April 7, 2009
The Future of the Telephone
Description
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In the year 2025, the “new” telephone will simply be called “S-com”, short for solar communicator. The S-com is powered by solar energy, which is 100% renewable. By then, mankind should have realized the harm of global warming. Solar energy may even remove the use of the battery. The S-com will look similar to the cell phones we have today, but in terms of functionality, the cell phone pales in comparison. The S-com will be fully integrated into society in countries with leading technology, like Japan and USA. A user can simply scan an S-com into a scanner to open a garage door or even pay for lunch. The S-com will, of course, have functions for long distance communication. The S-com will completely take over most aspects of life and will be completely integrated into countries first rate countries. Laptops have also ceased to exist. The S-com has completely taken over, because cell phone and laptop technology has merged. In other words, the iSun is a combination of the laptop’s processing power, the cell phone’s telecommunication capabilities, and solar power.
Development
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The iSun
In 2012, Apple will rerelease what we now call the iPhone as the iSun. However, there will be a major change. The iSun will not come with a charger. Instead of charging from a wall socket, it will contain multiple solar panels. There will be a tiny battery installed into the iSun in case the device runs into a situation where there is no shade. A fully charged iSun should be able to work for 24 hours straight without the need of any extra solar energy. The iSun will also contain extra functions unavailable on the iPhone, such as 4G capability and USB 3.0 ports right on the device.
Phone technology has really advanced. Solar power is also becoming increasingly popular. The world is has realized the big mistake against the environment and is beginning to change. Technology not only has to be new, but also environmentally friendly. Devices that heavily pollute the earth are heavily taxed around the world, to such an extent that the device would sell terribly.
To most users, the iSun will just be another phone with many functions. In reality, the iSun is as high tech as a normal cell phone will go. Cell phones now have multiple functions, most of which are useful to users, but lack processing power.
The iSun signifies great technological advancements in energy transformation in everyday life. With this invention, solar power slowly takes over other forms of energy. This solar powered technology is used in the S-com to power the device.
Sony Ericsson Apollo
The year is 2020. Sony Ericsson has invented a cell phone with the power of a laptop, codename Apollo. The Apollo comes with Windows 9 preinstalled. Users have reported that the running the operating system on the phone is just like running it on a tablet laptop computer, but with a smaller screen and keypad. It seems that cell phone technology has finally caught up laptop specs. The Apollo can be seen as a miniature laptop with extra telecommunication capabilities.
The general public loved Sony Ericsson’s Apollo. Although a bit pricey, the fact that size no longer impacts processing speed is a huge advancement in phone technology. It seems that in a few years, the laptop and cell phone will no longer exist. In its place will be a communication device that has both laptop and cell phone functions.
Society eagerly awaits new technology. These days, new things are constantly invented. Their wait was not in vain. In 5 short years, the S-com starts selling on the market. The technology of combining a laptop and cell phone was used in the making of the S-com. This allowed the S-com to have decent processing power as well as multiple functions.
Rationale
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The iSun
The idea of solar powered mobile phones has been around for quite awhile. However, the idea has only recently become a reality. At the 2009 Mobile World Congress held in Spain, two solar powered phones were revealed. By putting the phones into light, the battery can be charged. This is a step towards both sustainability and convenience.
Technology will only improve. Therefore, in the future, solar technology will continue to advance. Both efficiency and convenience should improve. Since solar panels have already been implemented on two different cell phones, we can safely assume that future cell phones will move towards solar power. Out of the two phones shown at the 2009 Mobile World Congress, one of them is considered low cost. An affordable phone that can be charged anywhere sounds like an interesting idea. Once the news gets out, demand should slowly rise.
The Sony Ericsson Apollo
Similarities between the modern cell phone and a laptop computer must be noted, especially with the newest cell phone technology. What do they have in common? For starters, both devices have keypads and screens. Both also run multiple applications and browse the internet. So how are they different? In reality, the laptop computer and the cell phone do not differ by much. The laptop is, obviously, much more powerful. When was the last time you saw a cell phone with 4 cores in its processing unit and even a graphics card? Think about it. Laptops went from heavy pieces of metal to shiny, slick, powerful tools. So did the cell phone. In this sense, the cell phone, although slightly slower in its development, should follow the path the laptop the laptop is currently walking.
