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The Sentient Office Is Coming
Posted by
michael
on Sat Jun 28, 2003 02:11 AM
from the intelligent-stapler dept.
from the intelligent-stapler dept.
Roland Piquepaille writes "In this article, the Economist explains that "sentient computing systems are likely to be everywhere within five years -- listening and watching, and ready to anticipate their users' every need." "By adding sensors to today's computing and communications technology, sentient computing seeks to take account of a machine's environment in order to make it more responsive and useful. Sentient computing systems are always on, ubiquitously available, and can adapt to their users. In short, they seek to become real help-mates." ACM TechNews also wrote an analysis of sentient computing: "Challenges to sentient computing include the seamless integration of wireless networks, the spread of sensors throughout products and the environment, the accurate provision of location data, and the ability of sentient systems to merge vast volumes of widely disseminated data and customize its delivery for users. Other problems researchers will have to tackle include scalability, the development of cooperative file systems, and sentient applications' ability to find screens and network devices in close proximity to users." And of course, there are privacy concerns... Check this summary for additional details."
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Clippy writes.. (Score:5, Funny)
* Help you write a suicide note
* Email your lawyer to set your main beneficiary to Microsoft
* Fax an order for another red swingline because someone stole it
Microsoft Bob (Score:2)
great for halloween, etc. I figure that at some point it will become desirable on ebay or something.
This place [building19.com] actually had a trademark dispute with Microsoft over the MS Bob smiley face because they had a similar trademark smiley face with glasses predating it. If I recall right, they won.
Another random thought: just what we need for saturday mornings: super clippy
Microsoft Bob is not related to Microsoft Bill
Re:Clippy writes.. (Score:2)
* - download some porn for you?
* - turn on the web cam you installed in the women's locker room?
* - alert you if your boss is coming to see you?
At Last! (Score:5, Funny)
For those who don't know... (Score:4, Informative)
adj.
Having sense perception; conscious: "The living knew themselves just sentient puppets on God's stage" (T.E. Lawrence).
Experiencing sensation or feeling.
Yes, I had to look it up.
Re:Utter misnomer (Score:2)
I'm completely baffled as to why they want the English language mangled in this way, to the point that when such a thing as a sentient computer does come into being we'll have no word any more to describe it.
This is Orwellian.
Proximity Sensoring Stuff... (Score:5, Informative)
Salling Software's Clicker [mac.com] is a pretty cool piece of software that does some nifty remote control things with Bluetooth-enabled Sony Ericsson phones. But the really nifty stuff are its "proximity sensor" features. When it senses the phone leaves the computer's general area, it pauses iTunes; when you return, it resumes playing. It can also be AppleScript-enabled, letting you do any number of other proximity-to-computer related tasks.
Just a thought. (No, I don't work for Salling Software.)
Something like Minority Report's smart advertising based on a retina scan comes to mind. Basing this off of wireless phones, it seems very much like this idea might be widespread within a few years.
Interesting technology. That's all.
justen
It is inevitable (Score:3, Insightful)
Coming soon... (Score:4, Funny)
Clippy the ......? or "Stop trying to help me!" (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Clippy the ......? or "Stop trying to help me!" (Score:2)
Sounds a lot like Project Starfire [asktog.com].
Re:Clippy the ......? or "Stop trying to help me!" (Score:2, Funny)
I don't want my refrigerator watching my travel plans and spying on my every move. I pay the Government to do that.
Re:Clippy the ......? or "Stop trying to help me!" (Score:4, Interesting)
Parent
The future (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, and your boss will be a cell phone. See, he's yelling at you right now.
God, I hope they have drugs in the future.
Re:The future (Score:2)
'nuff said.
p.s. i don't own a cell phone for just this reason.
Don't we get this prediction every five years? (Score:5, Insightful)
Or will we be getting to this sentient office in our flying cars, eating a full course lunch that comes in a pill, and going back to our houses under the sea? Maybe I'll get my robot maid to make me a martini, for retro's sake.
Re:Don't we get this prediction every five years? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Don't we get this prediction every five years? (Score:2, Informative)
Suppose that computers could act as people. That would be fairly advanced, right? And adaptive, right? Then you should ask yourself the question if you want a servant around 24/7. Not only that, even servants get stuff wrong. Besides that, we are nowhere near building such a thing...
Sentient Office? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm still waiting for sentient office workers.
Pay per View: Gate V.S. Hopper (Score:2)
According to [zdnet.co.uk] our pal Bill [slashdot.org], Hooper's full of it.
