8 Technologies That Will Shape HOW
WE USE SMART DEVICES
Technology evolution is constant, but only a few things will make a
lasting impact. These are a few on the shortlist
USB type C
Back in the nineties, before personal computers became the norm,
the USB or universal serial bus standard was invented in a bid to standardise
the connectors and protocols for connecting a peripheral to a
computer.Obviously, this was before the smartphone boom and before we got so
many different USB devices. Back then, USB was needed to replace older ports
(like serial and parallel port), it was smaller, easier to connect and more of
them could be included in a smaller space because of the compact connectors.
Now, so many different iterations later, the fact that USB is still a onesided
connector has become a flaw. Plus, we need faster speeds, higher power and the
ability to transmit high-bitrate video at the same time. Hence the USB Type C
port which will soon become commonplace on all phones, tablets, chargers,
cameras, computers, printers, external hard drives basically everything you
need to connect.
Touch-free Intuitive
Gesture Control
As we start to do more with our devices, the way we do it needs to
evolve too. Back in the eighties, when graphical user interfaces first started
seeing the light of day, it was a natural, user-friendly evolution of the
text-based interface on computers. It's what gave computing accessibility
.Later on, pointing devices ceded a fair amount of control to touch-based
systems and as you all know, touchscreens have also evolved tremendously . The
next step is to control elements of an interface without touching anything.
Leap Motion is probably the most popular and accessible enabler right now. The
$100 Leap Motion controller can connect to your WindowsMAC computer using USB
and uses the air space between you and the computer to create 8 cubic feet of
interactive space that you can manipulate with your hands and fingers. It's how
we will interact with machines well into the next decade.
Modular Phones,
Laptops & Tablets
There's a growing dissonance about shor ter product life cycles
and planned obsolescence that companies deviously mix into their strategy.
Couple that with increased awareness about environmental hazards of old
hardware and you have a recipe that's ready for modular technology. For a phone
user, the argument is this if you've been basically using a smartphone for the
same thing for over a decade now, why do you need to keep changing it? Just
keep upgrading the things you need. Modular smartphones have been in
development for a few years now and Project Ara, Puzzlephone and Fonkraft will
likely be the first ones off the block. The same concept can be applied to
tablet computers, with the added benefit that users can replace parts that
break (like screens) without the need for sending the device in for repairs.
For laptops, apart from modular upgrades to CPU, RAM and storage components
that you don't need (like a graphics card for gaming), an additional larger
battery or hard drive based storage could be removed at will in the interests
of portability.
Screens Without Bezels
There's a functional purpose to a bezel the blank space that
surrounds any display on all four sides. It's an important structural component
(especially in a smartphone) and typically hides some of the electronics such
as the LED light source and other electronics.Reducing the bezel size is an
obvious way for companies to `display' technological prowess and has become an
important means of differentiation too. Now, a bunch of innovators are working
to do away with the bezel altogether at least on two sides of the screen.
Apart from looking futuristic and super-cool, this also helps increase the size
of the screen without increasing the size of the device. Sharp's Aquos Crystal,
ZTE's Nubia Z9, LeTV and Oppo's R7 are taking the lead on this.It'll be an
exciting next few years for users of portable screens.
Solid State Storage
Standard hard drives used in computers today are slow and prone to
failure.In comparison, Solid State drives not only have the advantage of being
more dura ble, they also offer better performance (up to 100x faster at times).
Using SSDs also has other advantages -overheating is a thing of the past, they
are quieter since there are no moving parts and they are lighter too. More and
more manufacturers are now offering SSD storage by default or as an optional
update. The issue right now with SSDs is that they are too expensive compared
to hard drives. A 500GB hard drive costs `3,500 while a 500GB SSD costs
`11,000.This increases the cost of the computer by a significant amount.
However, prices are on a downward spiral and capacities are being increased.The
fall in prices is expected to continue and it will lead to SSDs becoming the
primary storage for devices instead of the slower hard drives.
Flexible and
Transparent Displays
Samsung and LG have both showcased prototypes of flexible and
transparent displays. It might take a few years to get them ready for the mass
market and get them into consumer devices though. However, once they become
available, they are expected to change the day-to-day usage scenario for most
devices. For instance, you can have smartwatch screens that bend around your
wrist, displays that curve around walls and in the next phase, a large screen
tablet that can be folded up and kept in your pocket. A transparent phone or
laptop will enable you to use the device while on the move without worrying of
falling down or bumping into anything.Another use case demonstrated by Samsung
(apart from commercial applications) was a transparent display mounted on a
window -you still get to see the outside world, but at the same time, you can
access content like the weather, news and social feeds when needed.
Affordable Virtual
Reality
Virtual reality as a technolo g y has been around for a few
decades now Atari had set up a virtual reality lab back in 1982 for re search
on the tech nology. Post that there have been m a n y d e ve l o p ments in
this field but none was able to make virtual reality accessible for consumers.
Now with companies like Google, Sony, HTC and Oculus working on virtual reality
headsets for multimedia and gaming, it is expected to be the next big revolution.
With connected virtual reality headsets, you will be able to enjoy
multimedia seamlessly from any connected devices like a computer phone or
tablet. Gaming is another field that is expected to be a big avenue for virtual
reality (thanks to the more immersive experience) Since virtual reality
headsets work with a con nected device, they could be developed to auto
matically switch sources as per location. When you reach home, it will offer
the option of play ing games or watching movies while in office it will show
business reports with graphs and project demos.
Connected Homes &
Appliances
The Internet of Things or IoT is one of the most trending topics.
One way to explain it is a tech nology that enables devices to connect with
each other physically or wirelessly and ex change information to work together.
Once de ployed, you can have a connected home with appliances and devices
working in tandem. You can control security cameras, lights, applianc es, power
outlets, smart locks etc. over the Internet using your phone or computer.
In its current state, there are limited options when it comes to
smart devices meant for the connected home. Most options available today are
either too expensive or not available every where. However, there are a number
of projects that are in development that can be viewed on crowdfunding
platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Over the coming years, more and more
devices will be available at affordable prices that will make it easier for
everyone to create their own connected home.
SELF DRIVING CARS
It's the stuff of science fiction: a car that comes to where you
are, takes you where you want to go without your intervention, intelligently
avoids collisions, reduces congestion and even parks itself. Shown here,
Google's self driving car (a working prototype) uses a US$70,000 LiDar
(Light-Radar) range finding system.Mounted on the roof of the car, the LiDar
system uses a 64-beam laser which helps generate a detailed 3D view of the road
and surroundings. Combined with accurate high-resolution map data, it allows
the car to drive itself.Google has been testing these on public roads and hopes
to make these available by 2020.Others who are actively involved in the same
space include Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, GM, Toyota, Audi, Nissan, Renault, Bosch,
Peugeot, Volvo and others.
Karan Bajaj & Hitesh Raj Bhagat
ET1JUL15
No comments:
Post a Comment