Intel's concept for intelligent desktop virtualization

I had an opportunity to speak with Intel's Lisa Watts, Director of Business Client Solutions, about "Intelligent Desktop Virtualization," a concept the company was pushing.

The conversation started with a review of the success of server virtualization, a use of virtual machine software. The conversation then flowed to a discussion of how that has been an important factor to the growth of cloud computing.

The conversation then turned to what was happening for clients.  The same technology has been pressed into service to create an environment spoken of as "desktop virtualization." I pointed out that desktop virtualization was really the use of one or more of the following technologies rather than a single technology: access virtualization, application virtualization and virtual machine technology.

The Intel folks would sum up their concept of intelligent desktop virtualization as using virtualization technology to create an environment that has the following characteristics:

• Centralized management, but local execution
• Layered images delivered intelligently (layered images are virtual environments constructed on the fly that include system software, application software, application data, user preferences and user data)
• Intelligent device management that uses the capabilities available on the machine in the most intelligent way (Graphs would be processed locally, If a system has a high performance graphics system, for example)

Intel then went on to point out how different companies are offering products that the company considers to be examples of their concept. Here's the list of companies mentioned:

• RES Software
• Virtual Computer
• Wanova
• MokaFive
• Scense

I found it interesting that I've posted on all of these companies at one time or another.

Do you think this is a new category of technology or merely Intel trying to wrap itself up in what others are doing?