Microsoft tech chief sees industry innovation soon

chron.com | at | by Mike

In Microsoft's vision of the future, broader acceptance of powerful handheld devices will lead to a steady flow of useful information to consumers no matter where they are. Microsoft's chief technology officer, Craig Mundie, predicts a period of dramatic innovation for the computer industry after more than a year of relatively staid performance.

In a meeting Thursday with reporters and editors from The Associated Press, Mundie hailed agreements by technology companies on a common Internet programming language, along with the increasing popularity of powerful handheld computers and other "intelligent devices." These range from automotive computers to a new tablet-style computer that students and others can use for handwritten notes and research.