The Future of Mobile Computing, Through HP's Eyes

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://h30046.www3.hp.com/news_article.php?topiccode=20060310_314118_225_121_0_0&pagesite=LARGE_OOV&regioncode=NA&jumpid=em_EL_TAW/US/Apr06_ENT/Spot1/futuremobilecomputing' target='_blank'>http://h30046.www3.hp.com/news_article.php?topiccode=20060310_314118_225_121_0_0&pagesite=LARGE_OOV&regioncode=NA&jumpid=em_EL_TAW/US/Apr06_ENT/Spot1/futuremobilecomputing</a><br /><br /></div><i>"In mobile computing, as in life, the future builds on the present. And today, most cellular phones come with an array of beyond-phone services. Cameras are now common. Personal Information Managers are old-hat. Games? Choose from Solitaire, Donkey Kong, or Fantasy Football. "In principle, anyone can access mobile services," says Tim Kindberg, a senior researcher with HP Labs in Bristol, England. "Yet, with a few exceptions, they don’t, and we’re trying to understand why." As Kindberg sees it, there are two main issues...."</i><br /><br />This is an interesting article on what HP sees as the future for us. Give it a read and let us know what you think.

[Kris Kumar]

Excited about:

"Kindberg and his colleagues worked with software developers to create a camera-based code reader. Like scanners at the grocery store, this software enables the camera to read data-rich codes. When scanned, the codes trigger a variety of services: They can open Web content, send text messages, access help lines, or download discounts, to name a few possibilities."

Dissappointed by:

"North Americans won’t be seeing these services for a few years, which begs the question: Why?

To answer that, you must look at how innovation occurs in Japan. Mobile operators there have a strong presence, and are able to define new handset specifications every six months. That allows for penetration of new handsets with innovative yet consistent features.
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