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Obviously it would have to include audio and text communications capabilities just like your existing mobile, but what else?

An inbuilt solid-state music player would be pretty much essential, and the ability to pick up and display free-to-air TV transmissions and FM radio might be nice too.

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How about the capability of acting like an eBook reader, perhaps with the added bonus of allowing you to remotely browse a local virtual-library and download new titles as/when you felt like it?

Most people would also opt for some kind of gaming facility -- after all, just look at how the PSP is roaring off shelves right now, but it would be great if it automatically (out of the box) supported networked multiplayer gaming via the Net or cellular network.

Perhaps it could also act like a NavMan unit -- providing an instant report of your location and dishing out directions that will get you to any nominated destination -- whether you're on foot or in a car.

Well those are pretty normal types of application -- but what about the more odd-ball but still useful things such a device could do?

Why not an ultrasonic mosquito repellent capability?

Maybe it could also have the ability to act like a learning remote so you could use it to control your TV set, stereo and other home appliances?

It'd also be great if it could be set up to provide keyless entry to your car too.

How about a travelling burglar/intruder alarm? By emitting a sonic or RF field it could alert you to the approach of unwanted persons while you were sleeping or relaxing somewhere.

And what about an inbuilt tracking/alarm system that would automatically cause the unit to give out a shrill noise and broadcast its GPS coordinates to a central system in the event it were stolen.

Obviously there are a myriad of cool features that such a smart little device could do, and all of them are quite achievable right now, using today's technologies.

This only leaves the problem of actually fitting all this functionality into a device that doesn't require a small trailer to cart around. What size and form would such a bit of personalware need to take before it could be truly practical?

Well my preferred option would be something that looked like a pen and was about the same size. You could safely tuck such a device away in your pocket like your favourite BIC but it would (of course) rely on a small sheet of "electronic paper" that would pull out of the side (like a roller blind) for display and input functions.

Alternatively, voice could be used as the primary input mechanism and a system of optics could project the required image onto any flat surface (or maybe even produce a holographic output in a few decades' time).

Well these are just a few of *my* ideas but I'm sure that Aardvark's clever and innovative readers have plenty of their own so let's hear what *you* think should be included in the ultimate bit of personalware and what form it should take (including or excluding the limits of conventional technology).

Go have your say in The Aardvark Forums

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