Mobile Convergence, Self-Check-Outs and The Future of Your Pocket

There is new technology coming out every day it seems.  Many changes in tech often changes the way we live on a daily basis.  For instance, when this century began (way back in the good old year of 2000), who knew mobile phones would develop into the type of smart phones we see today.  In fact, it seems the PDAs of the past have morphed (or resurfaced) into smart phones.  The pervasiveness of mobile phones in today’s society proves how technology has changed the way we live.

Check out this infographic:

It is undeniable that the infiltration of mobile phones has certainly changed our lives.

Recently I ran into an article about “mobile convergence” (Google Wants Your Wallet… To Be Swallowed By Your Android Phone).

What in the world is “mobile convergence”?

Because of the pervasiveness of mobile phones we are beginning to see what they call “mobile convergence” which is the idea that many of our other daily-use items are converging into our mobile phones.  For instance, cameras and camcorders have effectively converged into our mobile phones.  Notepads and pens have also been rendered useless by our mobile phones (especially with email and apps such as Evernote and even the mobile interface of Google Docs).

Google is beginning to push a new type of technology that will effectively put the usefulness of your wallet into your phone also.  Soon you will be paying with your phone at the check outs.  The tech is called NFC which means “Near Field Communication.”  Check out this YouTube video demonstrating its use:

The trick to this technology actually catching on is getting three participants rolling all at once, relatively speaking.  First, which is already beginning to happen, cell phones need to be produced with this technology built in, on a fairly large scale.  Secondly, merchants need to begin to get on board.  Third, consumers need to accept it.  I can see this happening and if it does, life will be a bit easier, if you ask me.

The article I quoted earlier in this article (Google Wants Your Wallet… To Be Swallowed By Your Android Phone), equated people taking to this to how people have taken to self-check-outs.  I’ve gotta differ on this one.  I can see this taking off better than self-check-outs.  Have you been to a Wal-Mart lately?  If you have, you’ve probably noticed how all of the cashier-run check-outs can have long lines while nobody is using the self-check-outs.  Why is this?  Because they are annoying.  The technology must be perfected before it’ll take off.  The check-outs are finicky, loud, cumbersome and they still need an employee to over see them.

Now swiping my Android and being done with it sounds a lot better than that! Add to that the ability to leave the cash and credit cards home and we’ve got a winner!

One part of this whole mobile convergence thing that makes me the least bit nervous is what if I lose my phone?  Or what if I lose track of it and it is stolen?  The other side of the coin is that there would be less objects to lose track of.  I suppose there will be issues that will arise but hopefully well-thought out, innovative solutions will also come about.

What do you think about technology and how it has changed our lives?  What about this new mobile convergence trend we are seeing?  Could you see your wallet being effectively replaced by your mobile phone?

[image credit: I modified an image by secretlondon123]