Communicators: From Science Fiction to Reality

by C. Enrique Ortiz, June 6, 2005

Communicators - something truly from science fiction now a reality. As the name implies, a communicator is a tool that enables two (or more) parties to communicate over distances.

The original well-know definition of a communicator was on the realm of science fiction - a quick Google search yields the following:

  • "Communicators are devices in the Star Trek fictional universe which are used for voice communication between two people."
  • "A portable device allowing individuals to communicate with others and nearby ships and facilities. Starfleet communicators include rudimentary universal translators. ("Broken Bow"). The communicators used in Enterprise closely resemble those from the original series, and even have the same chirp when opened."

Yes, that is the communicator that I remember when growing up. The search also reveals the following definitions for communicator:

  • "A generic name for information centric mobile phones. In effect a fully featured personal digital assistant and mobile phone in one unit."
  • "Generic name for smart-phones - essentially a combined PDA and phone."

The concept of communicators is so powerful and well understood that some companies use the term communicator on their products.

Interestingly enough, today's communicators have evolved in functionally to match and even surpass those imaginative communicators of Star Trek's year 2024. Today's communicators enable parties to communicate over distances, and over different "mediums" or multi-media - over voice, using static and dynamic visuals (i.e. still photos and video streaming), virtual presence, using writing. Future communicators may cater our other senses through virtual touch (in some ways already here through the use of presence and even SMS) and even smell. Future communicators will translate languages for us as well.

Communicators have also evolved into a multi-function apparatus that in addition to its main role as a communication device has also become an artifact for personal entertainment and information; device convergence rules.

Let's enumerate some of the characteristics of today's communicators:

  • Voice in real-time or via voicemail
  • Messaging - SMS (text), MMS (multi-media), instant messaging, email
  • Static visuals or photos sharing
  • Real-time 2-way video conversations
  • Virtual Presence
  • Positioning information that can be used (or not) to enhance communication
  • Communication over various networks types or network convergence (over Bluetooth, Infrared, VoIP, 3G, Wi-Fi, Mesh networks, WiMAX, etc.)
  • Access to the web

As Personal Assistant:

  • Messaging - SMS (text), MMS (multi-media), instant messaging, email
  • Voicemail
  • Appointments and reminders
  • Helper applications such as TO DO lists, contacts, and so on
  • For businesses, secure access to business resources, portals and data anytime, anywhere
  • Data synchronization
  • Use of positioning information to enhance business applications
  • Asynchronous push of relevant data (my weather, my news, my stocks, etc)

As an Entertainment device:

  • Games (online and standalone)
  • Movies/TV (real-time streaming, or locally stored)
  • Music (real-time streaming, or locally stored)
  • Access to the web

And it is important to mention that all the above is available all the time, always on.

Example of handsets, communicators, that today offer most or all of the above, are the two handsets pictured above, the Nokia 6680, and the Motorola V1150. And what is exciting is that the characteristics/functionality mentioned above will (or should) become standard on most handsets - specially for the e-Communicator, the hybrid communicator/entertainment handsets that will rule.

For me the killer handset is one that enables for full real-time communication, including 2-way video, with personal assistant and entertainment functionality (oh, and that has a keyboard and touch-screen capabilities).

ceo