Key Smartphone Functions To Expect In Future

1. Augmented Reality (AR)

When used in the context of computer technology, the term augmented reality, or AR, refers to what we perceive through our senses (usually sight) enhanced through computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, and GPS data. Simply put, AR makes available more information for us users by combining computer data to what we see in real life. Using the camera on your phone, you can point it somewhere live to get an information overlay of where you can find the nearest cafes or dining places, for example.

Smartphones being portable serve as a good platform for AR to work. You can whip out your phone to get the latest and relevant info for what you are searching for – information which you would otherwise have to call and ask or search online before heading out of Wi-Fi coverage. In addition, most AR apps available now utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) to facilitate location searches. This feature is likely to develop further over the next couple of years because of its potential. So why is it not in all smartphones yet?

It seems that the primary limiting factor is the limited recognition accuracy for live views when we point our camera lens at places, buildings, or even people. For AR to work seamlessly and reliably, the technology for recognizing places, things, or people must be of a certain standard. One example of the use of AR via smartphone can be found here. Expect more such apps to be made available in the market in the years to come.

2. Flexible Screens

It may soon be the case where smartphones can provide a large screen to watch and play your favorite movies and games while maintaining a pocketable size. Moreover, screens can be folded and unfolded, thanks to Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. This paper-thin screen can even project future-features-smart-phones/ from both sides of the screen, so you can show pictures or videos to your friend on one side while using the other as a control. Check out this concept smartphone by Ikev.

With such physical flexibility for smartphones, some companies even plan to make wearable smartphones for the masses. For instance, Nokia is currently researching their concept device, Morph, which offers users the option of wearing it as a wristwatch or unfold it to use as a typical handset as and when required. But, of course, it all depends on the task the users are engaging.

3. In-Built Projector

If flexible screens are not enough to compensate for the small screens on smartphones, why not integrate a projector within? Samsung Galaxy Beam was released back in the second half of 2010. It features a built-in DLP (Digital Light Projection) WVGA projector that can project future-features-smart-phones/ at up to 50 inches in size at 15 lumens. What good will this do? Well, for one thing, future smartphones can be turned into an interactive gaming console without a need for a TV screen; all you’ll need is a flat surface. Furthermore, instead of a physical controller, you can use your body or your voice. Similar to Kinect, a smart camera and a voice control function can capture your movements and voice commands to let you interact with objects and future-features-smart-phones/ on the projected screen.

Of course, you can imagine the drainage rate on your smartphone’s battery life, and there’s also the other issue with luminance, i.e., the amount of light it outputs. In-built projectors for smartphones must be small, and as the paradox sits: the smaller the projector is, the lesser light it will be able to give out. With better technology, though, issues such as these will be addressed in time, making projectors a part of a new experience you can now engage with your smartphone.

4. Seamless Voice Control

Voice control has been receiving much attention since Siri made headlines. Voice control has existed in many earlier mobile phones, even though the voice recognition function was crude at best. Research has been made to advance voice control development, but it has proved to be a paramount task.

Siri might have signaled a breakthrough to the way voice control and recognition programming ought to be made. Instead of recognizing commands via sound waves like most voice-recognition systems, Siri similarly interprets diction and syntax to how we recognize speech. Such Natural Language User Interfaces prove to be more effective and accurate.

The interest in voice control for computers and especially smartphones has always been there since the pioneer MIT research, “Put That There,” studied different ways to communicate with computers in 1980. However, with the newly improved voice recognition app, Siri, and the greater capabilities of smartphones in the years to come, seamless voice control seems to be a viable goal. That, combined with gestures, may bring interactivity to a new level for smartphones and their users.

5. 3D Screens & Holograms

Smartphones may have already peaked for their screen resolution with Apple’s Retina Display, which provides a sharper resolution than what the human eye can perceive. Yet, even then, we still want more. Mobile companies are now moving from 2D future-features-smart-phones/ to 3D future-features-smart-phones/ for the smartphone screen. At present, we have a couple of 3D smartphones in the market, such as the LG Optimus 3D, the Motorola MT810, and the very first Samsung AMOLED 3D. So what happens after 3D?
Well, the next path could be holographic projections. In essence, holographic projections will mean a combination of 3D future-features-smart-phones/ and projections from the smartphone. According to Mobiledia Network, MasterImage 3D had previously showcased their ongoing development on a projection system that allows smartphones to display 3D holograms at the annual Mobile World Congress last February.

If you want to talk about the potential of holographic projections in smartphones, it is great. 3D displays can be integrated with elements of movements when it comes to user interactions with the phone. For example, you can resize your photos by using your hands to pull or compress the holographic images that appear in front of you, move objects by grabbing them from one place to another, etc. If you are a fan of Tom Cruise’s Minority Report, this would be your dream come true.