Prediction: By 2010 I'll have to backup the TV, car and refrigerator
I'm used to being the system administrator for my family's computers. We have a wireless network with 5 laptops, 2 desktop machines, and 3 printers. I'm not happy about having to reinstall Windows when one of the computers becomes infested with spyware, but I accept this as my responsibility. It's when I find myself troubleshooting an mp3 player, or downloading a new driver for a cellphone that I start to worry about things getting out of hand. The added complexity that computers introduce can be justified in exchange for the increase in productivity they offer, but what happens when computers spread into all electronic devices? The computer industry has gotten away with loading a high technical burden on its users, and it looks like this approach is being adopted by manufacturers of other consumer devices. Our TV system already resembles a computer network, with satellite receivers, DVD players and burners, and Tivo style digital video recorders. I've got it set up so everyone is able to use it, but only my son and I actually understand how everything is connected. What happens when the next generation of cars depend on GPS, MP3, and bluetooth? Will I be running virus software along with checking the tire pressure before we take a long trip? If the refrigerator is networked with the supermarket, will I have to install upgrades to its database to make sure the inventory is maintained correctly? I am seriously concerned that the philosophy of forcing users to be sysadmins will spread along with computer capability.