Sadly, I have to believe the guy *without* billions of dollars, meetings with congresswhores, and an overwhelming desire to fund R&D,
California will be spared (Score:5, Funny)
Wake me up when it's here (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm not gonna get worked up or even mildly excited about stuff like this until it's a little closer to reality - like 20 years out. There's a big difference between (quoting from the Economist article)
Some products already capture the spirit of sentient computing. When the makers of mobile phones first put the mouthpiece on a flip-up cover, users had to open the handset and irritatingly press a button to answer a call. It
The Fundamental Problem (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not being facetious. I work in an office, and I can't think of anyone who's particularly well-organized. The people who do their jobs well have good job habits, not a rigid system that an adaptable computer system can learn to predict.
The basic problem with anticipatory decisions by computers is that, if it offers something the user wants, it's accepted; if it offers something the user doesn't want, it's not just rejected, it's an irritant, an interruption. The cost of being wrong far outweighs the benefit of being right. Like branch prediction in the CPU, it has to be right far more often than it's wrong to be of practical value, and human behaviour is far harder to analyse and predict than computations.
Aaaaaaggghhhh! (Score:2)
Tell... tell mY childen i love tehm..
Am I missing something? (Score:5, Informative)
sentient [reference.com]...Note that none of the definitions have anything remotely to do with being able to "anticipate a user's every need."
Somebody seriously needs to rethink the terminology here.
Here We Go Again... (Score:5, Insightful)
But, wait, didn't they make this prediction back around, oh, 1966 or so? Nifty theorem provers would unlock the power of the computer for real Artifical Intelligence? No, actually, it was predicted even earlier than that, by no less than Turing. He figured we'd have machines capable of passing his "imitation game" test by the end of the 20th century.
Wrong on all counts. Speech recognition software still requires training and it's clumsy to use. Contents filters (as now mandated for libraries receiving federal funding, thanks to the oh-so-technically-savvy U.S. Supreme Court) still can't reliably tell the difference between breasts as in breast cancer and breasts as in porno. And the AI crowd is still grappling with things like knowledge representation schemas and semantic networks.
IMHO what we will most likely see are systems with huge lookup tables and canned procedural responses driving complex state machines, not flexible systems capable of introspection or foresight. It might even begin to exhibit what the philosophy/cognitive science crowd likes to call "emergent properties". It may even begin to become useful, but it most definately won't be sentient.
I have to admit, though, it would be nice to able to ask my house AI to list my appointments for the day and assemble a personalized news report from the wires while I brush my teeth and get dressed. But I trully don't think that'll be a reality until about the time I decide to pack it in and retire, if then. And then I won't really need it, or even care.
Pfft! They promised us flying cars and video phones, too, and I haven't seen any of those running lately, either.
Been around Europe lately? (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re:Here We Go Again... (Score:3, Interesting)
I think the article is another attempt to rah-rah companies who purport to be involved in AI just to support their stock price. So, I must call this article's line of bullpucky
We have been hearing about AI for long enough to know further empty promises when we hear them. Do we have to go through this continually, cycle after cycle, of hearing about how smart computers will get? Sheesh, it seems that most of the "intelligence" put into systems
How about video chat? (Score:2)
That's not sentient (Score:5, Insightful)
Dune: Prologue (Score:2)
How long do you think we have until the Butlerian Jihad?
Schwab
all in a day's work (Score:5, Funny)
I grabbed my lunch and headed out as fast as I could. It is now 12:45, and I am not sure what I will find when I return to the office, but judging from the terrorised faces of my coworkers, it can't be good.
B.S. (Score:4, Insightful)
Same story, different vocabulary. (Score:3, Insightful)
How about tablet PC's that were going to create a paperless office, while agents and intelligent appliances would free us from the drudgery of chores ... leaving us plenty of time to spend with our children ... who would have plenty of free time themselves ... since computers would obsolete schools ... and CD-ROMs would obsolete libraries. But that's ok, since GPS would allow us to keep track of where they went, how fast they were driving ... and smart cards would tell us where they spent their virtual money ... because secure computing was going to free us from paper money ... but not before RFID would prevent counterfeit paper from funding terrorists ... who wouldn't be an issue because of biometric id's ... would allow law enforcment to track potential terrorists by their "terrorist" genes ... that would have been identified in human DNA ... by neural net self-teaching software.
Don't even get me started on how whole cities would be built around "It."
So now someone conned the editors of the Economist into publishing an article about "sentient" environments with Bluetooth-like technology driving it all. Give me a break, we've heard it all before. I don't know exactly how the future will arrive, but I do know it ain't gonna show up via a press conference.
[That being said, as a left handed mouse user and touch typist, why _shouldn't_ all the computers I'm paid to troubleshoot automagically recognize me and give me my damn mouse config, typing macros and shortcuts?]
