IBM MetaPad Blurs cell, server, PC, PDA boundaries

New Orleans, Lousiana -- IBM used its PartnerWorld show here to show off what it is touting as the ultimate "personal server: a 3 x 5 inch, 9 ounce Meta Pad with an 800 Mhz processor, a 10 Gbyte hard drive, a 3D graphics chip, and 128 Mybte SDRAM that can run Windows XP.

The device illustrates the blurring of boundaries between traditional platforms in the highly volatile and still evolving environment for Internet-centric computing devices and systems, combining aspects of servers, laptops, desktops, PDAs and wireless connectivity.

IBM Researcher and Meta Pad Lead Engineer Ken Ocheltree, who showed off the technology to about 6,000 IBM partners here, said the device allows users to access all of their information and applications whether connected to their desktop or via wireless connectivity from the road.

The catch is that IBM has no plans to market the device, which was built to research and develop technologies that could go into future Internet-centric personal commmunications and computing devices. IBM did say it may consider licensing the exploratory technology to other companies.

"This is your personal server so you can have information where and when you need it," said Ocheltree. "MetaPad brings On Demand (computing) to the most personal level."

Among the capabilities of the MetaPad are automatic sychronization with your desktop or server data whether accessing information from the road or office, said Ocheltree.

One potential use of the technology is as an alternate way to build servers, Ocheltree said. By plugging the Meta Pad devices into a rack system, IBM said solution providers could get high-performance in a very small form factor, making it easier and more affordable to provide customers with their own personal server.

IBM is currently looking at adding digital ink and speech capabilities to the device, said Ocheltree.

IBM researchers were able to achieve the small form factor by pulling out the power supply, display and I/O connectors, said Ocheltree.

Meta Pad can be either used as a standalone personal assistant or attached to a keyboard and display at home, work or elsewhere, said IBM. The product could also be placed in a laptop shell and used like an IBM ThinkPad or attached to wearable headset device to work in certain hands-free computing environments. In addition, the device can be placed into a connector in an airplane seat and linked to a touch screen display.

For instant access to more informationabout the issues, products and technologies mentioned in this story, click on the flashing icon in the upper right hand column on any page on this site. It will take you to an alternate view of iApplianceWeb based on an associatively-linked XML/Java Web map that can be used to search for any topic published here over the last 12 months.

This map allows any story on the site to be accessed by date, by category, by title, or by keyword, with results displayed within seconds either as a list of possible hits or with specific Web pages displayed below the map, which is adjustable depending on the number of hits and the number of links.

For technical article coverage, go to the  iAppliance Web Views  page and access the EETimes In Focus maps there to browse or quickly search for all articles on a particular topic since the beginning of 1999.