The technical possibility of sending all the information required to the end user is already here. Compression technology is progressing fast, along with hardware systems capable of the real-time decompression of that data. The introduction of Media2go and other such standardised software tools (Windows Media Audio & Video + WMA Pro - Windows Media server etc) should have allowed the developers of the databases a much easier time. The technical section from  pages 71 - 84 - explains this in more detail.

• Where Microsoft Lead, The Industry Follows: -

Usually this is true unless you can guess where they are going and get there before them. Microsoft and the rest of the industry have already developed most of the software tools needed to achieve what was originally contained within the virtual products proposal.

Microsoft and Intel are now making in-roads into the 64bit server market. The introduction of a 64bit Windows, should have allowed the developers of the VP proposal, a much easier time creating the tools needed to exploit this type of architecture. The simple fact that 64bit architecture allows for higher amounts of memory to be accessed, should have allowed the software developers to overcome some of the current limiting factors, which at present, hold back, certain types of software design.

Here is an extract from an announcement made by Microsoft and Samsung, showing where Microsoft is trying to lead us all:-

"Microsoft's alliance with Samsung Electronics will deliver a new generation of digital home technologies that create exciting experiences without adding more complexity to people's lives," Gates said. "We are entering a Digital Decade where smart, connected devices and advanced home-entertainment solutions will enable people to utilize technology in new ways and maximize its full potential."

"We look forward to working with Microsoft to pioneer a new range of home technologies," Dr. Chin said. "Microsoft technologies offer many benefits to build upon our vision of offering consumers seamless connectivity and easy home networking. We will develop an entire ecosystem of PCs, digital devices, intelligent home appliances and services that will easily and cost-effectively transform average households into next-generation digital homes." (See Athens).

For more on Microsoft's E-Home plans check out:-Samsung and Microsoft Announce Strategic Alliance To Collaborate on Digital Home Technologies

• The Microsoft Threat: -

Microsoft have already done deals with some cable networks like Telewest (they own somewhere between  25 to 36% of Telewest), this along with other deals with other TV networks and set top box companies, will give them the outlets they will need to reach a mass market. The TV content, they will probably be providing, will more than likely come from the interactions their Xbox 360, Homestation, XP users etc, will be having, with the 3D environments that Microsoft and others will be holding online. At the time of writing this, Telewest is reportedly 4.8 billion dollars in dept, it has dropped off the FTSE 100 and yet both the company execs and the banks don't seem to be worried about it. This is because  these virtual middlemen are about to rake it in and all the people in the know, know, if you know what I mean. VR is the next big thing and Microsoft is out to own it. This can be seen in the X-Boxes advertising budget, over half a billion dollars has been allocated, just to promote a games machine, me thinks not, it is all about the software hosting and online software rental market. In God's, sorry I mean Mr. Gates book, called ‘The Way Ahead’ he outlined way back in 1995, how the internet would be centric to Microsoft’s future plans. He knows VR is coming and he is deliberately setting out to make Microsoft the biggest player in this new mass market.

The Xbox was hyped as being able to manipulate real-time photo-realistic CG images (not quite). The controller ports on the Xbox also allow for increasingly sophisticated controllers or interfaces to be attached. Haptic interfaces maybe introduced for the Xbox 360 and Homestation as VR takes a hold. The next generation interfaces I believe Microsoft want, is the ability to read web cam images, thus allowing their next generation software users, to provide them, with a good resource of data, so as to help them build the interfaces of the future, (see the concepts database - page 84).

This is all covered in section 3 and 4, the big M is up to something to find out exactly what, you need to read this whole ebook, that's if you wish to understand the big picture and trust me it's massive.