Is it all just a greedy quest for more money? (Score:3, Insightful)
Just the upkeep on several PC's takes a lot of time. It doesn't matter what OS they run -- they are all quite complex to most people.
Adding all these new sorts of sensors and having to navigate the extra complexity is not going to make life easier for anyone, especially for those who don't easily comprehend invisible sensors, monitors, data networks, etc.
There is going to be bugs in the code that listens to the incoming data from these sensors and acts on it. And normal people won't have a chance, much less programmers. Who will be able to fix a sensor problem when the house lights don't go off? Or when the toilet keeps flushing even when no one is around?
I can't help but think that many of the new technologies today are nominated for the "Dotcom 2.0" presidency and we're just waiting for one to be accepted by the media and then overhyped and oversold to the public.
As an industry, are we really focusing on making life better for people? Or are we just off inventing stuff to market and make money?
In the Business Week article that was posted recently, it says that over 80% of the cost of "business software" today is spent on installation and maintenance. With more complexity, this figure is likely to skyrocket. We, the people, pay for these costs. They are passed onto us as consumers.
I sit and write this in a tiny little edit box. That's on a nice system with two LCD 1280x1024 monitors. Even though I have plenty of screen space to support a nice editor, I am confined to a little box. It makes me think that there is so much we can do to improve the 'fit and finish' of what we've built so far instead of madly pursuing more and more features.
If we don't slow down the pace of technology, we are just building a giant mountain of half-finished stuff. Sure, a lot of money is made along the way. But has that money been spent wisely? Considering the chilling aftermath of "Dotcom 1.0" in Silicon Valley, I would say not.
I would like to see the old fashioned values of quality, usability, and value return to technology, especially software. Networks of sensors doesn't inspire me with anything other than a sense of dread. Complex stuff that doesn't really make life any better for anyone.
And thank you for reading my somewhat rantish outburst.
Oh yeah, this is gonna work. (Score:5, Insightful)
Case in point:
Clair (automated voice operator from hell, Sprint PCS customers know who I am talking about)
Clair: 'Welcome to Sprint. How may I help you?'
(I begin to sweat, my blood pressure goes up)
'Ummm.... ughhhh...'
Clair: 'Sorry, I don't recognize that response. How may I help you?'
Me: 'ummm Why is there a charge on my phone bill I don't recognize?'
Clair: 'Sorry, I don't recognize that response. How may I help you?'
(If at first you don't succeed, chew clair out)
Me: 'I hate you clair. You are ugly, and your Mom was a 56K modem. Your Dad is an out of work IBM.'
Clair: 'Sorry, I don't recognize that response. How may I help you?'
Me: 'Billing problems?'
Clair: 'Sorry, I don't recognize that response. How may I help you?'
goes on and on and on and on...
So yeah, talking to a computer gets me real excited.
Repeat after me, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD.
No "Off" State! (Score:3, Insightful)
http://www.cryptogon.com/2003_06_15_blogarchive
1984 Telescreen: Microsoft Athens
Digital Rights Management (DRM) computers are going to be a reality just as certainly as the sun will rise in the morning. The systems will be ubiquitous within two years. But what will they look like?
Microsoft has unveiled (unfurled) its hellish vision of the future of computing: Athens. Never mind the fact that Longhorn sees all and knows all. Never mind the fact that you are not root on Longhorn. Never mind the fact that the system is fully integrated with a thumbscanner, camera, telephone and microphone. Never mind the fact that there will be no way to run a non DRM operating system on Longhorn class hardware. (Cops will show up if you somehow manage to circumvent the DRM mechanisms.)
Make sure you're sitting down for this one:
Would you believe that Microsoft's system of the future has no "Off" state? From HardwareCentral.com:
Speaking of mute, Athens will be a whisper-quiet, small-form-factor machine, whose power button switches between on and standby modes rather than on and off -- resuming work in no more than two seconds. In the event of a power failure, a built-in battery will last long enough to hibernate or save system status to the hard disk.
Here is more on the no "Off" feature from a Microsoft document entitled, The "Athens" PC (Microsoft Word document):
The notion of "off" is confusing to users, because the PC can be in standby, hibernation or true "off" modes, Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) states S3, S4 and S5, respectively. Each of these states has a different latency when the user turns the PC on again: it takes longer to start the PC from S4 than from S3, and still longer to start the PC from S5.
In usability tests, participants preferred a two-state (on/standby) power model over a three-state (on/standby/off) model. They felt the two-state power model was more appealing than the power model used by today's PCs. This research suggests that users would be more likely to put their PCs in standby mode if it were more convenient to do so.
