Essential Guide to Computing: The Story of Information Technology, The

Seven Challenges to the Pervasive Future

Conceptually, pervasive computing is well on its way to implementation. Engineers and others are now actively engaged in envisioning the kinds of services and systems that will cause pervasive computing to transform the world. But, the environment of ultra-intelligent, totally networked devices isn't here yet. The following section describes, very briefly, seven challenges that will have to be met before "my machine will call your machine" is more than a joke.

• Lithography How long will existing optical lithography be able to sustain Moore's Law? When this technology ceases to be productive—something that we know will happen—what will replace it? Will the new technology be able to maintain optical's amazing ...