Why shouldn't the ubiquitous cellphone include sensors that would detect..well... whatever

The cellphone is the probably perfect container for a number of functions in addition to communications because it is the one digital device that more people carry with them at most times. The cellphone's utility as an instant means of communications with people and web sites makes it very attractive as the repository  for additional auxiliary functions. In other posts to the blog, I have described cellphone functions that go beyond just being a phone to include the device as a remote car door opener (like a key fob), an ATM card, a bar code reader which would permit comparison shopping on the spot, a video camera that can provide live video to a web site for instant citizen journalism, and almost an endless list of other functions. So why not as a universal set of sensor of bad things such as Sarine gas, or other theorists threats or polluted air or whatever. Read about a technology that could enable this function: But more important than sensors for external threats may be simply sensors that monitor your individual health. Although there are no very large studies confirming the value of constant monitoring of bodily functions, its is likely that for many classes of illnesses (and health) continuous monitoring may facilitate individualized treatment plans. So expect sensors that perform many different functions to be incorporated into the ubiquitous cell phone. Here's  a quote from an article by the Director of IBM India's research lab: "Doctors will get enhanced “super-senses” to better diagnose and treat you: In the next five years, your doctor will be able to see, hear and understand your medical records in entirely new ways. In effect, doctors will gain superpowers — technologies will allow them to gain x-ray-like vision to view medical images; super sensitive hearing to find the tiniest audio clue in your heart beat; and ways to organise information in the same way they treat a patient. An avatar — a 3D representation of your body — will allow doctors to visualise your medical records and click with the computer mouse on a particular part of the avatar, to trigger a search of your medical records and retrieve information relevant to that part of your body, instead of leafing through pages of notes. The computer will automatically compare those visual and audio clues to thousands or hundreds of thousands of other patient records, and be able to be much more precise in diagnosing and also treating you, based on people with similar issues and make-up."