Smart phone evolution

Recently I tuned into a late night BBC interview-taking place among five young business leaders. The burning topic was the real or imagined importance of smart phones in one’s professional life.  As a result I found myself asking, “Self, are we abdicating our power to smart phones?”

The first question was “do you need smart phones to be successful in your business?” A rapid-fire reply from all was an unequivocal “yes!”  The next responses were variations on the word “connectivity.”   The third level involved various functions required for life; an address book, games and apps.  All the discussed vital functions ranked in importance right up there with air and water. Gaming and breathing, now are one and the same.

More intense confessions of use revolved around measureable words like “sexy” and “being cool”. The last part of the interview tried to extract from the panel ways that their businesses were made more competitive or outcomes were changed. Other than connectivity, and the fact that the smart phone train has left the station, no hard convincible data was supplied.

I love my smart tablet and phone.  Doctors, designers, developers, business people, teachers and parents all love their smart toys for managing information and learning. I am aware of the many uses and wonders of both.  I have a better understanding of how truly smart these devices are - they are able to record private speeches at presidential fundraisers without being noticed.

Apparently a very stealthy smart phone was able to navigate wearing Harry Potter’s invisible cloak and show up unnoticed to a recent fund-raising party.  I expect we shall see more of these party crashing smart phones at major events while their owners stay home thus blurring the definitions of face time.

As we are jumping onto the latest smart devices, I can’t help but wonder about our own smartness.  While pondering this question I recognize reading too much Science Fiction could be altering my view of the smart future.  Look for my next invention – hidden smart phone detection.