It is perhaps only in the movies that we get a glimpse of what a thinking computer would do as far as helping (or wrecking) people in their daily lives. Computers are helpful and fascinating but the value of human intervention is still a need to put everything in control. Yet despite seeing the catastrophe one computer can do, IBM people are playing around with the idea of developing a cognitive thinking computer to introduce to society.

IBM has won a $4.9 million government grant from DARPA to begin the first phase of research on “cognitive computing”- essentially building computers that work like living brains. The new brain-like computers will aim to process vast amounts of data to solve problems without relying on specific programmed algorithms. Mark Dean, Vice President of IBM said, “The challenge is that computers today are very good at computing, but what we really need is a more efficient way of sifting through information”

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So as far as the government is concerned, they are simply trying to make life easier and by having another help-type of an assistant to do some more advanced work as far as providing and creating information.

The intent is great but the fact of the matter is that before such technology can be implemented, it would be wise to cover all bases. You never know what one malfunction can do.

Practically all companies today are apprehensive on the flow of the market and for Lenovo, taking another crack at a faltering marketing in the desktop division seems to be a move that will certainly draw varied criticism on the timing of its market penetration efforts towards the desktop computing sector.

Apparently, the risk is quite high. No one knows what the future of the desktop computing industry will hold. But with their fingers crossed, apparently Lenovo is banking on a turn for the better any time soon, making a move that most companies would save for later when something clearer sets forth.

Lenovo which bought the PC division of IBM in 2004, has been a prominent figure in the laptop market. With its brand, its association with IBM is something that has carried it towards strides in better business. But as far as desktop computing is concerned, it can really be seen as something as starting once again from scratch.

To kick off their campaign, they have introduced into the market the IdeaCentre K210 Desktop last June 30 towards the consumer desktop market outside of China. But the weird thing about it all is that while other large computer companies are shifting towards mobile solutions, Lenovo is moving towards the opposite direction.

From a strategical management standpoint, you may call it catering towards the remaining customers in the desktop industry. For sure there is still a wide open market for it. But the question is on whether this investment will pay off. Perhaps Lenovo has seen something that other have not. Only time will tell if the investment risk will indeed reap dividends.

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We have heard on how computers have been pegged to change most issues in everyday living and today we are on the brink of seeing them resolve humanitarian issues through the World Community Grid.

Apparently this has to do a lot with research. Computers are known to be your best bet towards soliciting information through the web and compiled programs through optical storage and for sure this will help enhance the educational level that most people are longing for.

The issue normally stems from the fact that technological investments are pricey. It would take a good Samaritan to make it all work. But today, thanks to the efforts of IBM and the VOA, this stepping stone is within reach. Along with millions of volunteers to make this work, do not be surprised to see another point for technology to the good guys!

The IBM corporation started the World Community Grid more than two years ago. The company continues to provide advice and support to the project. Stanley Litow heads community relations for IBM. He says anyone in the world with a computer connected to the Internet can join the project.

Volunteers download a program from the World Community Grid Web site. Every so often, the program uploads results or downloads more information to be processed. Individuals can also find out how much work their computer power has done on the Web site.

Currently, about one million personal computers in one hundred countries are involved in the World Community Grid. Mister Litow hopes that another million computers will join the project. Then, he says, the World Community Grid will become the world’s largest super computer able to do many projects a year.

(Source) VOA News

…“You can build your system for a lot less than a real Mac and get the performance of a top-dollar Apple machine. This is fact and a lot of the real Mac users will deny, but it is fact. My machine runs a e4300 Core Duo Processor over-clocked to 3.40 GHZ. Where can you get a 3.4-GHz Mac? It will cost you a fortune. I have 1066-MHz DDR2 memory. Where can you get that on a real Mac???”

“Why run OS X? Well, when you are just used to Windows, it is like living inside a house and not experimenting the whole world out there. Once you get out of it, it is just amazing. Mac is just that: You just feel like glued to the computer. Everything is just beautiful, the interface, the stability. Once you experiment it, you don’t want to go back to windows.

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