Google Glass isn’t that original. Star Trek actually introduced the first wearable mobile device – the Communicator – and we accepted that this technology dream might only exist in space. But today, wearables like Google Glass aren’t far away; they’re here and they’re simply an extension of mobile. In fact, everything is starting to mobilize – 2014 will truly rewrite the rules mobile engagement between enterprises and customers, employees and each other.
From consumer electronics, mobile health, industrial equipment to military applications, all areas will have use cases for comparable mobile functionality and this new wearable technology. Of course, this will have a profound effect on the entire IT structure, forcing mobile enterprises to bridge the gap between business strategy and IT, define mobile governance policies, and implement the right tools for mobile application development and quality assurance.
Mobile as the Final Wave
The first wave of major disruptive consumer technologies was the advent of personal computing – the brilliant PC. The second wave, the Internet, connected all PCs to one another and provided the world with quick access to vast amounts of information. Then comes mobile. Mobile is changing the way the world works yet again.
But it’s the last one. Mobile will be the third and final wave; new technological advancements will simply be extensions of mobile. By combining the technologies of its predecessors and creating an internet omnipresence, mobile will be the cornerstone upon which every major new consumer technology is based. Innovation won’t ever go away – think iPads and Google Glass – but companies must begin to rethink the ways they develop mobile apps and build their mobile brands to meet the needs of consumers. Mobile will completely redefine how companies engage with consumers. And the developer better catch on quickly.
As mobile penetrates every facet of our lives, its extension into new types of technologies and devices is inevitable. But make no mistake – while the third wave introduces new types of wearable devices (e.g., Google Glass, Samsung Galaxy Gear, and other wearables) and potentially radio-based implantables – the underlying mobile technologies haven’t changed.
Redefining Engagement
This movement will become more complicated for developers creating programs for the devices – and more important for consumers who are utilizing them. Consumers will expect the flawless user experience that they are accustom to and testers will have to devise more complex testing strategies to ensure they meet consumer demands. Wearable devices are the wave of the future and becoming a more intimate way to communicate with the user.
And developers need to adjust alongside this mobilized world. Application developers and testers, already hard-pressed to cover a mobile market with hundreds of devices and screen resolutions, now need to find ways to test a new set of unique use cases that involve different means of communication with various devices in different locations and on different operating systems, low battery tests, and more. Agile development is key. The increase of development velocity will continue, as will the necessity of automation to balance requirements of increased speed of delivery and quality.
Conclusion
So while we aren’t flying with the Starfleet anytime soon, mobilization is about to reach a new level of intensity in 2014. Soon, mobile technology will be a part of everything, from shoes to glasses to numerous areas that we haven’t even imagined yet. And brands will be able to interact with consumers on a new and more meaningful level.
About Eran Kinsbruner:
Eran Kinsbruner is director of product marketing at Perfecto Mobile, the leading cloud-based mobile application testing and automation company. Formerly CTO for mobile testing and Texas Instruments and project manager at Matrix, Eran has been in testing since 1999 with experience that includes managing teams at Qulicke & Soffa, Sun Microsystems, General Electric, and NeuStar. The co-inventor of a test exclusion automated mechanism for mobile J2ME testing at Sun Microsystems, Eran has extensive experience in the mobile testing world. You can find Eran on Twitter @ek121268, LinkedIn, and his professional mobile testing blog at ek121268.wordpress.com. Eran also writes regularly for the Perfecto Mobile blog
Edited by
Ryan Sartor
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