2010

Audio and video encoding and compression technologies are the underpinnings of the digital transmission and distribution mechanisms that drive our increasingly media-centric world. While standards such as H.264 and other components of MPEG 4 have emerged at the forefront, the market continues to demand further technological iterations and improvements in the pursuit of ubiquitous digital media that combines high quality with efficient bandwidth consumption.

The growing convergence of broadband internet and television has created applications and customer experiences that were unheard of only a few years ago. As the line between computer and television blurs, consumers demand more interactivity out of what has up to this point been a one-way communications platform. Televisions, set-top boxes, and gaming consoles have integrated the internet into their basic capabilities.

Ever since the invention of the computer, interface designers have attempted to devise better and more natural ways to make the interaction between man and machine as seamless as possible. As computer innovation moves forward, novel user interfaces that compliment these new usage patterns are required. As the internet becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, system designers have seen the importance of incorporating real-world internet usage trends into the way data is presented to users.

In 1992, the release of the IBM Simon Personal Communicator signaled the emergence of a new class of mobile device, the “smart phone.” Smart phones demonstrated capabilities that went above and beyond simply making phone calls, capabilities that blurred the line between the telephone and the personal computer. Since those first early iterations, multi-functional devices have become increasingly commonplace in the consumer market. Some of the most recognizable devices in this space include the Palm Pre, the RIM Blackberry, various Google Android devices, and the Apple iPhone.

The Internet has become the gateway to the world’s information, integrating itself into the personal and professional lives of people across the globe. Wireless technology has in turn set the Internet free from its past constraints and allowed it to become mobile, facilitating open access anywhere a wireless access point exists. The IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN communication standards have progressed, as well, allowing for faster and longer-range web access with the advent of 802.11b, 802.11g, and, with 802.11n, the promise of 10 times faster throughput over twice the distance.