22nd Century Cell Phone:The Cellular Computer

Kevin Koga, CS 465, 9.24.08, University of Illinois

Problems with current cell phones● Short battery life● Disruption of public spaces● Dropped calls / Low quality conversation● Impersonal

Trends of Uniting Media shifting to the Internet● More and more phone lines are VoIP● Large TV networks host their shows on-demand on-

line in High Definition for free– Smaller, more commercial networks to follow suit

● Comcast and Dish Network have their own

infrastructure for On-demand viewing● By 22nd Cent, All TV and phone will be over some

insane ubiquitous internet protocol network

Trend of added features to the cell phone● As technology is getting smaller and faster,

more and more features have been added to the cell phone:– Music– Internet– GPS– Camera– Calendar / Personal Planner

Instead of a phone with added features, why not a pocket size laptop with a phone?● Introduce a customizable Operating System

with a STANDARD SDK. ● Linux could easily be ported to a “cellular

computer” for free; from which any programmer could add features.

● New software and compatible 3rd party hardware would revolutionize the cell phone.

● Advances in Solid State Hard Drives and smaller disc media are coming close with today's technology much less that of 22nd cent.

My Proposal: The cellular laptop● The device itself:

– Would be similar in size to the i-phone.

– One side would be a screen only. The screen would be used for displaying the image of the person your talking to.

– In combination with an included wireless ear-piece, the cell phone would be something you looked at while you spoke.

The re-introduction of the phone booth in the re-invention of the computer lab● In the past 20 years, cell phones have slowly caused the

elimination of phone booths and pay phones. ● In the next 100, cell-computers will replace computer labs.

There will be no need for them; everyone will have a portable, personalized computer. All of their work will be centralized in that one location if they want.

● Instead of computer labs, there will be work stations which will provide individual (OR GROUP) access to a large screen and full size input device. This way a group of a few could call another group, or you could video conference call several people: each person with their own window in the large screen.

The re-introduction of the phone booth in the re-invention of the computer lab● Public places like restaurants and airports could provide

private, personal workstations where a video-call could be made. This would give people an appropriate place to make phone calls that could be private and not bother other people.

● It would also give them a place to charge their cellular computer. Wireless power has come a long way and will continue to get better.

The cellular computer in the bar scene:

● Imagine the following: Bars could have a screen at every table. The group at one bar table could be connected to another group at a different bar, just by using 2 of these cell-computers.

● Or, the controlling cell could just be used to watch your favorite current sports game.

● Again, all while charging battery.

Cellular computer at home

● As more and more people have cell phones, less people feel the need for a land line.

● I see the same occurring with cellular computers. Fewer homes will need a traditional family PC.

● However, this does not mean that there will not be a family TV. It's just that the family room set will be waiting for your cell-comp. Once within a certain wireless proximity, it would connect to the cell-comp. You could watch TV, send email, or video phone whoever you want. You could type a paper in the living-room as easily as you could watch TV in your bedroom.

Cellular computer input interface

● I have said that one side would be a screen and camera for video-conversations.

● The other side would be a full keyboard. – You might ask how people would see what keys

they press?– by an intuitive rotation of the current keyboard, it

would allow touch-typing.– See the next slide for an idea of what I mean.

Cellular computer input interface (cont)

● The space bar would be two buttons on the front of the device where your thumbs are

Conclusion

● A cellular computer, to me, seems inevitable.– More and more features are migrating to the cell-phone.– More and more media are migrating to the internet.– A cellular computer would allow access to all of this media

anywhere– A cellular computer would allow a more personal, video

conversation as well as the conventional audio-only.● A cellular computer would revolutionize the computer lab scene

– By everyone having their own device, it eliminates security issues of sharing computers.

● It also means one permanent IP address (I.E. your phone number) so that better security via more accountability for the IP could be possible.

Conclusion Cont

● Cellular computers would revolutionize the social scene. – By providing screens alone, you allow the patron to use their

cell/comp to control that screen and thereby what is seen. – Any of the following could be done at a cafe/bar/comp lab with

compatible work stations (a work station being a large screen, a camera, and an input device(s)): Videoconferencing with another remote table, multiplayer gaming, collective surfing of the internet, etc.

● Cellular computers would fix the talking in public problem.– Places like libraries (where you want it to be quiet) could have

small breakout style rooms in which you could have a full size video call without interrupting anyone. If they allowed wireless charging in these rooms, it is good incentive to use them and would help solve the battery life problem.

Conclusion Cont

● Advances in solid state hard drives, extremely efficient processors and organic LED screens will help extend the battery life of today's laptops at the same time as shrink them to cell phone size.

● By connecting to local lines when using a workstation or social scene screen the battery is charging and a higher bandwidth could be allowed, thereby solving any call-quality issues.

● By using similar technology to bluetooth in cars, you not only have a hands free conversation, but you also connect your car's computer to the internet for self-diagnosis and it's own GPS info.