John Edwards 
Telecosmos 
The Next Great Telecom Revolution

Although telecom companies are battling for survival, technology is moving forward. In research laboratories around the world, powerful new technologies are being developed that will shape tomorrow’s communications world. Telecosmos will look at the many different telecom concepts that will be adopted by both consumers and businesses in the years ahead.

Table of Content

Introduction.

Information Portal.

Back to Me.

I, Telecom Junkie.

1. On the Menu–Telecom Services.

1.1 End of the Line for Wireline?

1.2 The Broadband World.

1.3 The Upcoming Mobile Stall.

1.4 Fourth-Generation Mobile Service.

1.5 Modular Components.

1.6 A Considerate Telephone.

1.7 E-Mail Leads to Instant Messaging.

1.8 Fun and Games.

1.9 Flying Phone Service.

1.10 Speech Integration.

1.11 Telemedicine.

2. Nuts and Bits–Telecom Hardware, Software, and More.

2.1 Personal Computers.

2.2 Home Automation.

2.3 Wearable Computers.

2.4 Smart Fabrics.

2.5 Embedded Systems.

2.6 Project Oxygen.

2.7 The Obje Software Architecture.

2.8 BARN Opens the Door.

2.9 Phone Awareness.

2.10 Cognitive Software: Anticipating User Intent.

2.11 Devices That Understand You.

2.12 Turbocharging Data.

2.13 MEMS.

2.14 Storage.

2.15 More Efficient Base Stations.

3. Connections in the Air–Wireless Technologies.

3.1 Wireless LAN ‘Hotspots’.

3.2 WLANs to Come.

3.3 WLAN for Emergency Communications.

3.4 Smart Brick.

3.5 Wireless Smart Stuff.

3.6 Wireless on Wheels.

3.7 Mesh Networks.

3.8 Wireless Sensor is a ‘Spec’.

3.9 Collaborative Sensing.

3.10 Optical Sensors.

3.11 Navigating the Real World.

3.12 Wireless Underwear.

4. The Future is Fiber–Optical Technologies.

4.1 Faster Networks.

4.2 New Optical Materials.

4.3 Nanophotonics.

4.4 Wave Polarization.

4.5 Optical Communications via CDMA.

4.6 Light Emitters.

4.7 Optical Antenna.

4.8 Keeping Copper.

5. The Internet Rules–IP Technologies.

5.1 Vo IP Telephony.

5.2 The Next Internet.

5.3 Grid Computing.

5.4 Infostructure.

5.5 Tele-Learning Opens Horizons.

5.6 A New Approach to Virus Scanning.

5.7 Putting a Lid on Spam.

5.8 The Meaning Behind Messages.

5.9 Internet Simulator.

5.10 Untangling Tangled Nets.

6. Something in the Air–Radio and Location Technologies.

6.1 Digital Radio.

6.2 Software-Defined Radio.

6.3 Ultrawideband Radio.

6.4 Asset Tracking.

6.5 Radio Monitors.

6.6 Vehicular Telematics.

6.7 Helping Ranchers From Space.

6.8 Seeing Inside Walls.

6.9 Microscillator.

6.10 Antenna Technologies.

6.11 Interference.

7. The Unblinking Eye–Security and Surveillance.

7.1 Testing Security.

7.2 Location-Based Privacy Software.

7.3 Securing Privacy.

7.4 The Seeing Eye.

7.5 Smart Roads.

7.6 Chip Implants.

7.7 Encryption.

7.8 Quantum Cryptography.

7.9 E-Mail ‘Cluster Bombs’.

8. Energy to Go–Power Generation.

8.1 New Materials.

8.2 Smaller, Lighter Power Adapter.

8.3 Fuel Cells.

8.4 Microcombustion Battery.

8.5 Power Monitor.

8.6 Cooling Technologies.

9. The Critical Last Inch–Input and Output Technologies.

9.1 A Finger Phone.

9.2 Voice Input.

9.3 Improved Audio Output.

9.4 Touch Input.

9.5 Projection Keyboards.

9.6 Thought Input.

9.7 Output.

9.8 A New View.

9.9 Paper-Like Video Displays.

9.10 Finding Information.

9.11 Disabled Access.

Glossary.

Index.

About the author

JOHN EDWARDS is a professional writer who specializes in writing about computers, networks, mobile devices, biotechnology, and related topics for a wide range of publications, corporations, research firms, and trade organizations. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsday, CIO, CFO, Men’s Health, American Way, Oracle Magazine, Electronic Business, Upside, Wireless Week, Laptop Magazine, and PC Magazine. The author of several books, including The Law Office Guide to Small Computers, Mr. Edwards has also written articles and white papers for such prestigious organizations as the Economist Intelligence Unit, the IEEE Computer Society, the National Association of Broadcasters, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers.