The Future Isn’t About Mobile; It’s About Mobility

The Future Isn’t About Mobile; It’s About Mobility – David Armano – Harvard Business Review: “Mobility is radically different from the stationary ‘desktop’ experience. In some cases, mobility is a ‘lean back’ experience like sitting on a commuter train watching a video. In other cases it can be ‘lean forward’ — like shopping for a gift while you take your lunch break at the park. And in many cases, it’s ‘lean free’ when your body is in motion, or you’re standing in line scanning news headlines or photos from friends while you wait for your turn to be called.

Mobility trumps mobile. The difference between mobility and mobile is like the difference between hardware and software. Mobile is linked to devices — it is always one thing, wherever it is. But mobility changes with context: cultures incorporate mobile technologies differently. For example, in Africa, SMS technology helps farmers pay bills electronically. In America, it helps teenagers keep up with their friends — an average of 60 times a day. Mobile itself is the nuts, bolts, and infrastructure, while mobility is the context which determines if it all works together or doesn’t.”