What is the real borderline between the cell phone and the laptop? Cell phones are small, laptops are big. But what is the difference? Let us compare two existing pieces of technology. One of the models of mainstream laptop, the ASUS eee PC, has a screen diagonal measure of a mere 7”. Compare that to the 3.5” screen of an iPhone. Both products can do the same things. The laptop, through programmes like Skype and MSN can make long distance calls, while, with multiple applications, the iPhone can do almost all the tasks the laptop can do. Dr. Joel Selanikio once stated, “I think it’s time that we recognize that for the majority of the world’s population, and for the foreseeable future, the cell phone is the computer.”
General Advances in Technology
The cell phone should be able to do more than a laptop. For example, the Sony Ericsson W580i also works as a step counter. When was the last time a laptop counted your walking steps? Yes, the cell phone seems to head towards the laptop, but it does not have to. The cell phone has to be able to make long distance communication. This does not mean the cell phone must have amazing processing power. How about a necklace that makes phone calls? It will look nice, but its power to perform calculations will probably be relatively weak, which leads into the next point.
The cell phone can be incorporated with such a broad range of products. Anything is now possible. It is a matter of when business personnel and inventors come up with the ideas. Will debit cards be replaced by the S-com? What about identification? Undoubtedly, the S-com will make a huge impact on almost every single aspect in society.
References
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Rotzer, Isolde. (2006, March 30). Hanover Trade Fair: Power on the Go. Retrieved April 7, 2009 from http://www.fraunhofer.de/EN/press/pi/2006/03/Presseinformation30032006.jsp
Kanellos, Michael. (2007, Feburary 27). The Solar Powered Cell Phone. Retrieved April 7, 2009 from http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6161029-7.html
Pasolini, Antonio. (2009, February 22). Solar Powered Mobile Phones. Retrieved April 7, 2009 from http://www.energyrefuge.com/blog/solar-powered-mobile-phone/
Selanikio, Joe. (2008, January 17). The Invisible Computer Revolution. Retrieved April 7, 2009 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7106998.stm
March 29, 2009
Facebook is listening :O
Only a few weeks ago, the Facebook layout was, once again, changed. There was great dissatisfaction amongst users. Many made negative comments on their statuses and joined groups like, “MEMBERS WANT THE OLD FACEBOOK BACK!”. Facebook responded. Have a read:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10203692-93.html
This seems to me like a good example of crowd sourcing.
March 17, 2009
The difference of technology between Asian countries and North America
From the wikipedia article about the history of mobile phones, I read a sentence under the 3G section that shocked me:
“In Japan and South Korea the market no longer supplies phones of the second generation.”
The quote refers to year 2007! Now look at Canada and the US. How popular is 3G amongst the people here? Tell me. Who actually uses video calling?
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mobile_phones
March 12, 2009
3rd Gen iPod Shuffle – New Release
Just yesterday, Apple released the new iPod Shuffle. The difference?
Size
It’s even smaller than before. In fact, it’s tiny. The new Shuffle, at 1.8″ tall, 0.7″ wide, and 0.3″ thin, is now smaller than a AA battery.
When it comes to size, is small really THAT good? True, it looks very high tech. A music player that is so small, so partable is almost unbelievable. On the other hand, it is easily lost. in fact, it can even become a choking hazard. Just remember to remove it from your jeans pocket before doing the laundry.
More capacity
The 2nd generation of iPod Shuffles only support up to 2GB. The 3rd generation (this one) comes at a default of 4GB. Size and capacity, nice.
More playlists
The last generation of the Shuffle could only contain 1 playlist. The new one can play multiple playlists, a great addition.
Voice
This thing can talk! Actually, it’s not the world’s first talking mp3 like it says on the Apple side (the nano or the DAISY for example), but it is still relatively new. This interesting feature comes in many different languages.
The earphones and buttons
This is one of the major changes of this new piece of technology. Apple has removed all buttons from the Shuffle itself. Instead, consumers much use specific earphones for almost all the controls. This is a nice new addition, but it has its downside. Some people may dislike Apple earphones, and what if the earphones break? You don’t have a choice but to buy the same one.
Sometime in the future, adapters will be released. Once again, this is both good and bad. Consumers can use their own choice of earphones, but at the same time, the adapter decreases the compactness of the iPod itself.
There is bound to be a lot of controversy over the earphones. People will either love it or hate it.
So overall
The new iPod Shuffle really has been refreshed. Will it have a good outcome? We will have to wait and see. One thing is for sure: this will sell well. It IS an Apple product.
Sources
http://www.apple.com/ca/ipodshuffle/features.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10193443-37.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10193647-49.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipod_shuffle
March 3, 2009
Which game console is most likely to break?
According to gamefaqs user poll…
The X Box 360 by quite a bit :O
