I don’t think there are any needs that haven’t been met individually. We have mobile devices that provide:

• Communications (cell phones)
• Music (iPod, Walkman, etc)
• Navigation (GPS, TomTom, etc.)
• Information (BlackBerry and other smart phones)
• Entertainment (PSP, DS Lite, etc.)

What we lack is a single device that can do them all. Sure, Apple’s iPhone comes close, but it is noticeably lacking in a few areas; flexibility being the primary one. I think if we start with the iPhone and add a few more features, we’d be very close to meeting the mobile needs of most.

• GPS – A natural fit with the current Google Maps application
• Third-party applications – Allowing more productive uses in business environments
• Faster data access – Edge is practically useless
• Improved synchronization – Woefully lacking in support for popular Windows applications. How about Firefox and Thunderbird, for a start?!?

Now if only we could get all that in a portable package with decent battery life.

The single most important thing that mobile computing needs is better battery life. Nearly every other aspect of mobile computing has evolved at a rapid pace. However, battery technology isn’t going anywhere, and it needs to improve significantly.

Secondly, we need a data connection that is as fast as the ones that we have at home or at the office. This is something that I thought that we’d have by now …

There is also a need to access our data any time, anywhere. For this to happen, we need to have much higher internet bandwidth, faster connections and a lot more online storage. None of this is likely to happen in the next few years, but we will get there … eventually.

Finally, we need to have a large display on the go – may be by projection or foldable displays. In the end, what we want is to have a mobile computing experience that is as compelling as the “fixed” on that we get at home or in the office.

Ergonomics. The biggest problem with mobile tools right now is that they’re hard to use — the keyboards and screens are just small.

It’s worse for someone like me who is 6′4″ and has the hands and fingers to match. Little keyboards and me do not get along.

The iPhone was a step in the right direction. By combining screen and keyboard, they made both better.

But that doesn’t change the fact that we want more space out of a smaller package. Solve that problem and you’ll rule the market.

An open smartphone that belongs to me when I buy it instead of remaining under the control of the manufacturer and service provider.

In the U. S., total nationwide cell phone coverage still isn’t here. How pathetic is that? There are third-world countries with better coverage than 280 near Sand Hill. The technologist’s children have no technology.

Try and try as I might, I still have not managed to get my cellphone to fetch me beer. Yes, beer-fetching is a pressing need, one ideally accomplished by our constant pocket-companion, the cellphone.

Mobile tech is still very new, and very green. Fact is, “input” still hasn’t been done right. I could complain about plenty of other things, like the slow speed of wireless, weak battery life, and missing live-synchronization with desktops, but input is really still the biggest issue. The iPhone is good but not great, and the same can be said for the Blackberry. When using a PC, an experienced user doesn’t even think about the keyboard. That has yet to be true on mobile devices. Mobile is still a passive experience, and that’s frustrating because mobility is still centered on Internet access, and the Internet is very much an interactive space.

Wireless power. You can see wireless power at work in your electric toothbrush and with other devices that use short-range magnetics to recharge devices, but what about a municiple system or private company who can recharge your cell phone just by walking down the street, or buying your coffee? The laptop that need only to sit on the table at a wireless power ready cafe to stay charged, or the PDA that charges during your flight? Any battery is useless once it’s drained.

Tricky question really, cause sometimes you don’t know what you need until the need is met. “How did we live before….” is a sentence you can fill with hundreds of things that we were perfectly content with before they came out and then became crucial.

That said, there’s one thing that’s missing across the board in wireless devices: a truly vocal operating system. Sure some cell phones can recognize names that you painstakingly teach them, but come on, we can do better, and not only voice command, but vocal response as well.

This requires a LOT more AI and processing power than mobile devices have, but hey maybe we could have a device that interfaces with our other mobile devices rather than have every single device with AI and voice command.

Rather than having to search through your mp3 database on a tiny screen (even the ipod’s screen is small compared to a desktop) is not as convenient as saying, “Play something by Metallica” and having your mp3 player randomly select a song with “Metallica” in the author field. This would make personal organizers and cell phones far superior as well. Just tell your PDA, “I have a meeting in 2 hours, remind me 5 minutes before” or “Phone Number Look up, John Smith, first three digits 524 then call”

Of course to be useful, they’d have to talk back, which is the difference between voice command and a true VOS.

