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I've been on a kick recently, as part of a self-determined strategy review, to convince my world that a fundamental change to the environment for post offices and others in the carriage trade, the telecomm. business, and so forth is that the distinctions between previously well-defined parts of the "value chain" are blurring beyond recognition. For instance, what is "delivery" in a world where digital and physical matter collide and overlap? Enough about that though. (It's tedious, but I'd be glad to pass on my thoughts to any who ask.)
Important -- and affirming -- to me, however, is that Intel is announcing a new, faster chip (prototype) today that has significant implications to the distinction between communications and computing. Here's a snip from the NYTimes article:
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11 -- Intel scientists will announce on Thursday that they have built a prototype of a silicon chip that can switch light on and off like electricity, blurring the line between computing and communications and bringing sweeping changes to the way digital information and entertainment are delivered.To me the crucial word here -- a journalist's but still . . . -- is "blurring." The impact will be much wider than fibre optic equipment. It's going to further seriously affect communications, delivery, and the nature of the digital-physical relationship. Posted by Grayson at February 12, 2004 10:04 AMFor the first time, Intel researchers said, they have shown that ultra-high-speed fiber optic equipment can be produced at the equivalent of low-cost personal computer industry prices. Industry executives said the advance could lead to commercial products by the end of the decade.
As the costs of communicating in cyberspace falls, the researchers said, existing barriers to creating fundamentally new kinds of digital machines capable of far greater performance, and not limited by physical distance, should disappear.