Last night, Kane 120 was filled with students in computer-related study fields as well as many local technology enthusiasts because Craig Mundie, the chief research and strategy officer of Microsoft, stopped by the UW to speak on the future state of technology that will be provided by the corporation.

Mundie is continuing a tradition that Bill Gates carried forth throughout his career, in which he would take a week to travel to universities across the nation and world. His travels have taken him to institutions in places such as Korea, China and India.

This year, Mundie’s lecture circuit concluded here in Seattle, where Microsoft has continually maintained and developed a relationship with the UW.

“In every generation, students have a blend of altruism, optimism and sensitivity with the issues that are forming today,” Mundie said as a preface to his talk, which was about how developing technologies will assist in solving the issues affecting the world today and how research institutions will be involved in that process.

The most prominent issue discussed was global climate change. Technology presented during the talk included a program that allows users to preview planetary climate conditions over the next century, while allowing variables regarding vegetation models, rates or deforestation, and CO2 emissions to be taken into account.

“We think computing is in its infancy,” Mundie said, addressing the notion that computer technology has become passé and invisible. “It’s going to be important to continue investing in computing. Without it, we’ll have difficulty solving these problems.”

Mundie also presented the audience with a preview of future computer interfaces, which implemented both touch-screen and motion-senor technologies, allowing people to control what their computer does by moving their body rather than using a mouse.

“The successor to the desktop computer will be the room,” Mundie said. “Increasingly, the computer will become more proactive instead of reactive.”

Goals discussed included the notion that when it comes to searches and queries, engines and computer interfaces should be able to predict intent and the next few clicks of the user.

“Most people don’t have the luxury of professional assistants. Mundie said. “I think everyone’s computer should be their personal assistant.”

He went on to refer to the tools being developed that could help places such as the UW Medical Center, stating, “Around 2012 to 2015, the technologies should start to be seen in forms conducive to use at the UW.”

When it came to the relationship between Microsoft and the UW, Mundie said the UW community will be part of the technologies Mundie featured.

He said: “[There is] no reason to believe that the relationship won’t continue to diversify and expand.”

Reach reporter Ivan Vukovic at news@dailyuw.com.