 at 317-572-3993 or fax 317-572-4002. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print, however, may not be available in electronic format. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Edwards, John. Telecosmos the next great telecom revolution / John Edwards. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-471-65533-3 (pbk.) 1. Telecommunication-Technological innovations. I. Title. TK 5101.E33 2005 621.382-dc22 Printed in the United States of America 10987654321 To Jonathan M. Bird, radio enthusiast and online pioneer, who welcomed me into the world of telecommunications Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? Job 38:35 Contents Introduction Information Portal / xvi Back to Me / xvii I, Telecom Junkie / xviii 1. On the Menu-Telecom Services End of the Line for Wireline? / 2 The Broadband World / 3 1.2.1 Broadband Over Power Lines / 4 1.3 The Upcoming Mobile Stall / 5 1.4 Fourth-Generation Mobile Service / 6 Modular Components / 7 A Considerate Telephone / 8 E-Mail Leads to Instant Messaging / 9 1.8 Fun and Games / 13 1.9 Flying Phone Service / 14 1.10 Speech Integration / 15 1.11 Telemedicine / 19 1.11.1 Health Monitoring / 20 1.11.2 Small Clinics/Hospitals / 21 1.11.3 Monitoring on the Road / 22 CONTENTS 2. Nuts and Bits-Telecom Hardware, Software, and More Personal Computers / 25 2.1.1 Smaller and Smarter PCs / 26 Home Automation / 28 Wearable Computers / 29 Smart Fabrics / 31 Embedded Systems / 32 Project Oxygen / 33 2.6.1 The Vision / 34 2.6.2 Goals / 34 2.6.3 User Technologies / 35 2.6.4 Applications / 36 2.6.5 Hurdles / 37 2.6.6 The Payoff / 38 The Obje Software Architecture / 38 2.8 BARN Opens the Door / 40 Phone Awareness / 41 2.10 Cognitive Software: Anticipating User Intent / 41 Devices That Understand You / 43 Turbocharging Data / 44 2.12.1 Faster Transistor / 46 2.12.2 Cutting-Edge Manufacturing / 46 2.12.3 Wireless Chip / 47 2.12.4 Open Source Smart Phones / 50 2.12.5 Nanowiring / 51 2.13 M