November 2028 is the 40th anniversary of ESD. Click here read other 2028 lookbacks.

Near the beginning of this millennium, Intel's CEO Andy Grove predicted a future in which one billion computers would be connected to the Internet. At the time, the number seemed astounding. But here we are, having far surpassed that prediction, just as if it's always been that way and connectivity was never not there.

In 2008, Intel predicted a future of 15 billion connected devices. We turned out to be right. Now in 2028, these devices are not only connected but have massively simultaneous wireless communications among them. Computing is truly ubiquitous, where people are connected to people and machines to machines--always, anywhere, and without fail. Technology is now so finely woven into the fabric of our lives that we aren't even able to see it any more.

We've arrived at fourth-generation Internet, what Intel calls the Embedded Internet, where computing is ever-present, portable, and abundant. Incredibly small yet fully featured devices don't need wires or "plugged-in" power supplies to get connected and stay that way. And the supporting infrastructure is so all-encompassing that connectivity is seamless, without gaps or holes.

As an industry, we still have much work to be do to maintain our future. We must update and follow the Universal Standards, because they're the only assurance that everything continues to works together, seamlessly and pervasively. The hard-won standards ensure interoperability and commonality so that every distinct device and idea can connect and communicate with every other one.

First and foremost, everything to do with computing and communications must continue its move to an IP-based infrastructure. That's because some of the more advanced solutions today--and those of the future--combinate distinctly separate technologies. And to ensure that the different technologies and ideas developed in different places in the world can come together quickly to make complete solutions, is for them to be developed on the same protocol platform--an IP-based infrastructure platform.