 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Comdex 2001 Noel Peters noelp@melbpc.org.au |
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Regular attendees at Comdex kept saying how small the numbers of both exhibitors and visitors were this year due to the economic downturn and the aftermath of the September 11 incidents. As a first-timer I found the size of it impressive but was able to move round the exhibition floor freely enough and noticed a degree of congestion only on the opening day, when one often had some waiting to do in order to talk to selected exhibitors.
One of the first things I noticed was the proliferation of slim LCD monitors in all sizes. Not only on the individual manufacturers' stands but in general use by all exhibitors. In particular, since returning home I have noticed also that CRT displays in the 15-inch size are being listed less frequently than LCDs in Computer Trader etc. At Comdex the visual impact of the larger plasma screens driven by high-resolution TV signals, as displayed at the LG stand was truly breathtaking. However, the current cost of these items would evoke a similar response.
Wireless Networking
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The number of stands displaying wireless LANs based on 802.11a,
802.11b and Bluetooth systems was also noticeable. There are many consortia pushing these wireless forms of
networking to corporate customers. Of particular note was the 802.11a EZ Connect model 2755W wireless access transceiver from SMC, which in turbo mode functions at 72 Mbit/s, making wireless LANs more attractive to these customers. Another networking approach was a new "Powerline" product from the Netgear company that meets a HomePlug 1.0 specification and provides 14 Mbits/s over USA standard 110 VAC power outlets already available in homes and offices etc. This system's advantage is that it eliminates the need for network cabling and is seen as attractive and applicable to home users wishing to network their computers. |
Another networking approach was a new "Powerline" product from the Netgear
company that meets a HomePlug 1.0 specification and provides 14 Mbits/s over USA standard 110 VAC power
outlets already available in homes and offices etc. This system's advantage is that it eliminates the need
for network cabling and is seen as attractive and applicable to home users wishing to network their
computers. A special router can provide access to cable or ADSL services. The take up of this type of system
was not revealed and the response to my question of whether the current equipment was capable of use with our
standard 230 VAC supply was in the negative. The speed is slightly faster than the 11 Mbit/s provided by a
802.11b wireless network system.
Netgear, a company known for the manufacture of hubs, switches and routers also showed its new network
interface cards (NICs) that lift the achievable transmission speed over copper links to 1 Gbit/s using
Category 5 networking cables. There are two of these cards employing Broadcom chipsets; one is a 64- bit and
the other a 32-bit PCI card (GA622T and GA302 respectively). Netgear also supports the new 1 Gbit/s NICs with
stand-alone and rack-mounted switches.
USB V2.0
Being the owner of an earlier digital camera that transfers its pictures to the computer over a serial link
at a quite leisurely rate, I have an envious interest in both USB and Firewire developments.
The new USB version 2.0 lifts the transfer rate of digital signals from 12 Mbit/s to more than 400 Mbit/s.
There were plug-in PCI-to-USB2 cards available and many applications, such as a USB 2.0 Drive Kit comprising
an external box that can hold an IDE hard drive, a DVD or CD-ROM drive. These are Plug and Play and
stackable.
Microsoft Xbox
To support the launch of Xbox, Microsoft's new games station, there was a separate area set up with a number
of these units available for testing. Access to the area was controlled. The games were voted as very good by
aficionados and there was acclaim for the Halo and Project Gotham Racing games with speculation whether PC
versions of these titles would appear subsequently. This challenge to Sony Playstation 2 was given due
emphasis in Bill Gates' keynote address and by CEO Steve Ballmer in his presentation to the Association of PC
User Groups.
Something New
| Two international stands aroused particular interest. Egypt is
a country that I, for one, was not aware manufactured the internationally known Gigabyte range of computer
motherboards. The other is Sweden, long known for unique design and development initiatives. VK is the name given to a virtual keyboard designed to make life easier for PDA/hand-held computer and Smart Phone users struggling with Graffiti and screen-tapping input to their small devices. This was demonstrated on the Swedish stand by the developers Senseboard Technologies AB. |
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VK comprises a pair of hand mounted sensor devices that are positioned over
the knuckle, finger stem area of each hand and sense the finger movements a touch typist makes when typing.
Artificial intelligence and a language processor then determine what keystrokes were made. Either a radio or
wire link inputs the data to the PDA. It is quite strange to see touch-typing on a bare table surface or even
in air and the characters appearing on the device.
Biometrics
Security of both premises and data looms large in the minds of all connected with IT these days and there
were several stands devoted to security and employing an aspect of biometrics to do so. The unique attributes
of every person gives opportunity to use the science of measuring them (Biometrics). These measurements serve
to either provide physical access to a secure area or to a set of data. In general, three parts of the body
with these unique characteristics are presently used:
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The iris of the eye, no two of which are similar even between the right and left eyes of an individual
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Fingerprint, usually the forefinger of the hand using a mouse
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Facial geometry and its measurement
The most advanced systems on display were based on iris recognition.
Iridian Technologies, Inc. of Moorestown, NJ and Geneva, Switzerland, is a forerunner in world
research, development and marketing of authentication technologies based on iris recognition that is
advertised as the most accurate biometric identifier.
The large Korean LG Electronics company has developed the IrisAccessT 3000 access control camera and
hardware unit that uses Iridian Technologies' iris recognition technology to provide secure and authorised
access. This was demonstrated on the lavish LG stand.
It is first necessary to configure or enroll the person to be given access using an enrollment optical unit.
The person looks into it with the selected eye from a distance of between 75 mm to 250 mm to catalogue their
iris characteristics. Subsequently, when this subject approaches a system-protected door he or she looks into
a remote optical unit from the same range of distance and on a match being established the protected door is
opened. I can assure you that even a bloodshot, jetlagged eye can be enrolled and gain the owner access.
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A demonstration of a data protection database
server called "KnoWho" using a Panasonic Authenticam, a dual-purpose, iris recognition camera that can also
be used for video conferencing not functioning satisfactorily when I visited the stand.
Best of Comdex
| Despite the smaller attendance estimated at 160,000 and well
short of the expected 250,000 there was much to interest visitors. The Best of Comdex included the previously
mentioned Senseboard Virtual Keyboard awarded for Best New Technology and the Handspring Treo a combination
hand-held PDA, Messenger and GSM mobile phone that won the Best Mobile/ Handheld System award.
Treo 180 will be available first quarter 2002 in the US in two models: one with a minute keyboard and the other with a Grafitti writing area. The first releases are mono but a colour version - Treo 270 - is due for release in mid-2002. |
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Reprinted from the February 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
