The TWAIN blog

I am taking a break from the excellent TCEA conference to discuss a news flash that appeared on my Twitter feed.

I believe I wrote about this concept of “whitespace” a few months ago and how it applies to some really cool technology. The concept derives from the broadband spectrum used for broadcast television and the cable network. Now as you may have heard, the cable companies are trying to push to a completely digital environment and out of the old analog television spectrum.

So…what happens to that old analog spectrum?

Several large technology corporations (including Google) have paired up to develop a new whitespace network plan. Google has been the biggest proponent for this. They want to return the American Broadcast System owned by the people back to the people.

If we all move to this new digital signal, these companies want to team together to transition that analog line into free wireless broadband signals. In other words, the line goes down and they have complete access to convert it to a new wireless broadband network into each home. The access will be wireless and accessible by any device.

Free?

Free because the network is owned by the people and for the people. Google has been on the front lines with the FCC about restoring this system back to the power of the people. In November, the FCC did approve to keep the spectrum open so that they could continue looking into establishing this idea.

Microsoft, Google, and Motorola are all working on this now. In June/July, when we finally make the switch – they can start developing the new system without us interfering on their datalines. I am sure we may have streaming Google Ads on our new wireless and broadband access, though.

But = wireless broadband access streaming on that old analog whitespace system? How cool is that? And does this mean wireless access redundancy in every neighborhood? How does this play out for CIPA and content filtering now?

Found this today in my inbox – Microsoft’s Second LIght which takes their original concept of Surface to the next level.

Watch closely. The projection table has one layer projected on it. The second layer is projected onto an object held above it.

Just when you think they were grounded, Microsoft takes off again. Secondary surface projection – reminds me of the movie Minority Report.

So Google has released an unimpressive new browser. The critics aren’t fawning over it. They say that what Microsoft promises in IE version 8 will be the best browser of the current user. Interesting.

Talk about letting the hill block your view.

Is anyone talking about Google and what they are doing?

Is anyone thinking ahead?

What’s next for Google? What’s next for us?

I read that Google is developing a phone. They purchased YouTube years ago. They have their own browser which integrates with their own office applications online. What’s next?

Someone suggests they are building an operating system. I disagree.

Why? Why would a company like Google need an operating system when their OS is really the Internet. An Operating System has to work on a hard drive. Google doesn’t need a hard drive. They want you on their search engine. That’s where they make their money.

So let’s connect the dots. Google has their own browser which connects to their own media hosted on YouTube and their own office applications. They are producing their own phone/media connection device.

What’s next for Google? Not the question.

What’s next for us?

Why invest in the PC anymore? What do I need a hard drive to hold?

By the way, anyone read PC World’s interview with Bill Gates on his last days at Microsoft? Bill suggested that Microsoft is moving toward the cloud by doing something similar to Apple’s Mobile Me. He is thinking that Microsoft will create a universal place to store a user’s applications and files online for access from mobile devices and computers connecting to the Internet. Oh and the new version of Windows will incorporate tactile response systems.

Inventive? Innovative? Nope. Same old Microsoft.