Is it a Phone? Is it a Computer? No, it is Super…???

It is not a mobile “phone”. It is not even a mobile “computer”. Find a new word!

Read an article in the newspaper that got me going. The article described a system called the PhonePointPen, that can use a mobile phone as a pen to record hand-written information. The system captures gestures using accelerometers that are built into some modern mobile phones, and translates it into images that can be saved on the phone or on the internet.

The all-in-one device with a camera, music player, radio, internet browser, gaming engine, office applications et al, is nothing new. However, what is interesting is that another distinct trend seems to be emerging. The newer innovations are about using the physical attributes of the mobile itself to greater effect, and  about overcoming the physical limitations of the phone. Consider a few examples;

• Start with the mobile “pen” mentioned earlier, possibly inspired by the Nintendo Wii use of accelerometers.
• NFC (Near Field Communications) technology, already used in Japan, is being used to convert the phone into a “wallet” used for payment and ticketing  applications
• Consider the prototype that came out last year, of a handheld “projector” that could output an image between 50 to 60 inch (that’s right) of acceptable resolution. The target device – the mobile phone.
• Also consider that there is a virtual laser “keyboard” already in the market that can be connected to compatible smartphones. The device projects a full-size keyboard on a flat surface, then uses optical recognition technologies to intercept finger movements and record the keys tapped.
• What’s more, a leading manufacturer has already designed a phone that can double as a “metal detector” – you can now find your lost keys in the sofa and check your visitor for concealed arms at the same time!

The mobile as computer is a fait accompli. The mobile as a pen, a TV remote, a metal detector, m-wallet, a projector….this is happening. To add to the never ending list of possibilities, here is one more that it always was from the beginning…a paperweight!

But seriously, folks…what is the mobile “device” circa 2020, circa 2040? Any projections?