Mobile phones that have a sense of ‘presence’
This article from Sunday’s JournalStar.com outlines that the next generation of mobile phones will be able to anticipate your needs and know your location. The issue is how much information provided by one’s phone is relevant vs. being annoying.
The system will combine knowledge about where someone’s phone is with his calendar schedule so, for example, it can send incoming calls to voice mail when she’s in a conference. Eventually, the system may turn up her home heating system 10 minutes before arrival.
IBM researchers last month announced a test in collaboration with Telenor, a Norwegian telecom.
“There are a lot of sensors and information sources,” said Vova Soroka, research manager for IBM’s lab in Haifa, Israel. “They have motion sensors and biosensors of all kinds. You could even tell from a sensor in the phone whether someone is walking or bicycling.”
Relevance: Yesterday I couldn’t find my mobile. I looked all over my lab and room and when I had given up, I heard it ring — my friend was calling. Knowing where my misplaced mobile phone is, is relevant information to me, or knowing that I am about to lock myself out of my room, would also be useful.
From IFTF Future Now
Technorati Tags: presence, mobile phone, ubicomp