Position paper on: computing power for the layperson

Abstract

This paper offers a prognosis of forseeable events and developments that are likely to occur within the next decade in the area of "personal computing"---computing power made available to many segments of the general public in consumer products, or at least in mass-produced, mass-marketed electronics systems that will impringe on many aspects of the overall society and culture. As requested in the call for papers, this document will be limited to discussion of (1) major problems or obstacles to be overcome, (2) significant steps currently being taken to overcome the obstacles, (3) necessary advances or breakthroughs, (4) costs of those advances or breakthroughs, and (5) effects of the solutions or breakthroughs on computing in the 1980's. Disclaimer: Due to the requested focus of this conference---problems and obstacles---this paper will have a somewhat negative tone. Solved problems, obstacles that have been overcome, and the promise that this author believes is inherent in computing power being made available to the general public will not be discussed.