A Pocketful of Terabytes: A Design Fiction Conceptual Analysis
By: Jennifer Drager and Srirashmi Gudur
**Disclaimer: This article is NOT an advertisement or promotional piece. This product does not exist. The experiences shared in this article are entirely fictional and used purely for the purpose of describing the functionality of this imaginary device. This piece is written to inspire further reflection and discussion on the possibilities of ubiquitous computing.**
Further information on Design Fiction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_fiction
What might the future bring? Imagine the convenience of a pocket-sized PC with an interactive projection that opens up to the size of the room you are in. All you have to do is plug the device into any outlet of the room you are in, and there you have it! From floor to ceiling, any square footage transforms into a touch-screen that can be used to check your email, open Snapchat, collaborate on a Google Doc, record presentations, or watch a movie on a true full screen. This means any wall, or ceiling, can be used as a separate touch-screen enabled monitor. With this device, you can open up your email inbox on one wall, edit a document or presentation on another, and use the ceiling to open up your favorite music streaming platform. If this sounds like your dream computer, good news! This fantasy exists and it is called the PocketPC. We both purchased this device two weeks ago and have been using it consistently to replace our personal laptops.
For those of you who are interested in the hardware of this device, it has more computing power than any smartphone or computer that you already use, and is 10 times more portable. The PocketPC is compatible with any operating system, Bluetooth devices, and all storage devices (external hard drives or USB/flash drives) you are already using. You can dual or triple boot if needed, in any combination you may choose. The device is equipped with the most up-to-date security and will continually update throughout the time you own the device, while integrating with any other security program you may already feel comfortable using. The best part: PocketPC has an unbelievable battery life: the computer only needs to be charged once every three days! Not to mention, the device only requires 30 minutes to reach its full charge capacity.
If you are worried about losing it, there is no need. PocketPC is able to be tracked by any application that tracks your phone. Just add the device’s information and you will be all set. We ended up doing some research into a carrying case which you can use to transport your PocketPC and all colors were chosen to stand out in any environment, as we kept losing them in the clutter of our desks. If it does come to the sad point your PocketPC has been lost forever, fear not! Your last backup can be recovered onto a new one or onto whatever laptop you buy instead.
We’re not the only ones who enjoyed using our PocketPC. We had some of friends try it out and share their experiences:
Matilda said, “The PocketPC is fantastic!!!! My commute to work used to be excruciatingly painful! I had to travel 2 hours one way on an overpacked train and lug my horrid laptop bag almost 9 blocks to get to work…WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!! But then, I tried the PocketPC and my life changed forever! I can throw it into my pocket and head to work — stress and luggage free!”
John said, “My family and I were in the mood to watch a movie the other day, but with five kids, a trip to the movie theater can be expensive. Thankfully, with our PocketPC, we brought the theater experience to us by projecting our favorite films in our own living room, complete with surround sound. We could pause, fast forward, or rewind all from the comfort of our home, at no additional cost!”
Veronica said, “I had a lot of trouble deciding on which computer I should use. As a Computer Science student, different operating systems present its different challenges when it comes to my assignments. So, I was happy to find out that the PocketPC can access multiple operating systems on one device, without using an additional hard drive or creating a partition.”
Sara said, “I loved my time using the PocketPC, and I might be fighting to keep the one we were lucky enough to be sent. Having grown up around ever-evolving technology this is my favorite piece I have ever used. I love the ease of setting up the device in any room I carry it into; it’s so great to use the walls when reading papers for school because the display is so seamless with the walls. It’s hardly a struggle to read along and I am always able to pick up where I left off when I walk away from my desk. It has also made editing my work much easier because I can use the read out loud feature with my headphones to find all of my mistakes! The only thing I am not in love with is the price tag, but I would recommend looking into the device if it is something you are willing to spend on.”
Nick said, “I am a music production student and I was looking for a new computer. I went with the PocketPC as I needed to use my own headphones, and they connect over bluetooth, while also allowing me to use my mouse. I am also enjoying the touch screen aspect of the PocketPC when I need to arrange my music. My friends and I had our own listening party with my PocketPC because we can all connect our own headphones to the PocketPC. The only downside to the whole experience was when I lost my PocketPC for 2 days, however, the support center was very quick to help me locate the device once I contacted them so that was nice.”
Reba said, “I am a high school student and I was chosen to give our class speech at graduation. I needed to record the presentation to show the school board, and decided to use the PocketPC. What a great choice! It was easy to use and the recording sounded great. The audio was clear and I was able to remove almost all the background noise. The camera quality was the best I have ever used; and, there was no hassle with saving the presentation before sending it off. I’ll definitely be using the PocketPC again.”
