Futurologist has faith in 3G
A leading British futurologist says next generation services will arrive in the next three to five years.
Author and lecturer Ray Hammond doesn't believe progress will be held back because operators paid too much for licenses.
He says people will take up 3G because it meets their needs.
Mr Hammond has a client list that includes BT, Microsoft, Philips and Apple Computers.
His forecasts are based on systematic study, looking back at the past for clues on what will be key trends in the future.
He predicts a rapid take-up of services that enable users to be 'telepresent' with channels of communication open at all times.
One killer application, he suggests, will see the marriage of GPS (global positioning satellite) technology with always-on telecommunications networks.
This will allow parents to keep a constant eye on their children to ensure they are safe.
He also rejects a common belief that computing will mean the end of the desktop, adding that while interfaces evolve, PCs will be the hubs for controlling networked home appliances.
Mr Hammond is the author of several books, including Digital Business: Thriving and Surviving in an On-Line World. His first novel - Emergence - is published on January 11.
