What would the devices be? I just can't see using the pdQ for surfing the net. What do the futurist predict? Is there going to be a killer app when high speed wireless data is available?
Here's my vision looking 3-6 years out.
3G services will become available and some 3G phones will begin to look and be worn like pagers only they will be thinner and a bit wider and longer to allow a 3"x4" touchpad/digitizer. Using Bluetooth or a competing technology the data will be transmitted to a headset which will consist, at minimum, of a device that hangs over the ear and also hac a mic for speech. Some will prefer a traditional headset with a boom mic. Those who want to take advantage of 3G bandwidth without the inconveniences of a laptop will be able to choose from a variety of optional glasses that will contain one or two (for stereo- 3-D) high-resolution screens. Voice recognition technology will handle dialing, number lookup etc. and/or the touchpad/digitizer in the belt unit will handle editing, signatures and other more complex input. The glasses will allow users to see the "monitor" and also monitor the activity around them. Users will customize their "phones" to display whatever data they are interested in, late-breaking news, traffic info, stock tickers, sport scores etc. More advanced models will function as variable sunglasses, video cameras, still cameras and virtual reality movies as well. These units will replace dictation recorders, check-books, credit cards, many PC's, cameras, personal stereos, PDA's, calculators, gps's, etc. and will be the one personal device that is indispensible. In time, a certain portion of the wireless bandwidth will be purchased by TV media so the devices will also function as TV's. Children born into the 21st century will be surprised to learn there once was a time when these devices didn't exist.
If the power consumption of these headsets is too high initially, bluetooth may have to wait since a power cord between the headset and main unit will likely be needed anyway.
At first people will only wear the headsets when needed but with further advances they will be worn more hours a day until some rarely take them off (I never said the future would be pretty, just profitable).
Until then, devices like the PdQ will fill the gap between voice-recognition handsets and laptops. Ramsey, keep in mind that WK's first services are specifically tailored to PDA's and cell phones so browsing the services with available devices won't be a problem.
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