Let’s Predict The Future of Phones in Our Lives
Published Date 2022-11-01
Written by Circles.Life
Here’s What to Expect in the Future of our Phones
Smartphones have come a long way during the past decade. What once seemed like ground-breaking technology is now expected in smartphones, whether this is large touchscreen displays, high-quality cameras, or facial recognition.
Smartphones no longer serve the sole purpose of making calls or sending quick, character-limited text messages. People love to use their smartphones to listen to music, browse social media, or play their favourite games–things that, ten years ago, would have seemed improbable.
The rapid development of smartphones begs the question: what does the future of phones hold? When we fast-forward 20 years, what should we expect from our technology? How many other interactions and activities will smartphones facilitate in the future?
This article seeks to answer that question to determine what the future of the phone will entail. By reflecting on past developments and eagerly looking into the future, you can understand what to expect your phone to look like in a few years.
How Have Smartphones Changed in the Last 10 Years?
The staggering number of developments we’ve seen in the last decade of phone technology is shocking and awe-inspiring. With today's advanced technology, many people wonder what our future phones could look like.
Before we look into the future, we must reflect on our past. Here are some changes smartphones have seen in the last ten years and how these adjustments have changed how we interact with the world.
1. How we shop
As our phones began looking different, so did the way we shop. Before the popularisation of smartphones, shoppers engaged solely with in-store adventures. Sure, some people would shop online through a company’s website for clothes and knick-knacks, but for the most part, our shopping experience was in-person.
In the last decade, smartphones have changed this narrative entirely. Phones have offered an easy alternative to people that don’t want to spend time getting ready and making their way to the store on their day off. People use smartphones for numerous shopping purposes, from purchasing groceries to buying apparel. Many people even use their phones to sell unwanted items they would otherwise toss in the trash.
No matter what it is you’re seeking, it’s more than likely that you can buy it on your smartphone. In 2019, the phone market alone accounted for 4.9 billion units worldwide, making online shoppers and personal sellers start paying closer attention to the seemingly endless possibilities of mobile shopping.
2. How we socialize
The rising popularity of smartphones created a massive wave of innovation in numerous ways, and how we socialise is perhaps one of the most notable changes. From social media to text messaging to online dating, the way people interact involves a mobile device more often than not.
While a decade ago, people feared speaking to a stranger online, interacting with unknown followers on Twitter, TikTok, and other popular platforms is a given for many social media lovers. Even communicating with our work colleagues is different because of digitalization, with video conferencing platforms becoming a standard part of a worker’s day.
Smartphone users no longer have to rely on traditional telephony methods–many platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Meet, and Zoom provide alternative ways to communicate with loved ones.
3. How we travel
Getting around doesn’t have to entail printing out page after page from Mapquest anymore. Smartphones have caused a massive shift in how people get around, whether by walking to a nearby store or driving directions for a cross-country road trip. No matter where you’re going, having a smartphone guarantees you will get to your destination on time.
4. How we stay entertained
For many people, smartphones are the primary form of entertainment. As smartphone technology has seen numerous advancements, so has the way we consume media. Smartphones have opened up new possibilities for how we enjoy entertainment, such as how we watch movies and television and what games we play in our free time.
People can use smartphones for virtually any type of entertainment. With smartphones, listening to music, accessing streaming apps, and even reading your favourite books are more accessible than ever.
Looking Ahead to the Future of Smartphones
Now that we’ve seen how many milestones technology has reached since the dawn of the smartphone, it’s time to ask: what will the newest smartphone trends be over the next 20 or so years? What do our phones of the future look like compared to what we have now?
The future of the phone will likely involve various changes to make the creation and consumption of smartphone technology eco-friendly and accessible. To fully understand the future of phones, we’ve listed some of the most significant changes expected in smartphone technology within the next 20 years.
Modular Phones
One significant technological advancement expected in the future of our phones is making our devices modular. Modular phones will simplify the process of morphing and upgrading our technology to make it accessible to the masses with additions like improved cameras and new sensors.
While previous efforts to go modular have seen minimal success, modular smartphones might start to come back as people adapt more to smartphone technology. As the industry continues evolving, so do the features we expect from our smartphones. Many consumers want unique and customizable smartphones in ways never seen before—and, with the right combination of features, this may be possible.
Foldable Phones
Despite how helpful smartphones can be for navigating our daily lives, many people are familiar with the frustration of trying—and failing—to fit your phone somewhere safe. Whether it’s too big for your pocket or slipping out of your bag, no one wants to struggle with a bigger phone than they can handle.
Foldable phones might be a massive development seen in future phones, and foldables are a promising development we will potentially see within the next 20 years. Foldable phones are perfect for adjusting our devices to shift into the size that we need for whatever we’re doing.
The few foldables on the market promise innovations in the future of the phone. However, manufacturers are still figuring out how to produce foldable phones at a lower cost and with suitable materials to prove to consumers why the foldable phone is better.
Smart Glasses
How cool would it be if the future of phones became even more accessible than modern smartphones? With innovative smartphone technology rising, there is a good chance that we’ll see developments in the next 10-20 years where smart eyeglasses more or less replace our smartphones.
Companies are already working on making our phones of the future accessible through software that allows users to relegate their smartphones to their pockets and see the world through smart glasses. In a few years, we may be consuming media, receiving notifications, and streaming content through lenses that give us everything our smartphones do now.
Ambient Computing
One of the most daunting—and slightly terrifying—possible developments in our smartphones over the next 10-20 years is the possibility of ambient computing, where our phones are not something relegated to our pockets but items that surround our lives. Everywhere in our home and environment might connect with smartphone technology, with smart devices all around us.
Even public places would change with ambient computing, whether this is at our local bus stop, cars, streetlights, or even the trash cans on the street. Everything around us will be simple and streamlined, taking away the pesky tasks that some people find tedious with their smartphones.
Eco-Friendly Devices
Who’s to say that phones can’t be eco-friendly and environmentally conscious? Many providers are taking this direction as they look forward to future technological innovations. Whether this includes smartphones made from refurbished parts or stored in recyclable packaging materials, smartphones will continue to adapt to new eco-friendly requirements.
Providers like Circles.Life partners with OzMobiles to help customers find access to refurbished, eco-friendly phones. When you buy refurbished devices, you help reduce the amount of e-waste in our environment, making the world a little better with every purchase.
Wearables
We have our phones on us at virtually all times, so why not make our lives simpler by creating a phone that we can wear? While smart glasses are a current goal of many technology companies, the future of phones might entail even more wearable options.
Many phone companies are looking at wearable options, including phones wrapped around our wrists or even on our belt clips. Smartphones will continue adapting to what people need from their phones to make using your smart devices flexible in a way never seen before.
Moving Forward
As we move into the future of phones, we will likely see various advancements in smartphone technology–perhaps even some changes that no one has predicted. The long-term future of mobile technology might be wearable and integrated into our daily lives to make everything we do accessible and efficient.
In the short term, smartphones will become increasingly intertwined with social media. Expect the near future of smartphones to prioritise 5G-enabled technology with sophisticated apps to manage our lives, down to our finances. Think about the amount of time spent on your smartphone. Now, imagine how our lives will depend on phones in the future.
Embracing our future phones starts with seeking high-tech solutions and systems that show how technology will help us grow. Telco companies like Circles.Life have all the materials you need to start adapting to the future of technology today.
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Published Date 2022-11-01
Written by Circles.Life
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Acknowledgement of Country | Circles.Life acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this land where we work and live. We celebrate stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
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