The hub may also include a random-number generator to create public keys for encryption and help enable encrypted transmissions between PCs. Another feature sources have mentioned is physical security, linking sensors to the hub so that it may report problems to a central network administrator if the case is tampered with or peripherals are removed. It is still not quite clear when it will be used and what its full functions will be. The company's motive is simply to bring new features to the PC, enhancing sales for corporate and consumer users, these sources said. That's a wonderful control choke point.
Quoted excerpt ends.
Intel will build 1394 support into its chip sets within the next 18 months, Gelsinger said in a keynote address at IDF on Thursday. Building in 1394, and convincing desktop OEMs to build out the ISA bus and internal PCI slots, is central to Intel's vision of where the PC industry needs to go to improve ease of use. You have to bring together the content providers, the applications, so many different elements. It just takes a lot of time. Bringing together disparate interest groups to rally around Intel's approach to the desktop is what IDF is all about.