Going Mobile
Trends in smart phone technology.

Steve Hewitt | posted 9/09/2009

In the past 20 years, there have been three major developments in the way we compute: the introduction of Windows (especially Version 3.1), the adoption of the Internet, and mobile computing.

Mobile computing has been around for some time. I used a pocket PC many years ago and have had several personal digital assistants (PDAs) over the years. Today, the iPhone is dramatically impacting the way we compute. Apple expected to have sold 10 million of their iPhones by mid-2009, but instead has sold more than 20 million—not bad, considering the economy.

There are some fantastic mobile computing smart phones on the market, and some have better features than the iPhone. Google is nipping at Apple's heels with its GPhone, and others are starting to adapt. However, the iPhone has three unique and important features: location awareness, a multi-touch interface, and an application store.

Location Awareness

Being "location aware" goes beyond the original concept of GPS. For example, my wife also has an iPhone. Using applications, either of us can have the iPhone find our location (even within a building, such as our church) and send that location to the other. If she has a flat tire on the highway, she doesn't have to describe the last exit she passed or where she is between mile markers. My iPhone will take me directly to her.

The location-awareness feature is also being developed for groups. I predict that group-location features will soon allow you to walk into a mall or restaurant and know if any of your friends are there. You will be able to find where they are shopping or locate their table at a restaurant!

Multi-touch Interface

Mobile devices have been plagued with a major problem. Our "real" computers use a mouse. Small, hand-held devices sought to emulate the mouse with sticks, small joysticks, and touch pads, but they just weren't as good. However, that is changing. Surface computing is just around the corner. The new version of Microsoft Windows 7 is designed to work with surface computing, so people will begin using desktops without a mouse, preferring to use the multi-touch interface instead.

A touch screen is different from a multi-touch screen. In a multi-touch interface, a computer or device can detect multiple fingers at once. This allows you to touch the screen with two fingers and slide the fingers apart, causing the screen to expand whatever you are viewing. You can immediately zoom into a map for a closer look with more details. You can swipe your finger across the screen and quickly scroll through files, or, while viewing a picture, rotate it by simply holding one finger while circling a second finger on the screen.

Application Store

Apple was smart to put all of the applications for the iPhone into one store. Many fantastic applications have been developed for Windows Mobile devices and Blackberrys, but they have been scattered across the Internet.

One company that produced a free Bible study program for the iPhone had over 1 million downloads. They had offered a version for Windows Mobile but were only able to give away 64,000. It is hard to promote something, even if it is free, if people cannot find it. Today, most Microsoft and other smart-phone providers have followed Apple's lead in setting up central application stores.

Future Trends

I love the new MiFi, which allows me to carry around a WiFi (wireless Internet) hub in my pocket. It is being offered by at least Verizon and Sprint, and is the size of a credit card (three cards thick), with a simple on/off button. It connects to your wireless service and becomes a portable WiFi hub for you and four other connections. There is a password printed on each MiFi that you can share.

Texas Instruments has promised that by the end of this year or the beginning of next, it will provide a chip to allow our cell phones and smart-phone devices the ability to do small projections on a wall or a restaurant tablecloth. This isn't designed to project pictures on a screen for a room of people. It will instead allow you to show an individual or small group your pictures, project a YouTube video, or even run a presentation program for a lunch business meeting.

The development of applications continues, and interest is strong. These trends will no doubt continue to change the way we compute.

Steve Hewitt is founder and editor in chief of Christian Computing Magazine (ccmag.com) and editor in chief of Christian Video Magazine (christianvideomag.com).

Copyright © 2009 Christian Leadership Alliance.