The future of computing

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Laboratory for Computer Science director and staff report on their Oxygen Project: a research and development project whose vision is to design a more helpful computing environment enabling users to do more by doing less, in which electronic information processing is ever present and as unseen as the air. Oxygen is an integrated collection of 8 new technologies: handhelds (Handy 21 - a cellular telephone in appearance that will also incorporate the functions of television, pager, AM/FM radio, and Internet connection; wall and motor vehicle installed computers (Enviro 21); a novel net (Net 21); speech based interfaces (voice command); knowledge (data base) access; collaboration; automation; customization.