Reversal: The process by which an emerging technology simultaneously sets the stage for its own replacement (Thornburg, 2008). The smartphone, which was reversed by the cell phone, previously reversed by the telephone, and before that by the telegraph, is an example of how a chain of innovation progresses and impacts society. We are progressively getting better connected and faster connected through these technological achievements. Yet, what will the smartphone reverse? What will be on the telecommunication stage of the future? A tetrad analysis may provide us some clues.
Tetrads are four-part structures that help people discern the interrelationships among historical evidence, current information, and predictions for the future. They provide perspective about what is enhanced by the technology, what was made obsolete, what it retrieved from the distant past, and what it might reverse toward the future.
· Enhances: The smartphone consolidated multiple applications into one device. It became a portable, handheld computer that could also be used as a camera, MP3 player, video player, GPS, and PDA. It can be used for gaming and social and professional networking. Users can access and share wherever satellites and towers exist. But, perhaps the most incredible aspect of the smartphone is the ability to allow third-party application design.
· Obsoletes: The smartphone is quickly making a plethora of stand-alone technologies obsolete. Some of them include: landline telephones, hard-wired computing, paper maps, PDAs, CD players and tape recorders, and instamatic cameras. There is no longer a need for multiple electronic devices.
· Retrieves: The smartphone brings to mind tools of the distant and not-so-distant past. For example, the research capability recalls encyclopedias, the ability to communicate with multiple people recalls party lines, the GPS reminds us of atlases, that camera feature is similar to the instantly developing Polaroid, the interactive gaming capacity retrieves our competitive nature in board games, and the phone calls up earlier means of communicating over long distances: the telegraph and pony express.
· Reverses: Although the future of smartphones is unknown, Brandon (2010) predicted some possibilities. He suggested that the smartphones of tomorrow may be situation- and location-aware devices. This could mean that the phone will detect your thirst, point you toward the nearest establishment that serves your favorite drink, and offer to pay your bill. In addition, the future smartphone could be service-oriented where it could detect unsafe air contaminants, it could include biosensors for heart and health, and it could connect you with others at social functions that share similar interests.
The Development of Mobile Learning for Smartphones, an article by Judy Nix, addresses the need to develop courseware for handheld devices. Further, the author suggests that the smartphone holds undiscovered resources for education that will help motivate and engage learners beyond the class walls and the scheduled class times. You can read it here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/206926/The-Development-of-Mobile-Learning-for-Smartphones
