2020: 2

2020: End of mobile phones

2011:1 \

2010; Massive Increases In bantfv/ldih

2014: surveillance in most neighbourhoods

011: pa p&r money replaced by smart media

1-2010

- 2030

-2020

12 | UnIfl Convergence II I eleC0m3 anri 11

l8 Discuss these questions or write down short answers,

1. Have any ofthese predictions already cometrue?

2. Are there any predictions that will come true sooner than the extract suggests?

3. Are there any of these predictions that you think will notcomc true?

4. What other predictions would you make about the future of hardware, software, telecoms, or IT?

DEGREES OF PROBABILITY IN THE FUTURE

We c,-jn use different expressions to talk about how sure W€ are that something will happen in the future.

100% will definitely >5,bre sure to, is fare bound to, is/are certain to

7 5 % wi 11 probd Ыу >ф re likely to, thereto good chance that

5 0 % wi 11 pos si b ly ma y. migh t, со old

л pro b ably wo rf l is,we unlikely to

0% definite ly won' t there '5 no chance that

19 Re-wrfte these sentences using the word in brackets. See the example.

A lot of companies arc likely to go out of business, (probably)

A lot of companies will probably go out of business.

1 Windows is unlikely to remain the dominant force in software, (probably)

2 People could stop using cash by around 2015. (may)

3 The mouse will definitely disappear in the next few years, (bound)

/( There's a very good chance that mobile phones will be replaced with something different, (probably)

5 There ts no chancc that the rate of change will slow down, (definitely)

20 Work with a partner. You each have some predictions a bout two more areas of technology. Use the expressions from the language box above to show how sure yoti are about your predictions. Mark the predictions onto the black timeline on page 11.

UNIT1 Convergence in Mewmsand II | 12

Read the newsfeeds about Telecoms and IT and answer the questions below.

и

Nokia laptops?

In another example of convergence, Nokia is considering a move into the PC market Unlike neibook and notebook specialists Acer, who ил veiled a new smarl phone al the Mobile World Congress, Nokia is going in ihe Oiher dire с lion.

Lower and lower

India has announced plans to produce an educational laptop, the 'Sakshat', which will allow millions of schoolchildren to have access to the internet. The machine will sell lor just $20_: but wi 11 com e with wi re I ess conne ctivity an d 26 В of RAM.

Clouds ahead

In a new move into the world of cloud computing. Google has announced plans lor the Google drive or Gtfrivs. Instead of storing information on PCs or laptops, users wilt be able to store data and applications on Google servers and access ttiem over the internet.

Is Skype now ihe biggest Telecoms company in the world?

According to TeleGeography, Skype f land led 33 billion cross border minutes in 2008, up 41%, against an industry increase оi just 12%. Skype now accounts for 8% of the international voice. Other VoIP providers make up a further 23% of the international markel.

One billion downloads in nine monllis

A ▼

Apple announced that 13-year-old Conor Mulcahcy downloaded the billionth app from the iTunes store. Apps use the technology of the iPhone like the Multi-Touch interface, Ihe accelerometer, GPS, real-time 3D graphics, and 3D positional audio. Most other operators and manufacturers are trying to enter this popular market.

Adobe Flash on TV

Adobe has secured a deal to put Flash software onlo Ihe chips most commonly used inside TV sets and set top boxes. The move should facilitate the creation of web-based content on TV screens. The move further develops the increasing convergence of TV and PC/internet in the home with users likely to use their TVs for inleruel searches and increasing consumption of online media content.

Alcatel-Lucent posts eighth loss in a row Alcatel-Lucent Ihe world's third largest telecom equipment manufacturer, reported its eighth straight quarterly loss. The €3.88bn loss was said to reflect Ihe drastic deterioration of the gfobal outlook and the change in strategy.

According Lothc newsfeeds: