Considering the pace at which the world of technology is advancing today, it is very likely that we will be seeing more changes in the next ten years than we did in the last 40 years. For those who were growing up in the 80s or earlier, the word ‘technology’ itself was quite an alien term and computers or the internet were unheard of. Black and white TV, telephones and radio were perhaps the biggest technologies of the time in our land. Then came the Walkmans, color TVs, and cable TVs in the 90s. Mobile phones, let alone smartphones, were inconceivable! If we are to actually think back, it is not even two decades since technology actually came to our land and with the coming of the internet, our lives have been changed forever. For those who were born and are growing up after the turn of the century, technology has always been a part of their lives and it would be inconceivable for them to think of life without technology.
Elsewhere, as the world enters the age of 6G, where connectivity is more consistent and powerful, it is said that smartphones will be obsolete within 10 years and that the human body as an interface will become much more prevalent in our everyday lives. Smartphones will likely be replaced by light wearable glasses, unleashing a host of multimedia, AR, and VR experiences –in the next 4 to 5 years, they say! Brain scanning and mind reading technologies may even advance to the point where it is possible for earphones to carry out the functions of a regular device.
It is clearly possible that smartphones, as we currently know them, may become outdated in the near future. Technology evolves at a rapid pace, and new devices and forms of communication continually emerge. While smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, advancements in technology could lead to the development of new devices that replace or supplement smartphones. Technology will be ‘wearable’ and devices like smart watches, smart glasses, or even smart clothing could become more prevalent, offering similar functionalities as smartphones but in a different form factor. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have the potential to transform how we interact with the digital world. Instead of using a handheld device, we might see a shift towards immersive AR/VR experiences where traditional smartphones may not be necessary.
With the increasing connectivity of everyday objects, referred to as the Internet of Things, we might witness a world where various devices are interconnected, sharing information and providing services without the need for a central smartphone. And then there will be the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant, becoming more advanced and integrated into our surroundings, reducing the reliance on a physical smartphone. Smartphones have significantly transformed the way we communicate, access information, and perform various tasks, and they are likely to continue evolving. It’s possible that future devices may integrate smartphone-like features with new technologies, creating a new generation of devices.
It is impossible to predict the future but it is certain that the world is rapidly changing and technology is advancing faster than ever before.
