Mobile Device Growth: Too Far?

If you follow any type of news feed relating to technology, the discussion about device convergence has been fairly steady for the past few years. Moore’s Law is routinely noted as well as references to Dick Tracy’s communicator watch, Star Trek’s “tricorder” and Nightrider’s car, Kit. All these devices conceived in fantasy but are coming closer and closer to reality.

Computers continue to get smaller, yet smartphones seem to get bigger. And now tablets seem to be bridging the gap between smartphones and computers, at least in terms of size, if not functionality.

But where does the convergence end? It must at some point, right? Or will it lead to divergence instead? There are those in the field who believe we will see the need for stand-alone devices (link), despite the push for convergence that has been ballyhooed for the past 20 years.

When put into practical, everyday applications I look at the devices we currently use at the world’s largest home improvement retailer. When I started with the company in 2008, there were stationary desktop computers located throughout the store and everything else was run through the mobile ordering carts, a combination of battery powered computer and small printer, used to create price labels. And there was usually only 3-5 of the mobile ordering carts per store. Communication was done via handheld radios and overhead public address (PA) system.

"Sure, once I hack into the family calendar, I can
send mom an email reminder and make her think the
playdate was her idea!"

Currently, the tool of choice out on the sales floor, away from the desktop computers located throughout the store, is the handheld device created by Motorola that allows any associate to do a multitude of functions, from checking on-hands and prices to creating orders, packdown lists and requesting transfers from other locations. It also functions as the “walkie talkie” for associates.

There is supposedly a camera built into the device, but as far as I know, there has never been an application to use the camera.

However the “phone” is big, heavy, bulky and consumes power much too fast – usually a new battery is required before a typical 8-hour shift is complete. They introduced an even smaller, iPhone-sized device, but the rumor[i] is that a device more along the size and style of a tablet will be the next wave of tool used by folks out on the sales floor.

It seems to be a living example of device convergence, but while the devices or tools given to associates to use on the floor have continued to get smaller and do more, a couple things haven’t changed.

There are still dedicated fax lines in every store. There are still desktop computers (albeit, they have added flat screen monitors) and hardwired, multi-lined telephones located throughout the store. And the ever-present overhead PA system.

The advance of technology in these handheld devices could surely duplicate all the functions of a fax machine, a desktop computer, a telephone system and PA system. But they have made no move to replace such devices. And this is not some little mom and pop operation. We are talking about one of the largest retailers in the world. Even the rumored next device being a larger, tablet-styled device seems to fly in the face of expected device convergence: a single, smaller device doing the functions of what had previously done on several larger devices.

Specifically, as it relates to the mobile device market, there seems to be a push for continued cross-over between mobile phone communications, increased computing and internet access capabilities, camera features – all in the tablet form.

The other aspect of this convergence of devices is the rise of mobile-first applications or “apps.” These are programs designed first and foremost for use on mobile devices, not desktop or browser based programming adapted to mobile technology, like Facebook or Pinterest. Most of the big mobile-first companies are not names commonly known outside the directly related technology field.

And the companies who create the platforms on which these apps are built are even more obscure. Names like Flurry, Appcelerator, StackMob/Parse/Kinvey, appMobi, Sencha, Geoloqi, Localytics, Crashlytics and DeviceAnywhere are huge in the mobile first world.

The apps that remain big currently are from companies like Path, Instagram, Foursquare, Flipboard, Pulse, LevelUp/Dwolla, Rovno (Angry Birds), Lookout Security and Dolphin HD Browser. These companies have mobile apps for social networking, videos, reading news, photography, location and check-ins, and many other similar services.

I try to envision what the world will look like to my four-year old twin daughters when they reach an age when they are using technology everyday that I could not even dream of at my current age. Maybe things like the Pebble Watch or Google Glass will be commonplace, or even passé, by the time they are 20 years old. Will their mobile devices still be hand-held or subcutaneous implants they have to receive as a requirement for college or their first job.

"That is great! I won't even have to cry in
front of Dad! They will both be fooled!"

Already, they try to make things happen on my laptop by touching the screen, like my iPhone or Kindle. They will grow up with touch screens, never knowing what the eerily glowing green light and phosphor burn-in was all about. Even the differences between the twins and my 14 year old son are enormous in terms of technology. He knows that television shows air on certain nights or days, while the twins believe every show they could ever want to see is on-demand.

The next few years will definitely be interesting in terms of the convergence of personal computing and personal communication devices. Is there a point where the convergence will actually reverse for some devices or will they continue to get smaller and smaller, all the while becoming more and more powerful and multifunctional? What do you think? What do you envision our future to hold? To look like? What are you looking forward to?

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[i] Rumors are a way of life in a company as large as the one referenced. There is no way to confirm this rumor has any validity.

