Distributing the disruption

The rapid uptake of smart mobile devices such as smartphones and the use of apps has been the great communication disruptor in civilian life in since 2007. This change has enabled always on and easy to use access to vast amounts of data and information, ranging from mapping via social media through to constant news updates and streaming media. This disruption is also rapidly spreading from the civilian to the military sphere. However, military work in this field has often focused on hardware and networking issues. Little has been done in terms of providing tools for staff within the armed forces for sustainable collaboration through the sharing of information and knowledge in the app format. In other words, the communication disruption is disrupted through the lack of useable utilities by the rank and file. These are often the ones who are best positioned to know what type of information (and information sharing) can be useful in the field.