This stuff is fascinating just from a cultural point of view -- i.e., what people want in terms of who they are.

Two comments:

Someone said that non-geeks don't want to read screens. This is just untrue, witness the Kindle, which has at least been somewhat successful.

"A quick glance at your handheld will tell you (roughly ) where your friends are, what they're up to"

This is really interesting to me, because the LAST thing I want people to be able to do is check up on where I am and what I am up to, just like I don't want ANYONE to be able to contact me instantly and demand that I respond.

I wonder if it's a generation thing. I grew up during the McCarthy era, when you might be called up to inform on your friends at any time.