Where is Interactive Going?

This driving question inspires and creates thoughts for everybody working in the field, and one code that everyone wants to crack. But How? We become innovative people thinking about the next "Big Thing." Trying to beat everyone to the punch by thinking out an idea, or a part of an idea, to set themselves apart from the rest.

Take social collective buying as the largest example in this category. Two years ago your first thought at those words would've been.... uhmmmm..... huh? Now with Groupon leading the way and Living Social in a very distant second place this new idea has taken the world by storm. Andrew Mason cracked the code. He thought of something that no one else had and hit the ground running at the perfect time in our nation's history (yes, economics, which I won't get into).

So with this notion in mind, not only should our thoughts be with what is the next big thing, but an even larger question than this. Where exactly is interactive technology heading in general? Ten years ago people were buying computers like they were going out of style and not it seems like they slowly are. You can't look on a train, in a car, and see people pull out their large laptops for more information than they can humanly consume. Oh no, they simply reach into their pockets and reach for their phone to stay in touch with everything that is happening around them.

In this new day and age it seems that our adaptive times are now heading into what is slim, sexy, and easier to transport than our wallets or purses. Imagine taking a phone away from a 16 year old boy and seeing his reaction. He would be lost, he might even go out and play sports or enjoy the day. It's truly unbelievable to see and even comprehend the trends that happen when our culture evolves.

It may take a visionary mind, but it seems as if this change has been happening for a long time. We started with phones, then texting, and now this culture has exploded to any and every application by a company that feels they have something to show. Want to play a game? Take three seconds and download this new sweet game and it's yours Forever!

Of course I had to go to Angry Birds. It's hip now, even though I've beaten it and moved on with my life. So the question that remains is what is next. Will iPad's take over and become the next phone? Honestly, I have a hard time believing this. Sure it's new and Apple created it so it Has to be cool to have, but it's larger than a phone and I just don't see it taking over. The cell phone may just be it, something small and easy to carry along until we develop a technology to fold up a television and be able to bring it around. Yes, I know we have youtube and tv accessible on our phones, but I'm willing to bet someone figures out a way to create a device eventually that has a 32" screen that you can literally fold up and put in your pocket.

This might be completely unimaginable as I write this. Even to me it is. But think about it and let me know your thoughts. Who could've guessed twenty years ago we would have a phone in our pockets, and it happened.