Amateur photographers and camera addicted individuals increasingly use their continually improving smartphones to snap photos and share them with friends, family, and followers. As NPR notes, advances in technology have placed 6 to 8 megapixel cameras in our pockets that rival traditional point and shoots. Adoption and use of smartphone cameras is expected to skyrocket as more consumers turn to smartphones not only for quality and convenience, but also for the wireless connectivity that gives users an unparalleled ability to enjoy and instantly share photos with others.
If you answered 'yes' to this question, you are not alone. Media outlets today have been blanketed with the images of long queues as impatient Apple fanboys and fangirls are paying the opportunity cost and at least $200 (with 2yr activation) to get their hands on the latest must-have device. With such tantalizing features as video-conferencing, multi-tasking, and 720p video recording, it is no wonder that people are forming endless lines outside Apple stores-- similar to those you might see outside a certain vampire themed movie premiere.
With as many as 600,000 preorders, Apple's current supplies can only appease those launch day customers showing up to AT&T stores that actually ordered the device in advance. All Johnny-come-latelies must wait until June 29th to be able to buy an iPhone4 at AT&T stores.
"High speed Internet empowers people with disabilities to become more independent. [It] can remove barriers that keep people with disabilities from participating in everyday activities such as employment, education, civic responsibilities and social connection."
From a joint statement by: The American Association of People with Disabilities and The Communications Workers of America
For America's 54 million people with disabilities, two important events happen this summer. First, there's Memorial Day, when disabled veterans will proudly lead ceremonies and officials will emphasize the need to help those injured in conflict.
Second, July 26th is the 20th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was a long time in coming and is probably the single most empowering law during the past generation. But while the ADA has been instrumental in providing legal help for Americans with disabilities, something else is doing an important job in improving basic living standards.
It's your mobile phone.
That's the conclusion of a new research paper that Mobile Future issued today. For all the talk about texting, streaming video, gaming and other apps, one of the most heartening mobile developments involve affordable, life-changing improvements for those with disabilities. The FCC also recognizes this development and hosted a workshop to explore ways in which new technologies can offer opportunities to meet the communications access needs of people with disabilities.
Take the hearing impaired. In 2006, according to the CDC, 37 million adults in the United States had trouble hearing (ranging from a little trouble to being deaf). That's an increase of more than five million since 2000.
As described in Mobile Future's paper, a new wireless system developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute offers those with hearing difficulties the ability to caption events in real-time. The device translates spoken words into text and displays it on a screen.
Meanwhile, according to Scientific American, researchers at the University of Washington (Seattle) are developing software that lets mobile phone users communicate through sign language and real-time video instead of being limited to text messaging.
But what about those who can't see? Some of the same technology that lets you save money while shopping is also turning the phone into an electronic seeing-eye companion.
As we discovered, mobile apps can use smartphone cameras to scan labels and announce the contents of grocery items, their nutrition labels, and even pill bottles. When merged with GPS technology, these apps can assist the visually impaired by giving them step-by-step directions through their smartphone.
Know someone with a speaking disability? An estimated 6 to 8 million Americans have this challenge. Many, if not most, can now take advantage of low- or no-cost communications apps on their cell phone. There's voice output software that conveys typed messages; downloadable text-to-speech software can be an effective, less-costly alternative to speech devices covered by private insurance and Medicare.
Also, some experts say that children with speech impairments often prefer using "mainstream" technology which is less stigmatizing.
Mobile Future's research paper is meant to be both an assessment and a celebration of the key innovations that are helping those with disabilities. It is also a "look-ahead" at the next phase wireless technologies in the pipeline which promise even more transformational impacts for the one in five Americans who live with disabilities.
This column was originally posted on Huffington Post on May 13, 2010.
At CTIA Wireless 2010 last week, the newest and coolest mobile products and services were on display. There were lots of interesting ones, including many amazing mHealth applications.
Here’s a look at some innovative apps:
PillPhone
A mobile application that helps consumers better manage their medication.
LookTel
An application that helps the visually impaired recognize objects.
MedApps
A mobile outpatient monitoring solution that proactively alerts doctors and nurses to potential health problems.
It's a new day and things will never again be the same.
No, I'm not talking about the new Administration since others at HuffPo have already captured that moment's magic. Instead I'm talking about the inauguration itself. Matt Richtel at The New York Times had it right - it was "a wireless Woodstock."
