More Mobile Computing

We are a society that is obsessed with mobility and being in the information loop. There is an entire niche market whos’ sole purpose is to enable us by way of technological lifestyle amenities. That was a complicated way to say that there are new tech toys on the mobile market. When most of us think of mobile technology, we think of cell phones, pagers, and PDAs, and laptops. Well, companies like Sony, Hitachi, and Honeywell think that its time that we add a couple of more items to this category.

Many of these new gadgets would probably fall under a category called “Internet Appliances”. Honeywell has created an internet appliance called “Web Pad II”. The Web Pad II allows you to surf the net, send and receive e-mail, and stream video. Pocket Word from Microsoft is also included, so it also has word processing capabilities. Your probably thinking big deal, I can do all of those things already. That may be true, but the three pound Web Pad allows you to do it wireless. The Web Pad looks like a tablet sized laptop screen that you can operate anywhere in your office or domicile, up to about 300 feet from the cradle. The cradle is what recharges the Web Pad and transmits to it.

Hitachi and a company called Xybernaut have finally put their wearable internet appliance on the market. I remember hearing about this product when it was in the testing stages a few years back. It was a much-heralded concept, but whether or not it is the inevitable evolution of computing and communication is still yet to be seen. Poma is the name that the wearable device is marketed under, and it consists of three components. The pocket sized control unit that houses the processor, the head mount that has a device that projects the monitor screen before your eye in true virtual space, and a small handheld apparatus that functions as a mouse. The Poma has Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 as an operating system

I must admit that I was most impressed with Sony’s Airboard. The Airboard looks similar to the Web Pad II and even shares many of its functionalities, but it is the differences that truly make the difference. In addition to providing you with computing and internet capabilities, the Airboard also affords you the option to use it as a dvd player, digital photo album, or even a television. The amazing part is that you can actually perform some of those tasks simultaneously and wirelessly. How cool is that? The Airboard was first introduced to the Asian market but should make its’ way to western markets soon.

All of these internet appliances are comparable in price to the non-mobile computing devices and laptops that are on the market today. The success of these portable devices is yet to be seen, but I think that it is safe to say that these devices may be the progenitors to the computing and communication devices of tomorrow.