Life is Horizontal. Technology should be too! Part 2

Mobile devices have access to a much larger pool of data sources than our physical senses. And this is where I believe the true opportunity in mobile is. It is time for useful mobile applications, that integrate multiple electronic and physical data sources, and are smart about communicating and activating other applications when the physical environment changes.

Here’s one example that shows the power of horizontal integration of real-life data sources. Imagine you ask your mobile device to find the closest Starbucks. That, by itself, is not rocket science. There are plenty of services that can do that. However, you want a personalized experience. You want your mobile device to understand you. So, upon request, your mobile gives you a list of the closest Starbucks. But it has access to multiple data sources, and it knows what’s important to you. So, at top of that list it shows you Joe’s Coffee two blocks away from you, where it knows that two of your friends are sitting right now.   The question now is; what is most important? Starbucks, or friends? I think that most people would, under normal circumstances, choose their friends. So, your mobile notifies your friends that you’re on your way, then pulls up Joe’s Coffee’s menu. Your mobile knows that you don’t like espresso, so it filters the espresso drinks out, only showing you the menu items you’re interested in. You choose what you want, and the phone takes care of submitting and paying for the order. Once you arrive your coffee is there waiting for you.

This example shows the integration of vertical data sources: it gives the answer the question you really wanted: “Where is a good place for me to get some coffee?” instead of the question you asked: “Where is the nearest Starbucks?” The mobile presented you with information you needed at the exact time you needed it.

I think one important implementation issue revolves around On-Device Portals (ODP). In the past I’ve talked about why web and native applications have some weaknesses that I think hinders them from addressing the true potential of the mobile lifestyle. In my next post I will talk about how ODP technology is a better way of implementing lifestyle technology.