This morning at Microsoft’s sixth annual CEO Summit, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates outlined some of the key technology trends that will drive what he calls the "Digital Decade." Addressing an audience of over 100 CEOs representing virtually all major industries, Gates explained how versatile, powerful computing devices, ubiquitous networking and software innovations will converge to revolutionize individual productivity and streamline business processes.

"Over the next five or six years, we will see some very dramatic advances," Gates said. "Even today, we’ve seen an impact on productivity that’s phenomenal." Gates noted that Moore’s Law -- which predicts that processing power will double roughly every 18 months -- is expected to hold true throughout the next decade, while storage capacity and network connectivity are expected to grow at even faster rates. This, he said, makes it possible for PC functionality to be embedded into a wider range of devices, from smart mobile phones to Microsoft’s forthcoming Tablet PC platform.