In a recent interview, Bill Gates was asked what the next big thing in computers and software might be. His answer was that it would be all about how humans interact with computers and other digital devices. Frankly, I am not sure what kind of interface I would want in my next computer and/or phone. I hate using my notebook computer’s keyboard and use a third party wireless keyboard and mouse in its place. The friendlier the device the happier I am. My cell is the old kind, so if you send me a text message, don’t expect much of a response.

As you old time computer users know, before the graphical user interface and before the command line prompts on a video display became the norm, computer input consisted of batch files fed to the computer using key punched cards or paper tape. The computer’s output came in the form giant sheets of perforated paper. Then came Video display units along with keyboards which provided computer operators with a screen that allowed them to read the commands they were typing into the computer and view the results on the screen. Thus, the command line became the standard computer interface in the sixties, seventies and early eighties.

Graphical user interfaces emerged in the early 1980’s and made computers easier to use by normal people. This interface has been the standard since that time. The Apple MacIntosh which debuted in the late ’80s was the first mass produced computer to utilize the graphical user interface. Windows for the PC followed shortly thereafter. The mouse was actually developed in 1968 at the Stanford Research Institute by Douglas Englebart. He also demonstrated hypertext and shared screen collaboration at an event in San Francisco that year.

Today’s computers utilize graphical interfaces, mice, and touch screen technologies. Although these technologies have existed for 20 years or more, they have been fine tuned to make computing and web surfing easy enough for most neophyte users to accomplish their tasks. The new smart phones have taken this touch screen technology to the next level and made computing a pervasive technology that can be accomplished from almost anywhere in the world using satellite communications and wi-fi. The multi-touch screen actually debuted in 1983 on an HP 150 computer.

So what does the future hold for the computer interface and will we adapt more easily to life with computing devices as these interfaces become more sophisticated and almost human? Gesture sensing will be one of those interfaces. Eye movement already exists for the multiply handicapped. In the future you will encounter projected displays in the air in front of you that will allow to use spatial positioning wands or even your own hands to communicate with various digital devices.

The Wii already incorporates some basic versions of activation via movement. Wouldn’t it be cool if when your computer acted inappropriately you could take advantage of the old one finger salute? How would it respond? How many times have you already reacted to your computer’s behavior by doing just that? It could be our revenge for the blue screen of death. The iPhone already has some apps that take advantage of this type of movement sensing.

Force feedback is another emerging interface component that will be used with touch screens in the future. Surgical training devices are embracing this interface to help surgeons become more proficient at complex procedures without having to practice on humans. Some game systems are experimenting with this interface and cell phone companies are researching the possibilities of this type of interface as well.

Gates spoke of verbal interfaces when asked about the future of computing. I remember a Star Trek movie from back in the eighties in which Scotty was attempting to use an American computer and tried first to talk to the computer. He soon realized that the computer didn’t understand verbal commands, and he would have to type them in if he wanted the computer to do what he wanted it to do. And we can’t forget the movie 2001:A Space Odyssey where the HAL 9000 computer tried to take control of the space station and in a last ditch effort uttered the famous line, “Don’t turn me off Dave”.

Voice recognition has been around since the seventies, but hasn’t really taken off until the new millennium began. Not that we don’t talk to our computers, it’s just that they don’t listen. With the advances of voice recognition this is about to change radically. The voice interface will probably be common in the next 5 to 10 years.

Imagine sitting in your office or cubicle while all of your office mates are talking to their computers simultaneously. Maybe we should hold on to our keyboards and mice for a while. The office could get pretty noisy. Sounds like a business opportunity for Bose, doesn’t it? Whatever the emerging interface standard becomes, I am sure that we will still have plenty to complain about.

Don’t be surprised if you encounter computers that can communicate directly with your brain in the next twenty years or less. Medical research has already come up with bionic nerve connection devices that operate prosthetic limbs simply by the amputee thinking about the moving that limb. Perception monitoring could be next. I am not sure I want the computer to know what I am thinking. Do you?

What do you think the next big interface will be? Are you happy with your keyboard, mouse and other digital interfaces? Is your cell phone easy to use for a variety of tasks? Chime in. We want to hear your story.

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