WiMax promises faster speeds for a variety of mobile devices. With those faster speeds comes a number of impacts for the end user.
Engadget did a test this week in San Francisco to show just how fast we are talking about.
This series on wireless standards is brought to you by Intel.
Fast, huh?
Considering these speeds here are three examples of how WiMax will affect app development:
Big Video and More
Hardware will have to change to keep up with the increased broadband connections. This means that we will see more powerful cameras and better video capabilities. Chips in these devices will provide the capability for better video quality and much faster processing. What will come of this are new apps that provide image editing and better live video streams, and augmented reality apps that show multiple layers of information about our streets, stores and homes.
Gaming
The game console my son uses allows him to spend hours playing games with his buddies on the other side of town. WiMax will bring that same level of quality to a mobile device and similar levels of interactivity. Muliti-player games are all the rage for teenagers. Once they start, they never turn back. Muli-player games on mobile devices will provide an experience that will make the old, single-player style seem antiquated. App developers that build mulit-player games will be in high demand as more devices provide the capability for people to get the same experience riding across town in a bus as in their living room.
Productivity
Collaboration these days is pretty much reserved for the laptop or the desktop. We can watch an activity stream on our mobile device and add to the conversation. But editing documents with other people on mobile devices is a whole other matter. It’s slow and cumbersome. We’ll see far more apps that allows us to work with files in a more engaging ways on a mobile device. From there, look for co-editing to become part of the equation.
Is there potential for a virtual reality experience with avatars you control to do work through your mobile device? Seems like it.
