Portability technology not always up to par

Portability — the ability to be carried or moved with ease — and convergence — the coming together from different directions — are the two defining characteristics of our digital world in the 21st century. In a society where survival directly is related to the swiftness in which we are able to get things done, having technology that is able to keep up with this fastpace is a must.

Portable devices have been around since the mid ’80s with the introduction of the Walkman, the portable radio, the portable handheld television and the portable telephone — a progression of portability to make ones life better.

It is not so much the portability of certain devices that receives attention lately, but their convergence with other devices. Consumers across America seem to desire a one-size-fits-all solution to their organization, communication, location, data and entertainment needs — all in a single device.

When one thinks of portable electronics, laptops, cellular phones and personal data assistants are among the first devices to come to mind.

Over the last five years, laptops have become, for many individuals, a portable office with many models matching the performance and power of their primary desktop systems. The blitz of a wireless world promotes the tetherless businessperson who can assume the same job functions while at a Starbucks in Saigon or behind a desk in Washington, D.C. While the wireless push is increasing the portability of laptops, the convergence of technologies is not as prominent as in the cell phone industry.

Many predictions have been made that wired phones will become a thing of the past in the near future, as many households already use cell phones as their primary telephone service.

Cell phones are much more than simply phones now. Over the last year, consumers began to see digital cameras embedded into cell phones. It may sound cool, but none of the pictures are of great quality — most lack flashes to take any type of real photo inside a building. Camera phones can deliver about 1-megapixel resolution, which do resolution 3”-by-5” photos, according to the E-Commerce News Web site, www.ecommercetimes.com. Cell phone and PDA combinations recently have been released that are small enough for the user to use both functions and not feel as if they are holding a book to their ear. Many cell phones now also are equipped with e-mail, custom ringtones, news updates and many other services that vary from carrier to carrier. The latest cell phone addition is a video camera that captures small clips of video from your phone.

Global Positioning Systems will be the next convenience factor that will be included in portable devices so users can pull out their cell phone and follow their route via a miniature map on located on a phone’s screen.

We are a fast-paced society, constantly in a race to get from one place to another and accomplish everything required in between. The nature of American society inevitably has demanded so many excessive and unnecessary luxuries from a fast-paced world that this society also demands everything quicker and sooner.

Ultimately though, more will be desired in the name of convenience and luxury in the future. What’s next for technology? I don’t know that anyone can predict the next revolutionary device — but I am sure you will witness it in your lifetime.