In addition to research that supports Intel’s product roadmap, Intel sponsors and conducts exploratory research focusing on emerging and disruptive technologies that will enable a future of proactive computing. Intel’s research initiatives are carried out by a highly specialized group of researchers from around the world – some within Intel, others in leading universities. Intel funds a substantial number of university research projects to ensure a steady flow of innovation. With the launch of the Intel Research Network of university labs – a unique open and collaborative effort between industry and academia – Intel has strengthened the commitment to partnering with some of the best technology researchers in the world.

Translating research into products is one of Intel’s greatest strengths. However, the ultimate goal of research efforts is to influence product development – to enhance existing products in the near term and develop new products and usage models for entirely new markets over time.

Today, computer science research is focused on an interactive model of computing, whereby people interact directly, one-on-one, with their computers. As we move towards hundreds and thousands of computers per person, this paradigm cannot scale; placing too high a burden on individuals.

With the proactive computing model, computers will anticipate our needs and sometimes take action on our behalf. We will continue to interact with a few of our computers but the vast majority will be embedded deep within our physical environment where they will capture and may act on data without human intervention.

Seven key challenges must be addressed to make proactive computing a reality.

• The first three challenges starting with getting physical, involve creating and networking the billions of sensor nodes.
• The next three challenges represent a disciplined approach to the application of statistically grounded machine learning, to enable the leap between interactive and proactive computing.
• The final challenge is making it personal, a challenge to the entire research community to sustain the cycle of personal empowerment.