History Unwired (another idea takes flight)

As I have pointed out on this blog previously, I have a number of ideas for how portable devices could be used beyond their usual MO's. Specifically, I have focused on mobile educational services and interactive travel guides.

Today, I read this article that shows the idea of providing travel information to MP3 players, cell phones, and PDAs has begun to take flight. Michael Epstein, a researcher at MIT who helped develop the History Unwired project, was quoted as saying, "This kind of guide can lead to a lot of social impact... It can lead to more fulfilling travel and more ongoing relationships with the cities that you travel to."

It is exciting to see these types of applications being developed for mobile devices. It shows that portable devices have a practical use beyond mere entertainment. It is my hope to become involved in these types of projects, developing interactive applications for people on the go.

P.S. This report from the History Unwired project is mandatory reading.

The development of global wi-fi?

About three months ago, I wrote an essay entitled The Digital World Consciousness. In it, I argued that we would soon see the day when we could always be online if we chose to, and that this ability was being created through the development of region-wide wi-fi (wireless connectivity).

Now comes news of a Spain-based start-up company, Fon, that has received over $21 million in investments funds from the likes of Google and Skype. Their objective is to eventually create global (or almost global) wi-fi coverage that utilizes the personal networks people have set up in their own homes. Basically, if you have a wireless router for your home network, you can then share that bandwidth with other users who may happen to be in your proximity. At the same time, if you are traveling and have your wireless device of choice with you, you'll be able to connect to the Internet through other people's routers.

Given that this idea is supported by big companies like Google and Skype, I think we have to consider the potential of this project. There will be questions about security, of course, given that people will be making their home network bandwidth available for anyone who happens to be nearby. The people at Fon say that the service comes with a firewall to protect personal data. I guess the market will show whether the service is secure or not. If people have their secrets stolen, they won't use the service for very long.

In any event, I can see this company playing a key role in the development of global wi-fi and, consequently, the rise of the digital world consciousness. Time will tell if it becomes the most important technology of its time, or if it merely serves as a catalyst for something bigger and better to come along.

Flash Lite

View this presentation

Great digital experiences drive customer growth.

I can say that the countdown has officially begun: T - 1 year.

In early February, 2007, Heather, the kids, and I expect to be moving to Australia as I begin my studies in the field of interactive multimedia technologies at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Until that time, I will continue to research the latest trends in digital technology, especially relating to mobile devices.

The latest Adobe (formerly Macromedia) newsletter arrived in my inbox this morning, providing me with some of the juicy tidbits on how Flash Lite is being used in cell phones and MP3 players. The slideshow presentation for this product showed just how much the field of mobile digital content is growing. Information like this excites me because this is a field that I believe will see explosive growth worldwide, especially in east Asia where virtually everybody has a cell phone, an MP3 player, a PDA, or a combination of the three.

The key idea coming from this presentation was simply this: Great digital experiences drive customer growth. People want to have applications on their devices that are not only useful, but fun to use, as well. There are lots of competing products out there, so making yours stand out by implementing a compelling user experience is going to be key.

I'm really hoping to get involved in this field when I complete my studies. Hopefully, today's post will be a step in leading my thinking in the right direction. And Adobe doesn't sound like a bad company to work for, does it?