Computers and Miniaturization
Go Hand-In-Hand

There's something about progress in technology that suggests that smaller is better. Remember how impressed we were with NASA's first pictures from the moon? It's because they came from miniature television cameras and not from ones nearly the size of ponies that were commonly found in TV studios of the 1960s. I remember seeing pictures of first generation computers from back in the '50s. They were as big as refrigerators.

Smaller doesn't always mean better, but it does mean convenient, the byword for the coming age of technology. But the era of mobile computing that is already upon us is more than about personal convenience. It's about providing a wide range of opportunities that many American companies are now taking advantage of, often to their economic advantage.

The history of computers shows a continuous trend of hardware getting smaller while software applications were broadening dramatically. It wasn't that long ago - the early 1980s -- that IBM introduced personal computers. These put processing at the fingertips of America's working population and, for the first time, individuals had the ability to create, manipulate, store and control data in a format and fashion that uniquely met their needs.

The next generation of technology liberation came in the mid-'90s with the widespread understanding and use of the Internet. Now the PC population had access to information sources - deep and wide - on a non-stop basis. With this 24/7 access to virtually unlimited information, computer users began to demand more from their devices. They wanted smaller, lighter and more compact instruments that could handle complex assignments to accommodate an on-the-go generation which had grown up with computers and had seen only one breakthrough in technology - laptops and notebook computers.

As a result of this natural demand, the next technical revolution took shape with a variety of mobile computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), pocket PCs and devices such as the BlackBerry. The common denominators among these products are that they are compact, reliable and two-way (send and receive).

We can readily see how mobile computing would be an invaluable tool for salespeople while they are on the road or executives waiting at airports for their next plane connection. But companies of all descriptions have made the leap into this technology that started out as a high tech toy but is now an integral part of the operation. These smaller, faster and more affordable devices have proven to be perfect solutions for businesses ranging from retail, professional services and education to the construction industry and the building trades.

As the plethora of devices has become smaller, more powerful and less expensive, the available software to support them has become abundant, with applications for every industry and type of device. Most companies that have integrated miniature hardware into their operations attest to the fact that PDAs and other miniature technology have led to improved customer service and client relations and, after the initial capital outlay, reduced costs by anywhere from 5-15 percent. A by-product has been fewer errors and faster processing.

The miniature technology boom hasn't been lost on the computer industry, which is realizing dramatic growth as mobile computing catches on. An article in Mobile Computing magazine says that Wit SoundView Corporation, a New York-based technology investment banking firm, reported that 60 percent of corporate IT managers plan to add hand-held devices to their corporate standards list within twelve months.

As the demand increases, so will the number of choices for consumers. In my next column, I'll discuss the differences among the various two-way paging networks now on the market and will help users determine which platform (technology) is best suited to their needs.

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