HANDHELD DEVICES STEAL SPOTLIGHT AT PC EXPO - The PC Expo kicked off this week in New York, focusing more on the growing handheld market than on PCs. Jeff Hawkins, who helped develop the original Palm Pilot and went on to found Handspring, delivered the keynote address. Rather than discussing PCs, attendees debated whether the handheld market will eventually eclipse the cell phone market. Although Dell Computer CEO Michael Dell noted that the 7 million handhelds that market leader Palm has shipped are dwarfed by the 400 million PCs in the world, experts predicted that the handheld market will explode in coming years. By 2005 the number of people using portable Internet devices will rise to 1.5 billion, up from 20 million today, predicts Merrill Lynch analyst Henry Blodget. Compaq showed off its Pocket PC device, which is based on Windows CE and can surf the Web with a wireless modem attachment. Meanwhile, Handspring displayed its Visor, which is based on the Palm operating system and can be upgraded with wireless connections. (Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2000 - Edupage 28 June 00)

'OPTOCHIPS' SWING OPEN NEW DOOR FOR IMPROVING OPTICAL PRODUCTS - New "optochips" developed at the University of Southern California and the University of Washington offer information-processing speeds that are upward of 10 times faster than speeds from current modulators. The optochips, also known as polymeric electro-optic modulators, transform electrical signals into optical signals at speeds as high as 100 Gbps. New polymers replace standard lithium niobate in the electro-optic modulators, which serve as a link between electronics and fiber-optic equipment. New polymers are intended to bring about the development of high-capacity devices with low noise and low power usage. Although the technology is focused on optical modulators, manufacturers of integrated optical devices are also showing interest in the technology. Some believe the optochips will improve the performance of routing switches, sensors, directional couplers and other optical-networking equipment. "Long-distance and high-speed communications are among the applications for the technology," said James Bechtel of fiber-optic systems maker IPITEK. Although additional testing is necessary, initial results show promise, Bechtel says. (Lightwave, June 00 Ð Edupage 21 June 00)

GOGGLES OFFER WIDE-SCREEN TV Ð Eye-Trek by Olympus, worn like wraparound sunglasses, can pick up a standard NTSC television signal and display it in sharp images. It's like viewing a 62-inch wide screen from less than seven feet away. The device is compatible with TVs, camcorders, VCRs and DVDs. With the goggles, students could use personal TVs connected to the Internet to telelearn, business people could "attend" conferences from the privacy of their offices, you could watch your home movies and relive the experience and small children could be kept occupied during long family trips. The technological danger is that the device may create more distracted and self-isolated people. For more information CLICK: http://www.olympus.com (The Futurist May-June 00)