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The proliferation of electronic gadgets and their features have exploded in recent years and will only increase in the future: iPhone/iPod, Android, Blackberry, digital photo frames/cameras, etc. However, it is difficult to find one that is exactly what I want: music, video, phone, watch, multi-lingual, book, camera, lightweight, adaptable, long battery, etc. What I want is not a single physical device, but device systems with connectors and modules to combine and transform for different uses.

First of the 2 key elements of the system is connectors. They should have the following requirements:

* interchangeable, provides durable and standardized physical (several sizes) and electronic signal connections.
* each contains re-chargeable battery to supply power to attached module.
* provides secure and fool-proof wireless signals among paired modules (wifi, bluetooth, or wireless-USB).  They can pair up by physical connection and press of a button.  When the indicator lights steady, the shared secret key is established.
* stackable battery charging.
* interchangable for easy swap.

Second of the key elements of the system is modules. They can meet the following goals:

* provides different functions
* allows customized designs
* interchangable, provides data duplication and redundancy
* each module might have its own local software or logic to process data before sending out
* every feature of the current gadgets can be an independent module: CPU unit, storage, display, inputs, GPS, camera/camcorder lens, audio I/O, cell phone signal, etc.

Let me describe a scenario. I will start with 3 pieces of modules: a CPU unit, a data storage unit, and a cellphone connection unit. They are physically attached together with the connectors, safely stowed in a zipped pocket. Externally, I have a few separate displays connected wirelessly: 1 touch screen, 1 e-ink display, 1 on my watch, and 1 pico projector. I also have a few wireless input devices, including a simple keyboard, 1 multi-lingual keyboard with specialized logic, and 1 writing pad with stroke recognition. I can choose to physically attach the writing pad with the e-ink display during commute, but actual data goes into the CPU unit, stored in the storage unit, and synchronized to the cloud and a backup unit at home with the cellphone connection unit. When I travel, I can bring a lens unit, bound with a GPS and an image process unit. When I run out of battery, I can stack them together to charge at the same time (including wireless charge), swap, or turn off wireless and combine them physically.

I think the current technology is capable to do this now, think the size of eye-fi SD cards and device batteries. All they need to do is to adjust their design philosophy. Do not try to have every feature on a single device. The key is a connector design with the requirements mentioned above.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 00:02 and is filed under idea, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.