Smartphones will soon get increasingly smarter. Mobile phones in the mid-2000s could only achieve a tiny fraction of what their current equivalents can do. Now, owing to a slew of recent technological advances, it appears like there will be no shortage of new smartphone capabilities in the future to keep us glued to our small digital gadgets.
Even the gambling industry has been changed by advancements in smartphone technology. There are now betting sites and apps, and you can check one good example if you click here and see for yourself.
With that in mind, here are some of the most interesting smartphone advancements to come in the future.
Nanotechnology battery
Years ago, most phones featured physical keyboards, and any mobile device without one appeared “out of touch.” However, this is no longer the case, and most people believe that tactile keyboards are out of date. Tactus Technology’s invention of a keyboard that seems like it came from some advanced extraterrestrial civilization is about to revolutionize all of that.
The keyboard employs microfluidics technology, which sends minute volumes of liquid into invisible pockets that sit on a smartphone’s typing pad. When the user activates the touchscreen keyboard, the pockets rapidly fill with liquid, thereby elevating the buttons. The technology has already been included in a new iPad Mini cover, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see it directly built into future smartphones and tablets.
Speakers with realistic surround sound
Surround sound on headphones has received some harsh criticism in the past, but audio developer DTS hopes to silence the critics with a 7.1 mobile audio solution for smartphones that promises to faithfully recreate the sound of specific listening environments using even the most basic pair of headphones. Though there is still more work to be done before the system can function with all sources, the increased processing power of modern smartphones should be able to support the progress in audio technology.
SIM cards are being phased out
Despite attempts by manufacturers to minimize the size of SIM cards, they still seem like a relic from the 1990s. Fortunately, Apple and Samsung are working hard to eliminate the physical presence of SIM cards by replacing them with electronic versions.
With a programmable SIM built into your phone, you’ll be able to swap network providers at the drop of a hat without needing to obtain a new SIM card. This could come in helpful for anyone traveling or residing abroad who wishes to acquire a local phone number. The technology is expected to be accessible in new handsets as early as next year.
Augmented and virtual reality
With soon-to-be-released headgear like the Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and HTC Vive dominating the virtual reality news, VR technology on smartphones has received less attention. However, the new 4K screens that will be available on new smartphones in 2016 are suitable for VR applications.
When put into a head-mounted device, the phone itself will serve as the display for the VR headset, and 4K resolution will be critical in offering an immersive, non-pixelated experience. Of course, given how many of us already bury our faces in our phones and ignore what’s going on in the world around us, this may or may not be a good thing.
Conclusion
We can’t forecast exactly what technical advancements mobile devices may bring in the next 10 years, but we do know that cell phones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives.