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We are moving into a new era of mobile computing, one that promises greater variety in applications, highly improved usability, and speedier networking. The 3G iPhone from Apple is the poster child for this trend, but there are plenty of other developments that point in this direction. The Google-led Android phone will make its appearance this year, offering a compelling open-source alternative to Apple's device. New, faster networking, particularly WiMax, is rolling out, allowing these devices connection speeds that approach wired broadband. This will also benefit the new crop of ultra-light laptops. The significant innovation in this area is the famous 100 XO computer (now 188; all prices are USD). Previous surveys, in LLT, and by researchers (PDF) at the UK's Open University, have highlighted recent projects in mobile assisted language learning. In this column I will be focusing primarily on the changing computing and networking environment and what it might portend for future language learning applications. ULTRA-MOBILE PCsWhen I last wrote a column dedicated to mobile computing, nearly 10 years ago, there were few lightweight laptops, and the existing models all had major drawbacks. Today there are many more models and sizes available, but not all the shortcomings have been addressed. In fact, in comparison with developments in the area of mobile phones, it might not seem that a great deal of progress has been made. With the exceptions of a faster processor, larger memory/hard drive, and a higher resolution display, the Toshiba Libretto of 1998 is not that different from the Sony Vaio UX of 2008. The size, weight, and, crucially, battery life are similar. There is, however, a different kind of portable computing device that was not available in 1998, the Tablet PC. The first Tablet PCs, announced with great fanfare in 2002, were not a runaway success, but in 2005 Microsoft introduced the Origami Project with new software enhancements. Models like the Samsung Q1 and the eo series from TabletKiosk feature smaller, more powerful Tablets. They use a 7-inch display and weigh just under 2 lbs. These ultra-mobile PCs are designed to be used for both work and entertainment but are best suited for note taking and editing. They offer multiple options for creating documents: voice recognition or handwriting recognition, a virtual keyboard or an external keyboard. They are not well adapted to intensive computing tasks such as graphic editing or gaming. A recent entrant in this field is the Nokia Internet Tablet, which runs Linux rather than Windows. The absence of a traditional keyboard in small Tablets has been an impediment for many users, making it awkward to use in situations such as instant messaging or entering text in Web forms. The latest Nokia Tablet (N810) addresses this issue by adding a physical keyboard. Chip manufacturer Intel is promoting what it is calling "Mobile Internet Devices", based on its low-power Atom microprocessor and aiming with partners to develop small Tablets for under 500. Actually, miniaturized laptops (complete with keyboards) have proven to be more popular than Tablets. Minis such as the Sony Vaio UX series or the OQO models are very compact, weighing 1. 2 lbs, with 41/2 to 5 inch screens. They feature both WiFi and cellular data network connectivity. A device with a similar form factor (but no keyboard) that has proved to be surprisingly popular is Amazon's Kindle. It is not a full-featured computer, but rather a dedicated e-book reader. However, its networking capabilities (through a EVDO cellular network) allow it also to be used as an Internet device. It has a 6-inch screen, weighs 10. 5 ounces, and is very thin. Its principal selling points are excellent readability (using e-paper display) and long battery life; drawbacks are its relative high cost (359) and
Robert Godwin‐Jones (Wed,) studied this question.