Mobility: The 1½-Body Solution

I’ve written probably a half-dozen articles over the years on the single-device paradox and why we’re continuing to see increasing diversity in the mobile-device space. The evidence continues to mount – eReaders, the iPad, a new handset du jour, and on and on. Regardless, for most people the solution will involve two key devices, a handset and a notebook PC. The handset will likely be a smartphone or platform phone, and the notebook will be anything from a netbook to a mega-notebook. It will be interesting to see if the iPad, finally, after 25 years, ushers in the era of tablets replacing notebooks as primary device, but I don’t think this is very likely. Rather, the tablet will be a bit like the iPod Touch – another cool device to own and maybe even use, and a replacement in a small number of cases.

But – a few months ago, I gave the keynote address at LodgeNet’s annual Technical Conference. This is the company that dominates the hotel-room information and entertainment space, providing Internet access along with TV, movies, and other services. I shared with the rather large audience assembled my vision of the handset as integral to the future of the hospitality business, with a user’s mobile device used as room key, charge card, room lighting control, TV remote control, on-remises local phone, and more. One of the more interesting ideas I put forth is the use of the handset as a primary computing and communications tool, replacing the notebook with a little help from other devices already provided in many hotel rooms. Imagine this – connect your handset to that great big display in the room, formerly known as a television screen, and then use the keyboard, mouse (or integrated unit), and wireless Internet links also provided, to, well, do whatever you want. Of course, the video connection to that big screen would also be wireless, along the lines of Intel’s step in this direction but without, I hope the multi-second time lag. What’s up with that?

Depending on the software provided on the mobile device, one might be able to leave the notebook at home entirely, since it’s value add is primarily bigger screen, bigger keyboard, access to said local applications, and some storage. If I’m right and we move in the direction of Web services and cloud computing as the norm, the application issue is solved. Storage? Use a secure USB key or the cloud. Add the room’s display and keyboard/mouse, and we’re pretty much set – one and one-half devices, if you will, substituting for two. Make this capability available in the office and elsewhere, and we’re one step closer to the death of the PC, something I think, again, is necessary on economic grounds alone.

Ultimately, what I’d like to be able to do is to virtualize the handset entirely. That’s my vision – use any handset (or tablet or computer or whatever) to do what you need. Plug your smart card into the side, authenticate, and the device is yours. Connect to whatever peripherals and network facilities you need, dynamically. Pull the smart card out, and you were never there. But while you are there, well, consider the possibilities.