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iPhone uPhone weAllPhone
Will Rourk
2009-07-25
Apple Computer's iPhone has been a leader in the field of "super smart" phones by elevating mobile device technology to the level of a true computing platform, spurring the development of software that extends and customizes mobile phone functionality. The App Store has been the key agent in mobile accessibility by allowing iPhone and iPod Touch users the ability to download custom applications, or apps, directly to their devices with a network connection. This is a model that most mobile device providers are following today, such as Blackberry's App World, Google Android's Marketplace or Nokia's Ovi Store and the soon to be released Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
The enhanced functionality afforded by today's mobile phones can be a convenient supplement to office computing. Consider the network tools that come pre-installed on an iPhone. You can stay connected to your office and clients in a variety of ways over AT&T's EDGE and 3G networks, as well as WiFi, with built-in SMS texting, calendars and of course voice connection service. With push techology Apple integrates all of your communications features with its MobileMe integrated mobile service allowing instant syncing of text and voice messages, contacts, schedules and web browser favorites between your workstation, laptop and iPhone/iPod Touch. Recently Apple has released the MobileMe Control Panel for Windows so you can sync up your Outlook calendars and contacts and even your Internet Explorer bookmarks to your iPhone. An alternative to this is Google Sync which uses Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to allow syncing with your Outlook calendar as well as your Google calendars and Gmail contacts.
3rd party apps expand functionality into areas such as project management with client apps like Merlin that keep you up to date with project info stored on your servers. There are project collaboration apps like FuzeMeeting from Callwave, a web conferencing app that allows multi-user access to the same content between iPhones, laptops and workstations for discussion and review of project material.
During site visits there are a variety of unit conversion tools and code database client apps. The Architect's Formulator is an app that provides access to over 200 formulas specifically for architects including electrical, carpentry and plumbing formulators, forumulas for concrete and excavation and steel design, HVAC and more. MadCAD.com is a subscription service that enables online access to AIA codes and more through their iPubs Store.
Mobile 3D is an emerging technology that allows you to view 3D models and data on mobile devices. Apps such as cadTouch and Solid Works' Drawings Now allow viewing of DXF, DWG and proprietary 3D file formats on the iPhone. An app called iTracer is a 3D raytracing utility that allows one to build and render 3D content on the iPhone.
If you don't have an iPhone, or even particularly like it, technologies are emerging for most all of the major mobile device manufactures to allow enhanced communications, project managment, specialized information access and 3D content to enable design professionals to stay connected to their projects.
For more links and references to technologies discussed in this article and more, visit my blog at http://rezn8r.blogspot.com
Helpful URLs
MobileMe Control Panel for Windows
http://www.apple.com/mobileme/news/2009/06/new-mobileme-control-panel-14-for-windows.html
FuzeMeeting
http://www.fuzemeeting.com/conference-features/iphone
MadCAD AIA Online Codes
http://www.madcad.com/
Architect's Formulator
http://www.multieducator.net/formulator/index.html
SolidWorks Drawings Now
http://labs.solidworks.com/Blog/Post.aspx?id=21
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