It is amazing the convergence of technology and the incredible reduction in component pricing that has come together to bring forth the wonders of iPad to the masses. From the incredible advances in flash technology for storage to the ARM based processor (via Acorn/BBC) and touch technology and all the tools and SDKs that allow you to build all the apps you could shake a infra-red touch screen at, and the embedded OS that it is sat on.
It makes me incredibly happy then that using these evil products to know that in twenty years time people may look back at the iPad as if they were holding the equivalent of a speak and spell. The things we are amazed at now will be ‘so 2011‘. My fledglings often tell me how awful things of my youth are with the words ‘thats so 90s‘ , I’m sure they will get the same treament when the table(t)s are turned and I can then roll over happily were ever I maybe laying.
I cant begin to fathom the advancements we will make in another 30 years of components that will produce some exciting future gadgets. I’d like to see what will happen with bendable/fold-able screens and tablets in the coming years for example. I need one to fold away an embarrassing app that I may or may not be playing in a public place.
A speak and spell yesterday
Here is a link to an article to a break down of all the differences between the two systems.