I've been thinking for a while about this topic - just what does the future hold for wireless technology, that thing that's been creeping and storming its way into our lives for many years now. When I got my phone for Christmas in 2003 it was considered a bit odd that I didn't already have one, being 15 and all. Nowadays people are surprised if a 12 year old doesn't have a device capable of playing crap music on the bus and taking videos of their mates beating up the unpopular kids. Aside from all the gimmicks being put into phones to make them appeal to the mass market, what useful impact could mobile devices (because that's what they're becoming) have on everyday life. Following on from the immense usefulness that I've seen in an iPhone (the only thing disuading me from purchasing one is the hefty price tag) I am convinced that this kind of device is the way forward. Firstly it allows us access to data stored easily online, anywhere. Immediately I don't need a diary, a notepad, a pen or even to use text messages (those overpriced relics of the early phones that refuse to go away even now). Furthermore I can connect to any network, anywhere. This leads to my vision.

I'm on campus and haven't got a clue where my next lecture is. Thankfully like everywhere else they provide a service network - I connect to it and after two presses through the menu system it tells me where I need to be, and shows a little map to guide me there. I arrive at the right place and on time. Once I sit down the first thing I do is get a local copy of the lecture notes on my device because I've ended up at the back and can't properly see the board. At the same time I can't quite hear the lecturer, but I plug in my headphones and the sound is streamed to the device.

Later on I'm doing some shopping in Tesco and want to get it done quickly. I've previously stored what I want to buy as notes, and as soon as I'm in Tesco I can connect to their network and it will show me a map of where to go to get what I want, even letting me know of special offers on the types of things that I'm buying. As I go round my device records the barcodes of items I pick up with its camera, and when I get to the tills it asks me for a password and pays the store directly. I get on my bike, put my headphones on and listen to music playing from my PC back at home, streamed to me wherever I go.

In the evening I go out to a restaurant - I'm running a little late but luckily for me they allow external access to their service network, so I order my meal on the way, giving an estimate of the time I'll be there. My friends are informed on their Devices that I've ordered, so they go ahead and place theirs too. At the end of the meal we each receive the bill on our Devices, select which items we had and once again input our passwords to pay the restaurant directly.

After the meal I'm getting a train home, but haven't yet bought a ticket. When I get to the station my Device connects to their service network, and I select the next train to my destination, booking it by inputting my password. As this rail network hasn't yet upgraded their infrastructure entirely I'll still need physical tickets - I go over to a machine, confirm on my Device and it prints my tickets, just in time for the train.

I could go on, but feel I'd be overstretching my point. The essence is this - with Devices capable of easily connecting to local networks, and capable of running web-aps far in advance of what is provides on most current Intranets (eg. web pages intended for PCs) the world could become quicker, more interconnected and easier. Add in the same connection with the rest of the internet that we already have (for cloud storage, streaming, contacts etc.) and we have the future. In my opinion it isn't that far away - devices like the iPhone still cause "oohs" from people at the moment but once they have a real use in everyday life, you'll rather forget your house keys than your Device.