Mobility

Description

The change in mobility is first and foremost the increase in ability to transform humans, substances and services from one geographic location to another. The mobility hereafter discussed refers to humans' capability to carry sophisticated processing and communication appliance with them, anywhere they go. The shrinking of processors and electronic components sizes, the vast laid infrastructure, Internet penetration, broadband use and cell phone technology resulted in the fact that people are now connected with each other more than ever before. In fact, there are hardly any points on Earth (at least in inhabited regions) that do not facilitate means of communication As a result, people are no longer constrained to one location or another in order to be able to connect to a wide sources of information or to each other. Wide and advanced infrastructure also results in reduced prices –another driver for the growth in communication. Mobility is furthermore supported by a vast number of applications that range from location based search, navigation, communication and data transfer and more.

Enablers

With increasing technological development on smaller devices and web availability, people can "carry" the internet wherever they are as well as use it in new ways and for new purposes.

• Size, speed, and demand seem to be the large enablers.
• Application development
• Technological development
• Physical means of transportation

Inhibitors

• Psychological issues, such as ethical issues (fear of being "watched")
• Technological "fear" (fear of new applications an their implications)
• The trend of not wanting to become mobile and thereby constantly available
• A growing clutter of information, decreasing attention and motivation to react

Paradigms

With increasing mobility, the internet and cell technology become more usable, changing habits and paradigms and enhancing capabilities. Increasing number of devices and applications enable conducting life in a way unimagined before – automatic navigation, location based 'in real time' information and even the track of nearby peers are some of many usages that have the power not only to change human habits and interaction but also way of thought (example – with the increasing use of automated navigation systems, will the millennium generation know how to reach places independently?). Mobility has its downsides as with increased reach people are expected to be available and traceable anywhere, any time. This bares implications on social as well as on professional lives.

Experts

Mainly, the sources are taken from the web and links are to be found below.

Web Resources:
http://www4.gartner.com/Init
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-apec/mobility-en.asp
http://www.apec.org/apec/apec_groups/committees/committee_on_trade/informal_experts_group_on_business_mobility.html