1. Convergence and New Technologies
Understanding Computers

2. Learning Objectives
Review the history and development of communication.
Understand how modern communication and computing devices combine multiple technologies
Discuss the different ways and applications in which modern technology is used
Discuss future uses of technology and the pace of change (Moore’s Law)

3. Timeline of Communication
Pre 1800
2013
1960s
2000
1983
Early 1800s
1838
1848
1896
1927
1980s

4. Multiple Technologies…

5. … Now fit into one device

6. The Effect of Changing Technologies
Connectivity
Convenience
Creativity & Design
Globalisation & Collaboration
Potential & Innovation
Research & Discovery

7. Future and Emerging Technologies
RFID?
Robotics?
Medicine?
Space Exploration?

8. Future and Emerging Technologies
Wireless Charging
Driverless Cars
Domestic Robots
3D Printers
RFID – Radio Frequency ID

9. The possibilities of RFID?
Your Mobile Phone might have a RFID Chip inside it
Supermarket products may get RFID chips
Your trolley may be automatically and instantly ‘read’ at an RFID checkout
Your mobile phone will pay for the goods remotely using existing RFID touch technology
Your fridge and cupboards could have RFID chips and will recognise everything in them offering you suitable recipes
Your bin could recognise when you have thrown away a product and automatically re-order another for you

10. The Information Age You are growing up in the Information Age
If you think you are suffering from information overload then you might be right – [a study in 2011 showed] everyone is bombarded by the equivalent of 174 newspapers of data a day.
The Daily Telegraph (Online) 11 Feb 2011

11. What can your tech do now?
How many Gb in your USB memory stick?
How many Gb memory in your mobile phone?
How many Megapixels in a digital camera photo?
How fast is your computer?
What might it be in 2 years?
What might it be in 10 years?

12. Moore’s Law
Moore’s Law says that the number of transistors in integrated circuit boards doubles every two years. The capabilities of many digital electronic devices are strongly linked to Moore's law: processing speed, memory capacity, sensors and even the number and size of pixels in digital cameras. This means that a 32Gb memory chip now could be 1Tb memory chip in only 10 years if it doubles in capacity every two years.

13. The Pace of Change
The pace of change in the field of technology and every part of society it touches makes it difficult to predict where things will be in even 10 years.
Looking back at our recent past is dizzying in terms of the development that has already happened.