Smart phones where about 5% of the market in 1998. In 2008 they were 55% and it is predicted that by 2018 they will be 96% of the cell phone market. Your basic "pocket PC" is going to be with you at all times and be the source of information. Less of a phone and more of an encyclopedia of information that you cannot exist without.
Since we are "all back to work" following the holidays I had two of my co-workers come in and show me their new smart phones. They could not stop stalking about how great they are and everything they can do. Showing off app after app. Then I asked about their government issued Blackberry? Both think of the old device as antiquated and worthless when compared to either the iPhone or Android models. I'm thinking Blackberry should be reading the Nokia tea leaves for what happened to that company's dominance of the market not that many years ago.
Yesterday there was an NPR radio program that talked about 3D technology Briefly the gist is that 3D technology is just starting to take off. The 3D televisions are at the top end of the pricing and there isn't that much content. All of which got me thinking about how 3D movies have things seemingly flying out at you from the screen. Coming at you as Mad Hatter hats or spears or ??? The idea was tossed out that it will be probably 10 years before 3D is really main stream.
When you look at social media it too has been around for a fairly short period of time. Goldman Sachs just invested $500M in Facebook today--so they must know something. Facebook is valued at something like $50B. Social media like 3D is going to keep "coming at you" so that you won't be able to ignore it and the expectations of the general public for services. They will want to be warned, informed and engaged via their smart phone. As noted by the Coast Guard following the Gulf Oil Spill, there will never be another "big event" that does not have public involvement.
So, look at what some progressive organizations are doing and "adapt the app" for what you think can be done in your area of responsibility. As an example, NYC311 has gone from a one to one response to at one to many using social media tools. Another aspect of NYC's 311 program is that they are letting employees blog and share information in a "relaxed and informal manner." Trusting employees to do the right thing with social media--what a concept!
The adoption of the Internet is now being mirrored somewhat by the how social media is being experimented with by government. In the not too distant future it will be totally main stream. If you try to stop it--you will be blow away, it's in 3D man, and it is coming right at you!
