Mobile 2020

Yesterday was a cool day. I took my blood pressure and (after the shock) with the push of a button transmitted the results via bluetooth to my mobile phone which updated an Internet website. If I can do this today - what will tomorrow bring? This obviously got me thinking about next generation mobile and whats around the corner.

With this in mind, check out this great video from MOCOM2020 that gets you thinking of how the world of mobile will look like in 2020. Click on the Future Vision Video from their homepage. MOCOM 2020 is a non-profit open think tank for mobile media and communication worldwide. It seems to be an interesting group of leading thinkers, visionaries, entrepreneurs and academics in the field of mobile communication.

If you have the time and you are as curious and eager to learn as myself then hop over to this slideshare - its a terrific collection of mobile trends spanning the next 10 years.

Finally, here are some exciting thoughts from all of this research that stuck in my mind mixed from visions from my side on how mobile could shape up over the next 5-10 years.

• Health Lifelogging
• Telemedicine with a mobile with built in diagnostic technology
• Sensors in the phone measure and record your vital signs, your surrounding environment, and even emotions
• Mobile payment
• ePaper
• Mobile Social Marketing
• Senors in everyday objects communicate with your phone: doors, cash registers, vending machines, the fridge, a bottle of water, advertising, posters, your keys, the car, etc.
• Augmented Reality will allow you to scan co-workers and meeting participants and with face-recognition technology match them to their LinkedIn, Facebook or Other Online Profile

Mobile is definitely the future of personal and professional communications if my usage is anything to go by. Outside of my company BB, I use my iPhone about 20 times a day for reading, blogging, researching, gaming, learning, email, IM, GPS, networking, listening to music, watching videos, tweeting, photographing, video making, sms, ooops yes even phoning. So jump onboard the mobile bandwagon and prepare for an exciting and mind-blowing ride - no strings attached.

Whats Hot in 2010!

JUST ADDED: Predictions 2010 Video. Have fun viewing;-)

January is always a good time to lay some bets on what could be hot in the field of learning technologies for 2010. Here's a few selected thoughts on which devices and solutions that could make the grade this year.

Mobile Multimedia Tablet
The eagerly awaited Apple Tablet will set a new standard for allround on-the-go multimedia devices. By the end of this month a massive media campaign will kick-off that should send most of us rushing for our checkbooks. Netbook sales take a dive.

Home Gaming
Microsoft will announce more details about Project Natal that will change home gaming forever. If you have not seen Milo, check this video out. Prepare to be amazed (and maybe scared). Nintendo struggle to catchup, although the friendly wii may see a facelift. Sony slash the price of their PS3 to ridiculous levels.

Touchscreen Technology
Microsoft brings cool touchscreen technology to the home PC with Windows 7. Applications get a whole new development playground. e-Learning on the PC gets a much needed facelift - at last.

Google wows us with the Wave
Google Wave moves out of the test lab and into everyday use. Social networking is now owned by Google who convince millions that email is dead. Facebook takes note. Foreward thinking Trainers start to seize the opportunity by integrating virtual classes, collaboration spaces for projects, online learning, social sharing and networking into waves.

eBooks
eBooks get a lift from the Apple Tablet. More eBook devices come on the market but a multi-functional Internet-enabled device steals the show in 2010. Do you really want to be tied forever to one large online bookstore for all your titles? Freedom wins the day.

Augmented Reality takes off

The iPhone and Google Android launch many more Augmented Reality apps and finally get joe public to view their surroundings in 3D (okay with wiki-ish augmented pop-up knowledge bubbles).

Mobile learning gets serious
Mobile learning becomes mainstream as iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones open up to a whole host of new breathtaking innovative applications. Learning-on-the-go inspires and motivates users with rich multimedia games and content. Online Learning has never been such fun.

Software as a Service becomes attractive

SaaS (Software as a Service) also known as shifting e.g. content and functionality to a purely Internet-(cloud) based web service gets wider appeal. The Training Department gets back to focussing on developing engaging content and innovative delivery mechanisms while reducing the cost and effort of maintaining inhouse systems.

That's it. Short and sweet. Just like learning should be. Don't forget my birthday in April. Small hint. Apple. Tablet. Happy learning.