Essential Computing

"Essential Computing: Simplifying and enriching all aspects of work and daily life through applications and systems technologies that collectively empower individuals, connect them to each other and into the fabric of networked society" - Andrew Chien (Director)

Essential Computing Overview

Intel Research's over-arching vision for the future is evolving from one of proactive computing to one of Essential Computing. Over the years, we've been part of a steady evolution moving computing from the machine room out into people's workplaces and into their daily lives. As this transformation continues, we will see computing evolve from being a number of separate devices we each use occasionally to dozens of devices that are an essential part of daily life.

Intel's vision of Essential Computing encompasses six research areas, or as we call them, research themes. These six research themes - Personal Awareness, Physicality, Data-Rich Computing, Concealing Complexity, Richly Communicative, Biosensors - focus on making technology more viable, more useful, more personal, more essential in our daily lives. Through these research directions, we seek to simplify and enrich all aspects of our daily lives through applications and systems technologies that collectively empower each of us as individuals, connect us to each other and into the fabric of networked society.

Challenges on the path to Essential

In order for new technologies to be compelling and accepted, they require the right blend of capabilities combined with appropriateness for the environment to create both excitement and real value for the intended user. To achieve Intel's vision of Essential Computing, we are fundamentally changing our research methodology, building multi-disciplinary teams that span Intel Research's competencies in distributed systems and networking, computer architecture, wireless communications, software applications, machine learning, machine vision, ethnography, sociology, people and practices, and emerging regions.

The six research themes for Essential Computing

Essential computing is a big goal. To spearhead this effort, we've broken it down into six research themes.

		Concealing Complexity >
		As more devices become essential to our daily lives, it will become increasingly important to conceal their complexity.

		Data-Rich Computing >
		Effective understanding and use of this new wealth of raw information poses one of the great challenges for the new century.

		Personal Awareness >
		In the future we may have a "wardrobe" of personal devices to help us pursue short- and long-term goals and personal enhancement.

		Physicality >
		What kinds of new interfaces, sensors and actuation systems will allow people to seamlessly interact with the computing and physical parts of their lives?

		Richly Communicative >
		Computing devices are increasingly being used as communicating devices. What's needed are ways to convey more meaning and intention.

		Biosensors >
		Decoding natures secrets by analyzing a million plus bio-molecules in parallel from a microlitres of body fluid.