Large-scale distributed sensors – particularly for things like weather and traffic. Nearly everyone carries a phone that if it isn’t already GPS-enabled, can approximate its location via tower communication. Why can’t I opt to have data automatically collected by my phone used anonymously to give better weather forecasts or traffic conditions? Beyond the practical, economically useful, and potentially lifesaving benefits of this type of data, it would really help me to know when there’s enough wind at the beach to go kitesurfing and not much traffic in the way.

Cheap and easy mobile tech. The phone companies still believe they should be entitled to their monopolies.

I’d like a mobile device that could detect whether or not someone was telling the truth (based on voice stress analysis) and have this information automatically sent and integrated into internet based, open-access reputation databases.

Shooting out Ninja Stars which will Instantly kill your enemy with one fling…like using the wii remote but that has nothing to do with moblie…go at 90miles per minute!

I like the amtek t770 and the docking station concept for the OQO model 02. This in combination would be nice. Also who wants a clunky keyboard (improve like on thinkgeek.com the bluetooth keyboard projection system to a flat service. Also if there is a wii game system incorporate the wii into a laser pointer system for mouse functionality. So long story short mix all these things into a nice package maybe invite memory people like neuros technology into the mix and throw in a system projector from the back of the unit in case you have a flat wall to project on and while your at it have a ping pong table for a device for both sides and a plexiglass in the middle to play I sunk your battleship between the two systems. Just a thought. Take it easy terraflop ubbers.

There is a real need for a stable platform that allows quick communication and features. Things like SSH and VNC clients are essential for the on-the-go sysadmin but when these items can be found it is always at the cost of stability of the entire device.

Two things off the top of my head:

1. Cellphones that are fingerprint encoded for security i.e. the phone will only unlock and function when it has scanned the owners fingerprint maybe at the back of the phone…instead of a pin if you get me…you could also use the same feature to scan other people’s fingerprints and have the phone do checks on them or positively identify them

2. I would love to see glasses becoming an interface for cellphone i.e. a pair of clear glasses or sunglasses that wirelessly connect to the phone and one eye’s lens can act as a screen and you can see your screen display…that way you can text while your driving and look at your GPS map while your driving too….there are plenty of things still to come with mobile phones and I think what we have right now is just the tip of the iceberg, after all the mobile phone is the one piece of tech nearly everyone owns and always have with them, so its just natural that most technology will develope in this field

I think we need a cellphone with a built in breathalizer. If you blow above a preset percentage then you can only call maybe three numbers, e.g. a cab company, your roommate, and someone who will understand. This would prevent the “accidnetal” calling of some ramdon “hot” person you met at the bar, your grandma, an ex (or five), your childhood best friend’s parents, etc. at godforsaken hours while you are to intoxicated to make any coherent sense.

Also, I want little tags, chips, whatever, that you can attatch to your keys, wallet, etc. that you can call fron your cellphone and they will ring. I know they have that remote thing that does that but I don’t want to carry around yet another thing that I will lose. AND I want my phone to have GPS tracking to show where you left said items if they are out of your hearing, like at the bar or a friend’s house.

Last thing, can ANYONE make an indestrcutible cell phone?

I look forward to have technology make my life easier.

Shooting out Ninja Stars which will Instantly kill your enemy with one fling…like using the wii remote but that has nothing to do with moblie…go at 90miles per minute!

Though phones today have covered many bases Technologically, there are other aspects that have not yet been taken into account. Through surveying/questioning people about the uses of their phone, many people prefer a more practical use from their cellular device.
Here are a few small ideas I had in mind.

Portable/attachable tools and or devices for every day living.
Examples:
-bottle opener
-tool-kit
-pocket knife
-television (or just a TV/internet feature that comes stock with the phone)
-Lighter
-Spare-key holder (miniature compartment for a spare key ~ somewhere on the back of the phone)
Etc~

The option to download books onto a mobile device. (audio or text by payment)
This could save a considerable amount of effort, especially for college students, that is, assuming a user-friendly program were made available with this option.

A universal remote may also be useful doubled with a cellular device. Portable universal remotes are becoming increasingly popular across the US and Japan.

Thank you for your time.

Food, water, shelter.