The form factor is wrong. The iPhone form factor is a good communications device that can offer a web/search/computing interface in a pinch. It's not comfortable to use in a lot of situations, and its interface soaks up all of your concentration.
What's needed is an interface that can convey information but which is not a soak for all of your attention. A 5x8" form factor which is extremely lightweight and daylight readable could be held like a cue-card. Add accelerometer, compass, camera, good contextual voice recognition, and GUI which is easily operated by one thumb, and you have it.
Heads-up displays on your contacts, or direct neural inputs would be dandy. I think we'll get the above before that, though.
What's needed is an interface that can convey information but which is not a soak for all of your attention. A 5x8" form factor which is extremely lightweight and daylight readable could be held like a cue-card. Add accelerometer, compass, camera, good contextual voice recognition, and GUI which is easily operated by one thumb, and you have it.
Heads-up displays on your contacts, or direct neural inputs would be dandy. I think we'll get the above before that, though.