2003 and Beyond

For the past 20 years, PC World has kept readers up-to-date on key innovations in personal computing--at work, at home, and on the road. So what better way to start off our third decade than by previewing the technologies and trends we'll be covering next?

We asked dozens of product researchers, developers, and analysts to share their predictions about the next couple of years. And even though our crystal ball hasn't always been right on the money in issues past (see "Flashback"), this time a few common themes emerged.

The Big Trends

Consumer electronics devices such as TVs and stereos should start to communicate wirelessly and automatically--no configuration will be required with computers and peripherals. Indeed, one of the major developments of the next year or two may be seamless, fast, and invisible connectivity everywhere.

You'll also see technology offered in much smaller packages. PCs will shrink; many more of them will be laptops.

Processing and graphics performance of personal digital assistants and cell phones will rival those of desktop PCs from only a few years ago. Handhelds will become prescient, as well--able to determine where you are and to anticipate what information you'll want, such as the prices of plasma TVs when you walk past an electronics store (think Minority Report). The Internet will be everywhere: Even your wristwatch will be connected. But the connections will happen behind the scenes and automatically.

Although many of these developments won't be widespread at the end of 2004, products will be available for early adopters. And they will grow commonplace toward the end of the decade, changing the way you interact with technology in your office, on the road, and back at home.