Future of mobile devices and experiences

Summary form only given. Mobility — increased access to affordable transportation — is among the most important of global forces for the alleviation of poverty and the achievement of world peace. This is true in already developed nations but is even more important in the most rapidly developing areas of the world where it is the principal means for their development. The world will not be politically nor economically sustainable without increasing mobility where it lags behind. Can such growth be a realistic goal given growing concern over the need to address global sustainability in terms of energy demands, greenhouse gases, and other damaging byproducts of a more mobile world? It is often suggested that improved mobility will have to be sacrificed in order to achieve sustainability, but the goal of Integrated Sustainable Transport Systems is to achieve both mobility and sustainability. The attainment of “sustainable mobility” requires increased global access to goods, services, education, and economic opportunity alongside reductions in the production of greenhouse gases. The attainment of one cannot be made an excuse for foregoing the other. Transportation technology and policy must address the twin goals of improving mobility while decreasing environmental damage. The challenge for us is enormous but can be achieved by technological innovation alongside improvements in governance and human institutions.