Best efforts for mobile computing

Often, mobile computing groups the components of a computer. What if the components were separated and allowed to communicate. I will show the computer as a IPO+S model (Input-Process-Output+Storage).

IPO+S:
PDA, Windows Mobile

Storage:
Thumbdrive. No security, except encryption, when connected.

Process, Storage:
Computer core that can be hooked up to devices. Provides some security when connected to other devices. Modular PC

Input, Process, Storage:
Camera, Scanner.

Input, Process, Output:
PDA with external storage. Workstation with network storage.

By separating the components we can preform the proper work at the proper time. The Modular PC is not at the peak, because it combines Process and Storage. Storage is always needed, but Process when at the desktop needs to be better than when it is mobile.

Often, Process wraps around Storage, such as providing functions to IDE, to provide security and hiding features. This is not possible with Storage alone. A secure interface for Storage needs to be created.

By removing Input and Output the module can utilize different types of input and output. By removing Process the module can interface with different levels of Process power. What is left are interfaces with the module. If the data on the Storage module can be controlled with minimum effort and many interfaces can be provided. The Process module would choose what Input, Output, and Storage modules it would like to use. What results are shared Storage, Input and Output modules.

Create a camera:
Start with a Process module. Add an optical sensor input. Add a USB Thumbdrive. Add a program output module to instruct the Process module.

Instead of companies developing the best mobile computing, thoughts should be on creating storage devices with many interfaces, including wireless. Imagine having your business card in the public folder of your USB drive and others could get it using wireless networking. A drive could be accessed by a computer just by moving to the computer. You could storage anything from maps to video to homework on the devices and not have to worry about what is where.