Intel Corp, Microsoft Corp and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc say they don’t want you to turn your personal computer off, they want you to put it to sleep. The three companies have announced the publication of a new open specification of power management for personal computers, laptops and servers. The new specification, the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, or ACPI version 1.0, is said to enable personal computers to adopt a low-power sleeping state that in turn means the personal computer can still perform various functions and automated tasks. A sleeping machine will be able to turn peripherals – like CD-ROMs, network cards, hard disk drives and printers – on and off, as well as consumer electronics devices connected to the systems like video cassette recorders, televisions, telephones and stereos. Likewise ACPI-enabled devices will be able to activate the computer, the idea being to make it easier for users to perform automated tasks and to integrate computers into home communications and entertainment centers. The proposed specification was proposed and led by Intel, Microsoft and Toshiba, but 70 companies have both helped develop it and lent their support to it. The ACPI specification is said to be cross platform, but so far the only platforms actually being named are Microsoft Windows and Windows NT. Desktop and mobile computers, personal computer products and operating systems that incorporate ACPI are expected to be available from a broad range of vendors in the second half of this year.
