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Personal communication devices are commonly hand-held appliances that harness wireless communications between users across telecommunication networks, regardless of the user’s location (providing they have network coverage) (Flew, 2005, p. 17-19). Devices such as mobile phones and BlackBerry’s have a built-in radio frequency known as Bluetooth, allowing users to access local area networks (LAN), personal area networks (PAN) and virtual communities.
With the development of third-generation (3G) mobile telephony, mobile phone users now have access to camera and video applications, the Internet and email, and can view movies, play games as well as communicate via SMS and MMS to friends within their address book. Today over 1.5 billion people throughout the world own a mobile phone, and this number will only increase as telecommunication devices continue to be updated (Derene, 2005, http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2005/10/20/future-communications-gadgets-cx_gd_1024feat_comm05_ls.html). A working example of the abilities of 3G technology is the first music video recorded entirely with mobile phones. Grant Marshall, a Brisbane director, used 12 Sony Ericsson mobile phones to film The Presidents of the United States of America latest music video, Some Postman, transporting the footage to his personal laptop via a Bluetooth wireless connection. From here, Marshall then ‘stitched’ the footage together to make the clip, thus effectively harnessing the potential of digital technologies (O’Brien, 2005, Oct. 27, p. 21).
Recently, Australia has also witness the introduction of BlackBerry wireless technologies, which acts as a portable office, allowing users to establish networks within their personal business communities (provided they too are wireless), thus being able to access and communicate with PAN via email services at any time (Telstra Mobile, 2005, http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/products/wirelessemail/index.htm?tR=3m).
In the future, devices will continue to excel in their communication and interactive capabilities, where convergence will disperse communications technology throughout everyday life, encoding our appliances and clothing with the ability to access these information networks (Derene, 2005 http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2005/10/20/future-communications-gadgets-cx_gd_1024feat_comm05_ls.html). MP3 technology will also play an important role in the development of these networks, however, before this occurs, communication technologies must become affordable, readily accessible and easy to use if society is to truly become 'interconnected' through a variety of online and offline virtual communities.
Derene, G. (2005, Oct. 24) "Coolest Communication Devices of the Future," Forbes.com, retrieved October 25, 2005, from http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2005/10/20/future-communications-gadgets-cx_gd_1024feat_comm05_ls.html
Flew, T. (2005) New Media: An Introduction, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195550412.
O'Brien, J. (2005) "Lights, Mobile, Action," The Courier-Mail: Today, 27 October, p. 21.
Telstra Mobile (2005) "Blackberry Wireless Email," retrieved October 26, 2005, from http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/products/wirelessemail/index.htm?tR=3m
Kirsty Knox 06:51, 28 Oct 2005 (EST)
