The mobile phone as a pervasive computer and its application to mental health

The computer is finally moving from the desktop to the palm and pocket.
It is not just getting smaller but gaining more functions and potential
applications for every day life. It is doing this as the smartphone but
there are advancements such that phones are equipped with a sensor
package - GPS, digital compasses and other stuff - which are bringing
new realms of possibilities. These sensors are primarily aimed at
enabling the early stages of tangible mixed reality (where virtual and
real combine seamlessly). The future may bring other sensors and even
more functions to the pervasive computer.

It's likely the evolution will be towards gaming and entertainment as
key drivers. Social network stuff too but that's a no brainer. Phones
have always been about keeping people connected. The smartphone has the
potential to replace a laptop for basic mobile office work as well as
the more advanced forms of office work such as drawing mind maps.

But who gives a shit? Well the phone industry does. They'll look forward
to kids demanding the next generation gaming phone or people getting the
next cool phone when their contract allows them to upgrade. They'll
search for the USP to differentiate their product from the rest. After
all, their research scientists and engineers need to get paid.

But perhaps there are better applications for the pervasive computer
relating to progress of humanity instead of profit for shareholders. I
ponder and wonder what the evolution of the pervasive computer could do
for the advancement of the understanding of the human condition?