The Evolution of Portability to Mobility

Let’s deep dive on Mobility:

Mobile computing is being able to use technology while moving. This differs from just portable computers because they are only good for use while deployed in a stationary configuration. Mobile computing is one’s ability to use technology untethered, but often used to refer to access to information or applications from occasionally-connected, portable, networked computing devices.

Are we spoiled or what? Seriously.

Let’s go back to the 80’s where, for me, it was about the location of technology and how I could get access either in my house, college lab, or friend’s house. For example, my friend Ryan Smith from Intel and I used to play on his on C64 at our houses. Mobility then was about boxing up all the equipment and setup time was less than optimal. Computing was almost boutique in nature and the thought of taking that on the road for long trips was not even a question. We all knew this Commodore 64 wasn’t something for the road…

Oh how technology in our world has changed…

Let’s now fast forward to today: mobility is a given now. It’s equivalent to motherhood and apple pie, if you don’t have mobility you will struggle to stay relevant. What do I consider mobility? It’s about using technology wherever, whenever; however, it must come with connectivity to the Internet. I was amazed when I received my first laptop and was able to carry it on a plane to Oregon for Intel. I could document everything and take notes on this laptop vs. on paper. What happened almost immediately is that I realized I could compute while I was anywhere. I started working in the airport, in the taxi, on the plane; it really didn’t matter if I had any delays as that equated to more time to compute. This trend continues to this very day and the reality is that my productivity is much different now w/ mobility than it was 14+ years back. Does it mean that I compute every minute of the day? Well, close, but not really. It just means that I own my flexibility, agility to respond, and can make choices that make a better balance between my family & work.

Let’s put this in perspective for what I’m doing today. Currently I’m focused on testing, validating and showcasing how a new technology Fast Call for Help (CIRA) works on a vPro system, specifically a laptop that is vPro enabled and can handle my demands on mobility, function, etc.

Here’s my gear that I’m using for this testing and also working on for video editing, it’s a Dell E6400 Latitude which is a Intel Centrino2 with Intel vPro Technology.

Now let’s add 3G into the mix. Part of being mobile is about having the right connectivity solution wherever you are, whenever you need to work (or play) on your computer. So here’s what I carry with me for those situations. It’s a cradle point with a 3G USB card to either leverage Ethernet connection or put a temporary hot spot. Either way I’m covered for connectivity wherever I go.

Mobile computing keeps our world in sync and functioning more smoothly. We live amongst instant communications with businesses overseas, emails with huge documents that used to need the postal service to deliver, and mobile connections over nearly every square mile of this planet. With all of these revelations we have had in technology over just the past 20 years…our minds can only wonder… Where will technology go from here?

TAGS: Mobility portability vPro

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Comments (4)

by Frank Hamm / July 2, 2009

That’s so amazing. I just remembered the time I “grew up” with the digital world and notized my first digital device was a C64. In Germany sometimes we even speak of “Generation C64″ instead of “Generation X” - is that common to you too?

Now I’m in the situation to be always on (if I want to) with my notebook (with WiFi and an G3 USB stick) and my iPhone.

I assume there will be something like a “borgization” of technology where parts of electronic devices will move into our body. So for example earphones could be very small implants directly attached to our nerves. They would connect to other devices via bluetooth. “Borgization” derives from the fictional Star Trek race “Borg”.
by Stephen Hamilton / July 2, 2009

I’m keen to see how soon we will have better options for solid state (non-moving) hard disks becoming more standard. From what I’ve been able to discern, this will improve reliability, but at present the solid state disks are much more expensive and lower performing in terms of speed then regular hard disks.

Cloud Computing seems to be gaining a lot of ground, and with the increased government expenditure on broadband in the USA and here in Australia this will become more and more effective for mobile workers.
by Josh / July 2, 2009

Check out this video - http://communities.intel.com/community/openportit/it/clientblog/blog/2009/06/29/solid-state-drives–the-biggest-change-to-mobile-computing-since-wireless

@stephen - I agree w/ the price point, however for the performance we are seeing quite the opposite. I’ll find the IT white paper as well that shows the performance data, however I’m personally a HUGE increase in write and read time during boot up and during application usage.
by Josh / July 2, 2009

Also if anybody is interested here’s the Cradlepoint device i was referencing in the post.

http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/ctr350-mobile-broadband-router