By Wilson Rothman, 10:20 AM on Thu Mar 27 2008, 3,356 views (Edit post, Set to draft, Slurp)

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Martin Cooper, credited at Motorola with the invention of the first cellphone—2lbs with 20 min battery life—says the next 10 to 15 years will bring embedded phones that will:
• Call and answer using thought controls
• Stay powered by the movement of the body itself
• Diagnose and cure disease by remotely communicating body issues with hospital computers
There are, as you might expect, some obstacles...

Cooper, 79, who since leaving Motorola has run now runs a company called ArrayComm and was instrumental in developing the Jitterbug old people's phone, gripes that the embeds will only come when society and industry shape up:

• "People are really conservative," he says, explaining why subcutaneous electronics may not be tantalizing to your mom.

• Phone features need to get simplier. Today's shoddy interfaces explain how much more development is needed before thought controls are feasible.

• Companies, including Motorola, don't take enough risks any more. "People thought I was crazy thinking about a phone you can just put in your pocket." [Reuters]