There's a fascinating piece over at Unwired View on a recent Google patent application for 'activating applications based on accelerometer data'. Along the lines of Rafe's thoughts on smarter software (of which more in Monday's podcast), the idea is that your phone detects what you're up to and automatically presents the applications it thinks you might need. Is this a step in the right direction or the tip of a dangerous iceberg? My thoughts below. 

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Combined with GPS information and the time of day, Unwired View sees a period of 'training' being necessary, after which your phone could indeed manage your application load for you, with the things you need presented appropriately. Here are Unwired View's examples:

• Going out for your 6AM jog before heading to work? Your handset launches a music player as soon as you start running
• Driving a car to work? The phone switches to speakerphone mode and launches that podcast your pre-loaded
• Riding a train to your office and like to catch up on the news during the trip? The browser, with local, business and global news pages open, is already running when you take the phone out of your pocket.
• Just got into the office? Put you handset on the table and the messaging app with all your work voicemails and messages is loaded as you boot up your PC and settle into the chair.

While the article's author sits firmly on the fence as to whether such management is helpful or annoying, it's pretty clear that such behaviour should at the very, very least be a toggle.

As for me, I welcome the option. We've had several 'smart' utilities to run on our 'smart' phones in recent years. With built-in or add-on software, it's now quite easy to have your phone automatically switch from 'Offline' to 'Outdoor' to 'Silent' profiles, depending on time of day or whether there's an entry that contains the word 'Meeting' in your Calendar. The latest FriendView software from Nokia Beta Labs has optional 'alerts' that let you know when up to three friends are nearby. In fact, Best Profiles for S60 already has automatic application launching (triggered by profile switching), taking us halfway towards what Google are suggesting might be possible.

The original concept of the PDA (effectively the precursor to the smartphone) was 'Personal Digital Assistant'. At the time, the assistance was limited to reminding you of appointments and remembering contact details, but I'd now widen 'assistance' to include everything mentioned above and more. Like a personal assistant, your smartphone should constantly be putting the things you need in front of your eyes without you having to mess around finding things. It should 'suggest' apps, data and media appropriate to your activities and surroundings. It should know when to make a song and dance and when to shut up and brood.

Using accelerometer data is smart though, I don't think anyone has thought of that before. Along with proximity, light, GPS, compass, clock and other sensors, the only limit to a smartphone's smartness is really the smartness of its programmers. Roll on 2010 and beyond!

Steve Litchfield, AAS