Computers as interfaces and repositories

Neither the “my PC/laptop is my only machine, and is sacred” or “computers are just interfaces to information in cyberspace” are currently practical models, though the second is desirable. Instead, computers should be viewed as approximating the ideal by caching our data and applications, while also using the resources of each platform appropriately (example: I want Emacs to migrate from my server to my laptop, but it won’t fit on my PDA, so a simple text editor should be used there). This involves issues of caching, reconciliation, and format modification. I’d like to start jotting down some practical approaches for the kit I have and use today to approach this ideal of “all my data, everywhere, with best possible access”.


Last updated 2005/12/26