Grand Finale Noteworthy Information Technologies of the Past 16 Years

摘要

Solidly into the 21st Century, my typical day goes somethinglike this… I check my email and social networks on my iPadat the breakfast table. I check text messages and voicemailson my smartphone. Then I go to the office, where I log on tomy notebook computer and have a video Webcast—all withoutleaving the house. On my way to a business appointment,I connect my iPhone to the car via Bluetooth to take Frenchlessons or listen to hundreds of digital songs. Alternately, I listento satellite radio or digital HD radio (I don’t recall if my car hasa CD slot). When I come home for the evening, I sit in therecliner and check emails and social networks again. Then Iwatch network TV shows, access video on demand throughmy cable provider, or stream video through my smart TV. Whilewe take these technologies for granted, many are fairly recent.This column takes a quick look at some of the more significanttechnologies since IT Insight first appeared in February 2001.