SNAP Computing and the X Window System

Today's computing mantra is "One keyboard,
one mouse, one display, one computer, one
user, one role, one administration"; in short,
one of everything. However, if several people
try to use the same computer today, or cross
adminstrative boundaries, or change roles from
work to home life, chaos generally ensues.

Several hardware technologies will soon push
this limited model of computing beyond the
breaking point. Projectors and physically large
flat panel displays have become affordable and
are about to take a leap in resolution. Cell
phone size devices can now store many gigabytes
of information, take high resolution photographs,
have significant computation capability,
and are small enough to always be with you.

Ask yourself "Why can't we sit with friends,
family or coworkers in front of large display
with audio system, and all use it at once?"

You should be able change roles or move locations,
and reassociate with the local computing
environment. The new mantra must become
'many' and 'mobile' everywhere 'one' has sufficed
in the past.

Change will be required in many areas from
base system, through the window system and
toolkits, and in applications to fully capitalize
on this vision.