Innovation in technology always seems to come in waves.  At times it seems to be all about the hardware, while other times the emphasis is placed on software.  As mobile computing takes center stage, the cell phones we carry with us everywhere we go are still the ripest for game-changing innovation.  Moving forward, however, the emphasis should be placed on the software running on these devices, rather than the hardware itself.

Innovation in mobile devices happens quicker than in almost any other industry, with the quick proliferation of smartphones being a prime example.  Having the ability to access an almost endless amount of mobile applications with the swipe of a finger was unheard of just five years ago for example.  The iteration we’ve seen in mobile hardware has brought the world to the palm of our hands so-to-speak, and has subsequently created a foundation for some of the most advanced, user-friendly and low-cost software we’ve ever seen.

In terms of the debate between hardware vs. software, a prime example is the mobile healthcare industry.  The concept of mobile healthcare, or “mHealth,” has the potential to be one of the most game-changing evolutions in technology, yet at the present time it seems all the emphasis has been placed on new hardware.  Nearly every consumer already carries a cell phone with them at all times, so why create additional hardware when smartphones can facilitate nearly any action we can think of.

The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) brought the entire healthcare industry together to showcase the advances in mHealth, but again, it was all about the hardware.  The show floor was packed with companies showcasing wearable sensors, bulky watch-like devices that take health-readings and even hardware that’s placed in consumers’ homes to monitor one’s health and send data back to physicians.  The biggest question is what’s the need?  Can’t our smartphones already do most of this and more with the addition of new mobile applications and wireless sensors?

Cell phones have the ability to communicate with other devices and sensors in a variety of ways.  RFID, Bluetooth and even NFC are technologies that are already, or will soon be, integrated into nearly every mobile device sold.  These communication methods combined with wireless sensors, mobile apps and an always-on mobile data connection can facilitate nearly any mHealth application around.

It can facilitate biometric readings and transmit the data back to a physician in real-time; it can store personal health information and records in a dynamically-updated and always-available format; and even automatically alert first-responders in the event of an emergency.  With almost any type of mHealth concept, the mobile device ecosystem can be ready and willing to make it happen – with the right software that is.

In the end, we’ve already got the hardware covered.  The pace of innovation isn’t likely to slow down any time soon.  Thought-leaders and innovators need to start thinking about the software more than the hardware to truly make a difference in emerging segments like mHealth and otherwise.  Just like software brought out the true innovation in computers decades ago, the same is true for mobile as well.