotional video produced by
Japan's Sharp Electronics claims that
with existing technologies it would be
possible to produce a computer screen
that could be rolled up into a pen.
Neural computer networks, so
called because they are designed to
mimic the processes of the human
brain by recognising patterns in vast
amounts of data, are expected to en-
able breakthroughs in areas such as
continuous speech recognition and
handwriting recognition. Some re-
searchers envisage such neural net-
works combining with arrays of sen-
sors to control robots for
the
office and
home.
As the pace of change speeds up,
are we heading toward a world inhab-
ited by computer literate elites and a
submerged race of dunces? If market
forces dictate, the answer is probably
'no'
since manufacturers will be
driven to increase the number of its
consumers by encouraging more and
more people to be part of the informa-
tion age. The only sure way to accom-
plish the transformation to the cyber-
space age is to simplify the use of
computers further by bringing tech-
nology down to the level of an on/off
switch, where ordinary mortals can
use the true power and potential of
computers as easily as switching on a
light bulb or TV.
Software revolution likely in 1995
The four exhibition halls entirely oc-
cupied by software suppliers at CeBIT
illustrate the accelerating pace of de-
velopment for this core sector of the
computer industry.
As alliances, licensing agreements
and sales are sought by the exhibitors,
there is expectation over new proprie-
tary operating system software stand-
ards due to be revealed by the world's
leading computer manufacturers over
the next 12 months. The impact on
profits and the destinies of these com-
panies are such that preparations for
the launch of new products can be as
* This article
is
reprinted with permission
from TIME Magazine, 6 March 1995.
The Electronic Library, Vol. 13, No. 2, March 1995 151
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