When it came to coverage, the three traditional news sources - the TV nets, radio, the wires - had company: the mobile phone user.
Never in U.S. history has a single event been so well documented from so many different angles as this inauguration. More important, never before have ordinary onlookers been so integral to the coverage.
For mobile users and app writers alike, this was the equivalent of opening night on Broadway. Take a look:
A company called PointAbout created a special GPS-related app for the inauguration that guided users to the Mall via Metro or street directions. It also offered to find free hotspots, inaugural balls and the nearest Starbucks.
CNN, The New York Times and other MSM actively solicited emails of real-time photos and commentary. Leading up to the inaugural, their homepages encouraged mobile users to send clips, vids and comments. Throughout the day, they displayed the images.
The image-sharing site Photobucket put its Inauguration Day photos on a separate, dedicated server. No word on how many photos have been uploaded but the company usually handles 7-10 million uploads a day.
The social media website FriendFeed rolled out a 300 percent increase in server capacity to handle inaugural and post-inaugural traffic.
None of this happened by accident. CNN reported that mobile carriers increased capacity by as much as 70 percent and it seems to have paid off.
So in addition to the inauguration staff, there's one more group that deserves to take a bow: tens of thousands of mobile users who gave the nation a unique view of a great event.
Originally posted on Huffington Post, January 22, 2009
According to The New York Times, there's a lot of good news about mobile technology improving government:
"In Singapore, text messages are used to pay parking tickets; in the Philippines, they are used to pay income taxes; and in part of India, people can receive a text message saying how much property tax they owe. Exam results are sent by text message in Kenya, while in Lewisham, southeast of London, people can e-mail photos taken by cellphone of graffiti or litter to local officials.
Unfortunately, not everyone is enjoying the benefits:
"The United States has generally lagged behind in the innovative use of cellphones...."
Our coalition has been speaking out on the need for federal agencies to become more mobile-friendly as they try to become more transparent. A new year's resolution for the Obama-Biden team perhaps?
Time is out with its list of the 2008 Gadgets of the Year and - no surprise - wireless products are dominant. Of Time's top five gadgets, every one has a wireless capability. That includes the Peek for inexpensive wireless email, the MacBook and iTouch from Apple (natch!), the G1 phone and a new SD memory card.
That last one is particularly useful for those who use their mobile device as a camera. The card, by Eye-Fi, uploads photos automatically from your camera to your online photo service. It also beams pictures to your hard drive, which means no more searching for that lost USB cable. It also can geo-tag them so six months from now you'll know where that picture you took on vacation was taken.
Also in the top 10 is a mobile GPS system by Dash that uses wireless data compiled from a network of drivers in your area to offer real-time information on traffic congestion. Definitely a help when it's raining and you're wondering whether to take the Bay Bridge or the 101 out of San Fran.
On Tuesday, November 4, Americans will go to the polls to cast their votes on Election Day. However, with high voter interest, millions of new voters, new rules and new voting technology, the day could be a little chaotic. In past elections, we've heard reports of long lines and other challenges at the polls, but in 2008, new mobile technologies will allow voters to address, circumvent and solve potential Election Day log-jams on the spot, as well as help document history in the making.
In 2000 and 2004, voter turnout was approximately 54 percent and 60 percent respectively. With even greater expectations this year, the 2008 election could have the highest voter turnout in modern history, possibly even beating the 1960 election's high water mark of 64 percent. The numbers could be record-breaking, and while that is great for democracy, it also could lead to potential problems for hopeful voters facing long lines and other obstacles at the polls.
A number of organizations are planning to use modern technology to handle Election Day issues, including getting proper addresses for and directions to polling sites, rides to the polls, and general voter information. Groups like Rock the Vote and Common Cause are working with Video the Vote and Twitter Vote Report to document voter experiences at the polls on Election Day. Voters can also call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-Vv-Y-Vota to ask for real-time help or legal advice courtesy of the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition.
In addition to addressing potential election issues, mobile technology allows users to document historic moments in this election cycle through words, pictures and video, enabling everyone to become a citizen-journalist. At rallies across the country, cell phones are held high in the air to take pictures of the crowds and using Qik, a mobile video application, supporters can live stream the candidates' speeches on their own websites. On CNN, Rick Sanchez regularly uses Twitter to gather information and shares viewers' tweets on the air. And all of this is in addition to how the campaigns have used mobile technology to connect with voters.
