Bill Gates kicked off a new company initiative last week that could, if the hype is to be believed, transform all our homes into high-spec Gatesesque technodromes. The Microsoft Corp chairman unveiled the Simply Interactive Personal Computer framework of hardware technologies for Windows-based personal computers at the San Jose Windows Hardware Engineering Conference 96. The idea is simple: turn the computer into an appliance. Place it in a sealed container next to the television, the kettle or just about anywhere in a home or office, and leave the thing permanently switched on. It will never have to warm up or be re- booted and will self-activate to receive any incoming electronic mail, telephone calls or voice mail. Rapid access to the Internet will be supported by state-of-the-art World Wide Web browsers with enhancements to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. And there’s more. Although the box will have its own processor to run standard personal computer applications, the unique selling point of the new gadget will be its ability to plug into standard household appliances such as a television set, video cassette recorder or a stereo system. It will double up as a games console, with outstanding two- and three-dimensional graphics, said Microsoft. In short, the Simply Interactive Personal Computer concept is an initiative to make the personal computer as simple as a television to operate, to become the center of entertainment, communication and productivity in the home. Microsoft helped define the basic specifications for the hardware, and is now content to sit back and let the manufacturers take over. Compaq Computer Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co, Intel Corp and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc endorsed the technology at the Conference. Dolby Laboratories Inc has allied itself to the project, signing a letter of intent with Microsoft. The two companies will jointly develop technologies and specifications to support the use of Dolby’s surround sound systems, including technology to decode multi-channel audio for use by six-speaker surround sound stereo systems. A key component of the Simply Interactive Personal Computer is OnNow, a broad industry initiative to design a new interface to the system board that enables both Windows NT and Windows95 to implement operating system-directed power management on a broad array of personal computers, including servers, business and consumer systems. Based on the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface open specification, OnNow was announced in conjunction with the Simply Interactive Personal Computer by Microsoft, Intel and Toshiba. Microsoft plans to support OnNow in all future releases of Windows95 and Windows NT. OnNow will enable software developers to write one application for both notebooks and desktop personal computers. So far, no-one appears willing to say when we may expect to see the new kit, or indeed put a price on the sealed box.
