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«Every ten years a huge leap occurs in technology. The last one being wireless internet coming to laptops. I believe we are getting close to another leap like this,» said the Indian born American Ajay V. Bhatt in Holland’s National Maritime Museum, in Amsterdam – where this year’s nominees for European Entrepreneur were lined up for journalists.
Mr Bhatt, working for Intel for over 20 years, invented, with his colleagues, the USB-interface found in every contemporary computer – a day after the interview, 17 years after the invention happened, proclaimed the best outside-of-Europe invention of 2013. This not being the first award secured by the man born in 1957: for his device, he has been recognised even before, the last such occasion being the London gala for Asian prizes.
Future of USB
In addition to USB, Mr Bhatt has designed the new Thunderbolt connection used by Apple, born at a dinner, scribbled unto a napkin.
«The central idea was to make computers easier to use. Prior to our invention, computers were used by the very technicians who built them. Our goal was to make use of computers easier for other people as well,» said Mr Bhatt regarding the birth of USB.
Currently, computers usually use USB2, the speed of which is 480 Mbit/s. However, the devices on store shelves come with the third version of the input, offering data communication speeds of up 5 Gbit/s.
But what’s the future of USB? «Probably, USB 4.0 will be twice as fast as USB 3.0. Maybe the plug will be different,» said Mr Bhatt.
According to Mr Bhatt, Intel is also busy developing devices with the entire data communication totally wireless. «I believe that in about three years we will see devices where you can’t plug in anything. Not even to charge the battery. We are working on devices like that,» confessed the hardware architect.
Devices making lives easier and more comfortable are also expected by the Swiss physicist Martin Schadt, who, in 1970ies, invented a way of using liquid chrysalis in displays. By now, LCD has become the most widely used type of screens – found on computers, smartphones, TV sets etc.
While interviewed, the 74 years old Schadt was surprisingly spirited; having given numerous prior interviews, he headed off – as enthusiastically – to give further ones after finishing with me.
«This phone of yours... It gets its light from behind the screen. But it is actually possible for LCD to use light from around it, to show images. That would save lots of energy!» he said, snapping the iPhone, used to record the interview, from the journalist’s grip.
Even less energy
According to Mr Schadt, the full LCD potential is not used, currently. Namely, most screens are lighted from behind them. However, solar energy use would be less energy consuming. «I think phones like this will come in two years’ time. Using a tenth of the energy used now,» said he.
Even now, however, there exists a technology enabling highly sustainable e-readers, for instance – E ink. Its authors, Joseph M. Jacobson and Barrett Comiskey, running for outside-Europe prises next to USB.
«E ink is a beautiful category, but they will face very hard times. E-readers look good, but who will want black and white E ink if soon they may use very energy economical multicolour LCD?» commented Mr Schadt, reflecting on his rivals.
European Entrepreneur of the year is elected since 2006, by European Patent Office. In addition to life’s work prise and outside-of-Europe-inventions, winners in categories like industry, SMEs, and science were proclaimed.