Do you think this is the future of mobile computing, or the past?
I came across this post at Mobile Health Computing, one of the many blogs of Dr. Joseph Kim.
Is this the future of mobile computing?
Here’s a great photo of an Apple iPad on a stand with a keyboard on the desk. Is this the future of mobile computing? Will we all end up using thin slate tablet computers that are held up on stands? While we’re sitting on a desk, we may use the keyboard. When it’s time to go, we grab the slate and we run off. No keyboard needed since we’re probably going to be computing on-the-go.
The image from Dr. Kim’s post reminded me a similar setup I’ve seen in a pharmacy before. The image to the right is a J3400 tablet PC attached to the Motion FlexDock. The FlexDock offers support for an external monitor, RJ45 nectwork connectivity and multiple USB ports for keyboard, mouse and printer. In addition the FlexDock includes a charging bay with room for an additional battery.
Would it surprise you to learn that the setup to the right was introduced more than a year ago (early 2009), and that the J3400 is an “older” model tablet PC that was recently replaced by the J3500? I find that interesting.
Comments
Possibly
One of the problems they need to overcome is the vast difference in computing power vs a tablet and an actual desktop computer. My desktop can run laps around a tablet right now.
Once we start moving to diamond based chips, instead of silicon, I believe you'll see that. Until then though, or some other major break through, I'd say no.
Not sure I agree Tablets
Not sure I agree Tablets don't have the computing power to run today's applications either.
The major issue is usability, and making tablets a device to produce/create on as opposed to consumption only. Heck we still have this issue with desktops. Healthcare professionals are not great at translating what they have done on paper for the past century into a coded format. Maybe in 20 years we will have a better handle on it, but raw processing power will not be the limiting factor.
Really? Tablet vs. Desktop
Hmm, that's an interesting point of view Anonymous. Some of the tablets being made today are using some pretty solid, and fast, architecture. I suppose if you're doing video editing or some type of processor heavy work this would be true, but I haven't had a problem with my tablets. Everything I do on my desktop I do on my tablets and have yet to want more speed, memory or power on the tablet. I don't do a lot of processor intensive work, but do run some fairly complex queries against some large databases. So far no issues.
I run the pharmacy system with no problem. I run our electronic document management system no problem. I run our clinical nursing system with no problem. I run our automated carousels via VNC with no problem.
You would have to be more specific with your "desktop can run laps around a tablet right now" for me to have a better understanding of what you mean.
Of course tablets aren't for everyone. Many people still prefer the desktop and I can respect that. Thanks for the comment Anonymous.