e improvements and unpre-dictable software advances have been a signature of the personal computer industry, thisis simply supply and demand.Technologies That Will Change the WorldDigital Money-Disposable Money Cards, inspired by the success of prepaid phone cards. Web sites will be quick to accept the prepaid cards. Many items that have been free on the internet, such as downloads and plug-ins can be priced at fees of $1 or $2. This will allow opening up a new market to children, who previously could not make Internet pur-chases.Monitors - Displays may be flexible, and you'll unfold them from your pocket. Other ideas, in the works, are monitors the size of poster boards you will hang on yourwall at your desk.Spherical Shaped Computer Display-A spherical display will have unique applica-tions for computer users who need to observe the surface of the earth or other planets. Travel agents and Meteorologists will have a better global view. Personal Security- Your finger print, voice even your facial features will serve as a secure, virtually foolproof way of verifying your identity. In use for many years for high-level security in government agencies, biometric security devices will be common. " Voice recognition won't replace keyboards and mice. Why? Because of privacy. A com-puter you can talk to will be a dead giveaway. Personality Services for Computers - We will be able to hold intelligent conversa-tions with our computers. This will give birth to a new industry; computers equipped with personality services. Most people will subscibe to more than one online personality serviceIf you were to subscibe to a comedian personality service, your computer voice would start sounding like Jim Carry. As machines and computers become more intelligent, they will also take on personalities. Computers are already beginning to take on identities, forexamples take the Furby and intelligent agents in software. Machines will become so hu...
