PC applications: Directions: In the offing is more intuitive, more useful software than today´s versions, thanks to more powerful microprocessors

It is pointed out that techniques adapted from artificial intelligence have already started to become commercially available. Researchers see software becoming more `trainable´, able to access quantities of data that are orders of magnitude greater than today´s and able to `intuit´ some of the user´s needs. The software will perform some of these tasks automatically while it monitors other functions of the PC in the background. These strides in functionality will be made by multitasking operating systems. Multitasking may be used mostly for background tasks-monitoring a modem, for instance-and for the `desk accessory´ functions now performed by RAM-resident programs. It is predicted that software in the future will allow users to define how to use a program´s functions. For example, a program might construct a profile of an individual user and `remember´ command sequences frequently used by that user. The software could then `guess´ what the user might request next and offer that option as a prompt.