> Ask yourself this: As great as smartphones are, do you want a future where everyone is required to purchase one, an a cell plan to exist in society, to engage in commerce, enjoy shelter, health care and security?

I’d be fine with this, so long as there’s a safety net of some sort to provide cheap/used phones to anyone who now needs one. Computers make lots of things easier, and forcing every business to accommodate the additional complexity of non-electronic access sounds like a bad idea.

That said, I do agree that something should be done about “use this app to open your apartment door” and “use this app to do your laundry”. I think the emphasis should be on interoperability. So you as a business can’t require the use of a specific piece of software, but you can specify a protocol, preferably one that’s already in use.

As for “my phone lost charge at 3am and I got locked out”. I see this as equivalent to “I lost my keys at 3am and got locked out”; unfortunate, but ultimately either your fault or bad luck. Time to call a locksmith (or digital equivalent, a hacker?).