My take on the possible future of home computing, based on increased component integration, the rise of the agentic command interface (ACI), and increasingly hardware transparency. My recent, related video on “Agentic AI: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly” is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvt4TwGpqOs And all of my videos on the potential future of computing can be accessed via this page: https://www.explainingcomputers.com/future_computing.html More videos on computing and related topics can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/@ExplainingComputers And more videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: http://www.youtube.com/@ChristopherBarnatt Chapters: 00:00 Titles & Intro 00:43 Component Integration 06:56 From GUI to ACI 10:45 Transparent Computing 16:08 Radial Change? #Future #home #computing #agentic #integration #SiP #transparent #ExplainingComputers
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I have been using a HDTV as a computer monitor for a number of years now. SFF desktop computer is partly hiding behind this 48 inch monolith on my desk. I also have a Raspberry pi connected to the TV and I use the remote controller to switch between them
"Open the pod bay doors, please HAL." "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that..."
Christopher, I always trust your reviews, views and thoughts. You are a sane, rational reviewer and researcher who has a strong sense of what the normal user needs, wants and can afford. Many thanks for your continuing work and posts, that help us all directly.
Chris, this was one of your finest and comprehensive videos in memory! Well done. Lots to digest and think about. But know this: Humans are always scared of change. When the automobile came out, everyone pronounced the end of horses and they'd go extinct. Well over 100 years later, there are in fact MORE horses alive today than back then! It's all about the change. Please keep making videos about these thoughts and be sure to tell Stanley that you still need him ready to work!
Great video, Good insights
chris this video reminds me one of your previous that argued the changes on tower PCs to notebooks made internal upgrades less common or something like it. nice vid as always
I always appreciate your input and perspective
With computers becoming so small, one option not mentioned is that a future PC could easily be included in your domestic home router, especially with the future development of fiber broadband.
An excellent conversation, Well done.
First of all, great video and excellent points. Let's just say the discussion flows smoothly and is very timely. Among my many hobbies, I have several PCs and I continue to update them, both in terms of software and hardware. I'm not interested in processors with RAM and video included; it would take away the fun of building PCs. But I think that in the years to come, as you rightly said, we'll have a mini PC without USB, LAN, video, etc. connectors, basically a small box on a shelf, and a little robot that wanders around the house carrying out various voice commands. But it will take time. I'm 79 years old and I don't think I'll see how this ends; I'll be gone. Ciao e grazie. Google translation
I'm really curious to see where this is all heading. When I was 13/14, I used to build full gaming PCs and mod the cases myself. We went to LAN parties all the time, and those remain some of my absolute best memories from my youth. Now, looking at all the amazing hardware developments from powerful Macs to the endless possibilities with Raspberry Pis I can’t help but wonder how my daughter is going to experience it all. One thing I know for sure: it’s going to be exciting!
I remember in the mid 80's I was home from school sick. I moved the tv next to my bed so I could play with my C64. My mom got a little upset, but it was the first time I did computing away from my desk. Since the early 2000's I've been back and forth between stationary and laptop computing, and now I have both. When I lay down or sit on the couch with the laptop, I get sleepy, which happens less when I'm working at the desk. So that alone is the reason I'll always keep a desktop setup. These radical computer changes will probably be more relevant to the younger generations, some of them already just using a smartphone for everything. However, I think the retro computing/tech craze is not to be underestimated. We'll see.
One of the most enjoyable tech (computer) channels on YouTube. Spiffing indeed!
I hope we live to see this future...
If you ever see me talking to a computer - lock me up.
Another good video. I fully agree with your analysis. Funny: Have a similar TV/Computer setup: keyboard-touchpad combo. An i7 Thinkstation behind the screen. This gives me the opportunity to work behind that screen. Watch linear and non-linear TV and see online content like Youtube. I also agree with your vision on Agent based computing. And to answer your survey: Most future home computing power will be hosted in the cloud.
I avoid recurring charges at all cost. The industry wants to move to everything as a service. I want them to fail from consumer pressure against it, not the least of which is privacy and ownership of my own data.
Ai grok in particular is the ultimate teacher, personality I ask a lot of questions in statistics, bioinformatics, electronics and science in general. I'd never have it control my computer or write emails but it's great for python scripts and little coding projects, plus also manipulating thousands of things in a repetitive way, including certain tedious operations in spreadsheets, for which Ai is great and to you it would take forever.
i am sitting in a recliner in my home theater watching your video and typing this on a blue tooth keyboard to a 2012 mac mini running Linux mint cinnamon. works wonderfully and very comfortable! nice video!!
100% agree on agentic interfaces. Silicon Valley CEOs are applying the mental model of the self-driving car: on your first time you're scared, but 5 minutes in and people are already scrolling on their phones. Home computing will become a hobby for enthusiasts again. It has been a wild 40 years.