What Does a Post Smart phone Future Look Like?
Bendable phones! Bigger phones! Smaller phones! And now…no phones?! The future is coming, and it may not include your smartphone…prepare yourselves
You remember reading about Alexander Graham Bell’s plans for the first telephone in middle school. He knew his invention would change the world, and he knew exactly how it would go: The first phone call. A phone in every house. T9 texting on your Nokia. Green bubble shaming. Nudes. Ordering rideshares, liquor and drunchies directly to your door while scrolling through Netflix on a Wednesday night.
He was really a visionary. Lot of forethought on AGB.
Since then, we’ve made leaps and bounds even he couldn’t have seen coming. Bendable phones! Phones built into shoes! Retro phones with the spinning dial – they’re back! But now, we’ve come full circle in a way no one ever thought possible. How about…no phones?!
Whispers of a post-smartphone future are growing louder and louder. Other options are viably appearing. As Tennyson said, “All things must die.” As A Knight’s Tale more famously and profoundly said, “All good things must come to an end.” We always listen to A Knight’s Tale.
So, let’s take a look at what that means. How it affects you. And what may be replacing it in the not-so-distant future.
A World Beyond the Phone: Yes, You’ll Feel Naked
The smartphone, the ubiquitous rectangle permanently attached to your palm, has revolutionized communication and information access. Yet last week, the DOJ sued Apple for iPhone antitrust violations. The price of phone bills – we’re looking at you, AT&T – has skyrocketed. The Vision Pro is selling like hotcakes. On planes! At work! On the sidewalk as people bump into you (in fairness you shouldn’t have been standing there)! All this feeds into the prediction that we’re heading directly toward a post-smartphone future, and it’s happening much sooner than you think.
As evidence points toward the smartphone becoming a relic of the past, the question now becomes…what will replace it? Tech giants and futurists are grappling with what will succeed the ever-present device that has forever changed the world.
What they’ve landed on are two distinct and emerging possibilities:
The Rise of Augmented Reality: Big Goggles for Everyone
One path leads to the rise of Augmented Reality (AR). A world where information seamlessly blends with your reality in ways you could never imagine. We’re talking about the Vision Pro, and it won’t be the last AR device you see.
These glasses can project calls, messages, and maps directly onto your field of vision. Restaurant reviews could be overlaid on storefronts. Historical landmarks could come alive with interactive details projected next to them. It’s really what video games have delivered to us for decades, except now in the real world. As if your phone’s screen was projected directly into your eyeballs. Or, said another way that wasn’t as gross.
The possibilities are limitless, as is the information – and you won’t need a handheld phone to access it. This is the promise of AR. More importantly, as the technology becomes more ever-present and less wieldy, it will be easier to incorporate into our lives. Plus, look less blocky and dorky! This will happen sooner than we all think. Companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are pouring resources into AR development, suggesting it could be the heir apparent to the smartphone throne, filling in all the blanks we rely solely on our phones today to provide.
Screenless Technology Woven into the Fabric of Our Lives, Like So Much Lanolin
The other path takes a more radical turn, purporting (at TFR, we guarantee you an improved vocabulary or your money back) a world beyond screens altogether. What does this mean, you ask?
Picture invisible technology woven into our clothing. AI assistants like Siri or Alexa acting as ever-present companions as they cling to your lapel. Voice commands and “double taps” becoming the primary mode of interaction. Eventually, the Internet of Things would play a central role, with our devices seamlessly connecting and anticipating our needs after learning our habits and desires.
Imagine a world where lights adjust automatically, thermostats learn your preferences, and appliances respond to simple voice instructions. This future removes the need for separate devices, integrating technology seamlessly into our lives.
This AI wearable pin from hu.ma.ne, for instance, has a tap activation and a laser ink display (that’s right, lasers! We’re in the future!), and is designed to fully change your life in ways even the smartphone never could. This is some Star Trek: The Next Generation stuff. Except we’re living it.
Also, Jonathan Frakes isn’t here to tell you, “No” for 47 seconds. In fact, just the opposite. We’re boldly going.
The Good, The Bad and Avoiding Being Quibi
With great power comes great responsibility. And with great technological risk comes avoiding serious pratfalls. No one wants to be the next Quibi. Or 3D televisions. Or Bryan Adams, whom the Canadian government has apologized for on several occasions.
Each of these visions of the future come with their own set of challenges. AR glasses constantly collect visual data raises serious privacy concerns. The floating monitors are not quite refined yet, though they will assumingly get smoother. We’re still waiting on many apps, games and updates. Plus, as mentioned, they look goofy and you look even goofier using them. Coolness is coming, but we’re not there yet.
Furthermore, ensuring equitable access to either technology is crucial. Prices are still very high. A digital divide where only the privileged few can afford AR glasses or advanced AI assistants exacerbates already existing social inequalities. Imagine a world where information and opportunity are further concentrated in the hands of the wealthy, leaving others behind.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, while constant connectivity offers undeniable convenience, will it come at the expense of genuine human interaction? We already have trouble communicating with others in the real world (and on the internet, let’s be honest). Will constantly staring into our Vision Pro or talking to our trusty AI assistant make us overly reliant on technology, further lose the ability to think critically, or solve problems independently? As we hurdle toward a reality where everything is predicted, analyzed, and displayed, how long will it be until we slip into that Black Mirror future we dread, yet seem to be jazzed to integrate?
We don’t want to be negative here. So let’s go out on a limb and just say…“It may not help.”
IN Conclusion…
The future of mobile technology remains unwritten. But one thing is certain: The smartphone's dominance will eventually come to an end, and maybe a lot sooner than you think. Whether AR glasses become the new standard or screens fade away entirely and we jump into a wearable AI pin future, both visions offer exciting possibilities.
AR glasses could revolutionize the way we access information and experience the world. New tech is beginning to pop up in its wake also, like this beauty, which adds to the excitement. A screenless future, on the other hand, could foster a world with less distraction and vigilant AI assistants with all the answers we could ever need. Plus, lasers. We’ve been promised lasers for years, and now we’ll get them. We refuse to imagine a future without lasers, and we won’t take no for an answer.
Either way, the coming years will usher in a new era of wearable and embedded technology, fundamentally altering the way we connect with information and the world around us. It's a future fraught with both challenges and opportunities, and navigating this new landscape will require careful consideration of the ethical, social, and human implications of these transformative technologies.
But, on the flip side: Your jeans won’t have that ugly block in them anymore, and your purses will be lighter. For that, we’ll be grateful.
Want even more insights and ideas on not only where the future is going, but how you can bend it to your company’s advantage? Book a call with us today at TFR!