Note: The system checks your email when in standby mode, i.e. the network interface and applications are operational in standby mode. That thing isn't off. Not by a long shot.
Yes, you can pull the plug out of the wall, and let the battery go dead.
Will Microsoft call you, though, wondering if your PC is being tampered with? Is the person who unplugged the PC from the power socket authorized to do so? Maybe you will just learn from habit --- from habit that will become instinct --- to never pull the plug out of the wall.
From 1984, by George Orwell:
The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live --- did live, from habit that became instinct --- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.
Mr Clippy (Score:3, Funny)
I think I may just kill myself now instead.
The only important quote. (Score:2)
All the rest was just filler... with this innocent looking sublimal message right in the middle.
Any questions?
Looong (Score:2)
I'm still waiting for the paperless office... (Score:5, Insightful)
So before working on sentient offices, I suggest some extra time is devoted to such projects as flying cars, the paperless office, the helpful computer, and Duke Nukem Forever.
I hold out hope for all but the last.
Sentient Lifts ? (Score:5, Funny)
(Soft muzakky sort of voice) Hello. I am to be your elevator for this trip to the floor of your choice. I have been designed by the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation to take you, the visitor to the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, into these, their offices. If you enjoy your ride which will be swift and pleasurable then you may care to experience some of the other elevators which have recently been installed in the offices of the Galactic Tax Department, Boobiloo Baby Foods and the Sirian State Mental Hospital, where many ex-Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Executives will be delighted to welcome your visits, sympathy and happy tales of life out in the big wide world.
Zaphod
Yeah? What else to you do besides talk?
Lift
I go up or down.
Zaphod
Good. We're going up.
Lift
Or down.
Zaphod
Yeah, ok, up please.
Lift
Down's very nice.
Zaphod
Oh yeah?
Lift
Super.
Zaphod
Good. Now will you take us up?
Lift
May I ask you if you've considered all the possibilities that down might offer you?
HuCoNOS - Human Computer Network Operating System (Score:2)
I think that there is too much emphasis paid to the computing aspect. There are two other aspects that need to be considered - the memory aspect, and the AGENT of interaction between cpu (computing) and memory roles. In some cases the computer does the computing, but in many cases it just serves as an extension of our memory. The roles of the Humans change from being of the memory role to the cpu role almost instantly, with the Computer picking up the complimentary role - thus creating what we call the S-
PDF link Re:HuCoNOS - Human Computer (Score:2)
Thanks for your reprimand ... it was laziness on my part ...my apologies .. i just wish I could make this correction to to my earlier post ....
Here is the pdf link
PDF FORMAT - Invention Disclosure for NCSU (315 KB) [bubbleui.com]
Five Years? Doubtful. (Score:2, Insightful)
I only see the faintest glimmer of predictive functionality in the most popular software out there. When the OS can watch across multiple applications, recognize when I do the same 6 commands in Photoshop followed by the same 6 commands in Excel followed by the same 6 commands in Dreamweaver over and over again and anticipate my
What if we move? (Score:3, Insightful)
Okay, so the article is about the office, but lets talk about this technology in general. I am currently renting, and have so far had to move 16 times in the last 6 years (generally had extrodinarily bad luck finding somewhere permanent). Obviously, as we're renting, things like the fridge, washing machine, etc are part of the flat, and do not move with us.
So, what happens when we move? Does the new fridge try mapping me to its old owner? Maybe it decides I'm an intruder, and throws old milk at me? Are all my preferences written to CD by the old house, for loading into the new, because I'm really sure all the manufacturers will make their equipment compatible!
Additionally, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm always somewhat unnerved by moving. I'm generally a little more tense for a week afterwards, it wrecks havoc with my sleep pattern, this sort of thing. How well will this technology cope with that sort of event?
"HAL I want to go home!" (Score:4, Funny)
it's not sentient (Score:2, Insightful)
right... (Score:3, Interesting)
as for the sentient office, good luck. most people can't accurately and intelligently interact with a Web search engine.
Microsoft keeps getting mentioned in this article. I can just see my interaction w/ this ( not that I touch a Microsoft box unless I'm making a BIOS flash disk from a
Clippy2000
Me
Clippy2000
Me
Clippy2000
Me
Clippy2000
SMASH
Me
I don't need something that tries to second guess me. I need something that can parse large amounts of data at a fast rate, something like Google on steroids. I am capable of non-linear thought about multiple things at once, a computer is not. And your average Joe Blow Office Worker, the last thing he needs is more confusion.
And you're crazy if you think Microsoft and company won't turn this into another system of control.
Re:Helper Monkey. (Score:2)
The beauty of it is that we'll start with one, but he'll train others!
We'll all live like kings! Damn hell ass kings!