Our changing world

What will cell phones be used for in five years? I don't know, but I know they will be used differently than they are now. You can already use them as cameras, GPS devices, and email service, but new uses are appearing rapidly. In third world countries, phones may serve as banks for people who otherwise have no access to credit. In the past week, we've all had ample demonstration of how cell phones can allow users to donate funds to causes, such as The Red Cross's Haiti Relief efforts - the last time I checked, over $8 million in $10 increments had been donated this way, and the Red Cross is only one of several such efforts. So, what does the future look like? This week's activities in the tragic Haiti disaster have given us a glimpse.