Featured article by Maria Martinez, Independent Technology Author
The Evolution of Smart Phones Thus Far
Over the past 26 years, we have witnessed a lot of breakthroughs and advancements in mobile technology. It all started back in 1992 when IBM released its first smartphone prototype called the IBM Simon Personal Communicator. Though its battery lasted for only 1 hour, it had some of the features of today’s smartphones, such as touchscreen, fax, emails, notes, and calendar. Then came the Blackberry 5810, which provided its users with Internet access, handy keyboard, and advanced security system. However, its greatest inconvenience was that you could only make phone calls by using an earpiece. Then Apple joined the race with its iPhone, one of the most advanced mobile devices at the time. Since then, companies like Samsung, Apple, Huawei, and Asus have come up with even more impressive features, such as HD cameras, powerful processors, large capacity batteries, etc. However, many consumers are beginning to feel like they have seen it all already.
The Next Step in Smartphone Evolution
When it comes to advancements in mobile technology, many consumers tend to experience a deja vu. And it’s hard to blame them for that. Experts claim that newer technologies will soon replace smartphones; just as they claim that it’s unethical for college students to hire academic writers, although all evidence points to the contrary. So, is this the end of the smartphone era? Fortunately, we can expect even more from the smartphone technology in the years to come, including:
– Better batteries
– 5G wireless technology
– Eco-friendliness
– Foldable displays
– Better processing power
5G Wireless Technology
Although we’re only beginning to get used to 4G, reports indicate that it will soon be replaced with 5G wireless technology. It is predicted that upload and download speeds, as well as live streaming, will be increased dramatically once smartphones are compatible with 5G. In other words, consumers can gain access to the Internet much faster.
Eco-Friendly Phones
It’s no secret that the majority of manufacturers are trying to produce environmentally friendly products. And phone manufacturers are no exception. During the 2016 Mobile World Congress tradeshow, Kyocera showcased a solar-powered smartphone prototype. Reports indicate that exposing it to 3 minutes of sunlight can give you enough power to make a one-minute phone call. Although this is just a prototype, there is no doubt that many companies will be trying to create environmentally friendly phones in the near future.
Better Batteries
We all know what it’s like to have your phone’s battery fail you when you need it the most. Though much has been done to increase phone battery life, reports indicate that there is still room for improvement. It’s believed that we’ll soon be able to go without charging for days, and all thanks to futuristic batteries, such as the gold nanowire battery, grabat graphene batteries, foam batteries, etc.
Foldable Phone Display
Over the years, consumers have become used to the robust look of their smartphones. But what if it could be transformed a little to improve user experience even more? Lo and behold, Nokia has made it possible! Way back in 2008, Nokia showcased a prototype called The Morph — a device which totally changed our perception of the smartphone. You could snap it apart, wrap it around your wrist, or morph it into a flat screen to watch videos. Although it didn’t sell as well as Nokia hoped, it did have a futuristic appeal. Therefore, the concept will likely be revisited in the near future.
Better Processing Power
In an attempt to create more powerful smartphones, manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are trying to outperform each other. Therefore, it’s safe to say that consumers should expect phones with even greater processing power in years to come.
Although critics believe that the smartphone era will soon be over, all evidence points to the fact that manufacturers have yet to unleash their full potential.
