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?












I’m Cherie Ve Ard, and my partner Chris Dunphy and I are full-time digital nomads, though we prefer to call ourselves “technomads” - a word coined by our friend (the original technomad) 