Media Convergence: Good, Bad & Ugly

A topic that continues to gain attention in the technology and scholarly circles, but goes essentially unnoticed by the general populace is media convergence. Simply put, media convergence is the blending of various media platforms (print, broadcast, telecommunications, computing) into a “new” method (platform?) for distributing information to receivers.  There is another side to this convergence, the actual devices used (computers, phones, TVs, radios, etc.) but for the purpose of this blog entry, I am just referring to the content.

For example, moving from the past overlap between television, computers and newspapers…

…to something more like this…

I apologize for the less than great graphic, but in this age of media convergence, there are times when I still struggle with the convergence of images and text. But hopefully what I am trying to convey is a little clearer when I talk about media convergence. Radio content can be accessed over the Internet as well as your smartphone. Television programming and movies can be accessed over your computer, smartphone and tablet. Traditional newspaper content can be found online as well as directed right to your smartphone, tablet and computer.

This convergence of various platforms can be a very good thing. Or a bad thing. Or a very ugly, nasty devious thing. Let’s look at each possibility.

The Good

I currently work for the largest home improvement retailer in the world. Not as a communicator, but as a merchandising supervisor. I spend a lot (almost all) of my time out on the sales floor, working to ensure the various merchants we represent get their products correctly placed and merchandised on the sales floor. We handle a TON of information, supplied to us by the vendors, our own internal merchants, our regional managers, district managers and central support services. It comes to us as email, training videos transmitted via computer and web links.

And somewhere, I am sure there is a real, hard copy paper printout of everything I receive. Having that information accessible at each computer terminal on the sales floor is a great thing. However, in any given store, there may only be 10-12 computer terminals available and perhaps 30-35 people needing to use or access those computers at any given time throughout the day. So my ability to access that information can be hampered by the accessibility of those terminals.

However, if I could access that same information on a tablet or even on my smartphone while I am standing in front of a bay getting reset, I could potentially increase the overall productivity of my team. Granted, that is more about the actual device, but if the content is not available for use on a variety of platforms, having the device would be pointless.

The point is, no matter where I am – in front of a bay, in front of a computer or even in my car (safely parked, not driving) if I have the same access to the information, I can drive the productivity of my team up and impact the overall efficiency of my team. This is good. Especially at my annual review.

Providing the same information whether it be in a newspaper, an online version of a newspaper, or sent directly to a tablet or smartphone increases access of that information by the end user/reader. Access to information – in the information age – is a very good thing. Granted, not all information is good/valid/accurate, but it is up to the end user to ferret out the accurate from the inaccurate, the reliable from the unreliable or the facts from the opinions.

For retailers, though, trying to get their products and information in front of consumers, the ability of taking one image/video and using it on TV, radio (the audio track), in newspapers, magazines, via the web or sent directly to smartphones and tablets is maximizing their advertising and marketing dollars.

The Bad

A very real issue that I face in my job is that while my access to information seems to be increasing, my access to information seems to be increasing. At times I can be overrun with information. I can go from a single email one day, to an onslaught of emails, copies of emails and copies of emails previously copied the next day. So increasing my access to this information via whichever platform only means I will have more places to check – which will reduce my time to actually get things done.

That can be a bad outcome of this media convergence. Information overload. Feeling constantly bombarded or flooded with information. The static kitten images were cute and then the little videos of kittens on Facebook were funny, but I really don’t want kitten-related intros sent to my smartphone when I’m just trying to look up the address of the closest Wendy’s for lunch.

As an aside, when answering a question from an audience member about dealing with an overabundance of email, Merlin Mann noted in 2007 that “you may just have to talk to them,” implying an actual face-to-face conversation might be required in order to get a handle on being flooded by what amounts to unnecessary emails. Go figure. Put technology aside and actually talk to someone personally? What a concept. (yes, a bit of sarcasm)

The Ugly (and insidious)

If this media convergence continues, what happens to the sources of all this information? If the entertainment company buys a news conglomerate that already owns television and radio broadcasting companies and newspapers and magazines, how diversified is the information being “reported” or covered?

The “story” may appear all over the various media platforms, which on the surface gives it a certain level of credibility, but if it all originates from a single source, is it really news or an attempt at agenda setting by the few, powerful companies that exert their influence in an effort to benefit their own goals and aspirations? Would companies actually engage in such devious and insidious endeavors to line their own pockets with wealth and power? It could and does happen. One final word: Enron.

What are your thoughts on media convergence? Good, bad or ugly? Why?

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About the Author: David is a husband and proud father of a strapping 14 year-old son and twin 4 year-old daughters. He has 20 years of professional communication experience, working in the public relations field. He has worked for public relations firms, hospitals and a social service organization helping at-risk children and their families. He grew up on a Michigan blueberry farm, spent two years in Texas and now resides with his family outside Tampa, Florida. An avid reader and photographer, David also enjoys building rustic furniture using upcycled wooden pallets.