YouTube and PBS have also collaborated on Video Your Vote, a channel for users to share their Election Day experiences and the New York Times is hosting the Polling Place Photo Project, where voters can submit photos of their Election Day experiences. Many news organizations like CNN will also be updating their mobile sites with election news and results as they come in.
If the predictions hold, Election Day will bring a few more momentous occasions, including the highest turnout in a modern election (more than 64 percent), a record number of young voters (18-29 year-olds), and either the first African-American president or the first female Vice President. And mobile technology will help voters properly exercise their franchise, get to the right polling places, and record and share these momentous events as they happen to make November 4 the most documented Election Day ever.
It must have been revolutionary when grocery stores started using barcodes- not only did they automate the check-out process, but they also helped keep track of inventory.
This thought crossed my mind after I read an article about Polo Ralph Lauren adopting mobile tagging, which seems even more revolutionary than grocery store bar-coding.
Polo will be placing barcodes in magazines and store windows, giving consumers real world hyperlinks to its mobile commerce shop. The mobile tag - barcode - is scanned in by a camera phone and decoded by reading software which will direct consumers to the shop.
Although Polo Ralph Lauren is the first fashion retailer in the United States to implement mobile tagging, the technology has flourished in Japan since its inception five years ago.
Japanese motorists can scan large barcodes on movie advertisement billboards to view the trailer on their cell phone. Airline passengers can save their boarding ticket information in barcode form and check-in by flashing their cell phone screen, and McDonald's consumers can scan their hamburger wrapper to get nutrition information.
Most U.S. phones aren't programmed with the reader application yet, but once phones are equipped with it, I think we're on our way to a bar-coded world.
Imagine a world full of real object hyperlinks, connecting the material and digital worlds. Already making its debut in the commercial sector, mobile tagging will likely enter the public and private sectors as well.
Jonathan Bulkeley, chief executive officer of Scanbuy, who develops ScanLife bar codes and is a member of Mobile Future, gives some insight: "You'll be able to walk past fruit at the supermarket, scan an apple, and see when it was picked and where it came from. While buying hair dye, you'll be able to scan the code on the signage and see instructions. You can create your own code, put it on a T-shirt, and then let people scan your shirt and link directly to your MySpace page."
But, who knows, maybe someday the novelty of mobile tagging will be just as mundane as grocery store bar-coding as we come to expect more and more of our technology. But for now, it's one more really cool opportunity to help consumers get what they want, when and how they choose.
500 miles, 11 calls, 8 texts, 6 hours of Jonas Brothers tunes, 3 shopping malls, 2 teenagers, 1 photo of me in "lame" jeans.
These are the statistics of our recent school shopping trip to Spokane, WA. We have made an annual trek to Spokane for school shopping since our move to Montana from the "city". We stay at the Davenport Hotel (fabulous place) and eat at chain restaurants that we miss from our urban days. It's become a fun, family tradition that we all look forward to.
This year our daughter brought along a friend and requested that we let them shop alone, rather than trail her in and out of the stores as we have previously done. The girls are 14, better shoppers than we will ever be, so monitoring their purchases is not important. Monitoring their safety, however, in a distant city, is an absolute requirement. Wanting to support their desire for autonomy, we compromised.
And that's where the 11 calls and 8 texts come in. We agreed to hourly calls via cell phone and face to face meetings every two hours. The girls both had cell phones, and both agreed to answer our calls or texts - every time. Our schedules wound up frequently modified courtesy of texts and quick calls. In fact we mostly met early for shopping bag drop-off, lack of loot, or hunger. Not once, during two days of shopping, did we feel like the girls were out of touch or out of our reach. Even though a typical exchange was simply "R u ok?", "Yup", it was enough. Being able to communicate constantly, we were able to give the kids some space. At 14, space is a precious commodity (for kids and their parents) so we were grateful for the compromise we were able to strike. And, fortunately for me, I was still able to rely on the advice of my young fashion experts when I sent a photo of me in a pair of jeans that my daughter considmoered "lame" - didn't need them anyway.
So, we all had a great time. Thanks to our cell phones, the Jonas Brothers, two great teenage girls, and the lovely city of Spokane.
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Tags: Camera Phone, Consumer Awareness, Consumer Benefits, Innovation, News, Wireless Devices, Wireless Innovation