The Future is Mobile?

Or so I read, hear, and in some cases see.  I say the present has become mobile. This has been the unspoken, subtle, and perhaps unintended consequence of our technological march. Wagons, bicycles, planes, trains, and automobiles, have allowed us to be less rooted to any given area. Really is it any surprise that computers have moved that way. Modern life almost seems opposed to a sedentary existence.
 
We bring what we want and what we need with us. Music, my entire collection can reside in my pocket, my personal library (and even your local public library in some places) can be with me. Cell phones have shown us we love to be in contact with our connections. Smart phones have done an excellent job in combining phones with computers (camera’s, book readers, mp3 players….). 
 
If the present is what is actually mobile, what is the future? It is safe to say the future see increasing mobility among our tools, but that does not require any genius to see. 
 
Some items I expect we will see in the near future.
1)     Consolidation of Smart Phone OS’s. Currently iOS, android, symbian, blackberry, Windows mobile, and WebOs (assuming HP does anything with Palm) are already or have potential to be the major players. I expect android will likely lead the pack in a few years, simply because it is free and is developed by google.
2)     Desktop computers will continue their downward sales slide and never rebound.
3)     Are Netbooks or tablets here to stay? No. Netbooks are inexpensive, but gloriously underpowered. Tablets, really only the ipad at the moment, will prove to be too expensive for niche they will wind up filling.
4)     Product integration will continue—I see this mainly in hand held gaming. Will Nintendo’s DS line and Sony PSP continue to hold dominance as gaming improves upon the smart phone platforms. With skype new PSPs can be used as a phone with a local wifi connection. 
These are likely safe predictions which will hopefully begin to create, and then cement, my
reputation as a futurist (after all better to start safe).
 
 
Recommended reading:
 
Hackers by Steven Levy (for some history of computer development and the mindset that helped create the open source movement)
Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky (he is wrong in some areas and oversimplifies in others, but a great book to help jumpstart thoughts about our future)