Peer to Peer Magazine

ASK THE EXPERT HOW SMALL IS TOO SMALL FOR WORKING ON THE GO? phone (small, always-on and always on your person) and a computer (larger and sitting in your office). It's a modern technology identity crisis. Some smartphones have grown to nearly five-inch screen sizes, almost becoming minitablets. Meanwhile, tablets are shrinking from the 10-inch iPad and to the new seven-inch Amazon Fire, Lenovo IdeaPad and Nook Tablet. Notebook computers range from large desktop replacements to 10-inch netbooks, with a happy medium around 11-inch ultrabooks, like the Macbook Air. Balancing usability, portability, performance and battery life is challenging, but I am excited to see what comes next. Steven: I can't imagine how much smaller we can get! There's going to be a point where you won't be able to read content on these devices. I'm pretty comfortable with the current footprint, but I don't think I'd go much smaller. Maybe we could lose some of the borders and expand the screen a bit or, like Justin mentioned, have a small wrist- worn device that has a hologram pop-up of the screen. But it would be amazing if we could get much smaller and be workable. As for application development for current devices, it's a bit siloed — you have to go through the device manufacturer to get an application out there to distribute. Although, I think it's quite easy to register with the manufacturer and start building applications. I know there are a number of firms that have started working that way and creating reference and administrative applications that connect to their home base. That's where we're going, instead of trying to tailor content in a Web-based format. The ILTA conference app is a good example of that. David: The physical size of devices probably won't change very much because we're currently constrained by physical issues like screens and keyboards, although devices will probably get thinner and lighter. The amount of functionality that we can get with any given size of device will increase, and, in the future, we may see mobile phones with the power of desktop PCs, allowing users to effectively carry their PCs in their pockets and dock them when they're in the office. Also, improvements in voice recognition and speech-to-text will facilitate document production and editing while on the go. Charlotte: As others have noted, we may be approaching the limits of what the human eye can efficiently utilize. However, I do foresee smaller devices becoming increasingly powerful. Being able to edit documents will grow in importance, and devices will need the ability to run software such as Microsoft Office locally. I believe that will be the key to enabling lawyers to complete work on the go — not so much size, but the ability to use applications on devices that support their practice. ILTA 36992 Peer to Peer the quarterly magazine of ILTA 23 GW ONLINE WITH SHORT-TERM RESIDENCIES IN ALEXANDRIA, VA Master of Professional Studies & Graduate Certificate in Law Firm Management Invest in the Future with a graduate degree offered by the GW College of Professional Studies. Meet a growing need in legal management for highly skilled and adaptable leadership professionals. Develop Strategic Leadership and Management Skills. Gain business and legal knowledge from a faculty of legal consultants and professors of management. Expand Career Options in a program format designed for working professionals in the legal field. Online Information Sessions Tuesday, December 13 1:00 pm ET Tuesday, January 17 1:00 pm ET Rsvp Today! 1.800.JOIN.GWU (564.6498) www.nearyou.gwu.edu/lawfirm THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INSTITUTION CERTIFIED TO OPERATE IN VA BY SCHEV.

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