Augmented reality is a newer technology that has only recently made its debut in the world of smartphones. It can be used in a few downloadable applications for some of today’s latest phones. Over the next couple of years, reality will be thoroughly developed and thus become an expedient function for its users. It is predicted that by 2020, augmented reality will become a rudimentary component of all smartphones (Bonsor, 2001). Augmented reality will not be an additionally downloaded application – instead, it will already be a basic function of the smartphone’s software. And, with its continual development and increasing familiarity to users, it will eventually replace the need for popular apps and websites of today – such as Urbanspoon, Yelp, GPS, Siri, et cetera. Augmented reality provides users with a virtual reality in which the view of their surroundings can be enhanced and accompanied by things like informative graphics and overlapping audio. Specific examples of augmented reality include facts about historical landmarks, information regarding traffic, wireless internet and washroom access, restaurant reviews, et cetera.
By 2025 our smartphones will have transparent screens and will look like:
Parts of the phone:
- Two pieces of glass are coated with a conductive material like indium tin oxide (ITO) [which makes it a conductive glass]; afterwards a gel of polarize molecules is applied between them. When an electric field is goes through the gel, the liquid crystal changes its alignment and becomes transparent.
- The glass pieces will be OLED liquid-based liquid (just like the polytron phone) which would make it possible for the phone to bend a bit.
- Taking pictures with this phone and augmented reality (the screen can be used for magnifying small objects, translator, and playing real life first person shooter games) applications will work really nicely with the phone. The videos 2025 "THE FUTURE OF ICT" (2013) and "Generation IP: 2025 (interactive)" (2012) shows how the users of smartphones from 2025 experience augmented reality
- The top conductive glass will be a “transparent solar panel” which can help power/ charge the phone. (The solar cell will need a "transparent level upwards of 80 to 90%" (Anthony, 2013), for this to happen)
- Small components like speakers, batteries (Transparent Lithium ion batteries, PDSM) will be transparent.
- The speakers, batteries, and circuit motherboard (which will have the processors, chip sets, and wires) used for memory control and various features will be really small (the part would not be able easily viewed by the human eye), and be placed under the covers; to make the phone "fully transparent".
- Screen Size: 3.7-inch to 4.3-inch display as stated by Ginny Miles in "Smartphones of the Future: How They Will Look, What They Will Do".
- Overall size: (varying from screen sizes) 4-6 inches as stated by Santanu Mukherjee in "Wearables to replace smartphones by 2025".
Here is the video review of the first prototype of the phone made by the Polytron Technologies in year 2008
Other types of devices that might interest you:
Not a fan of 4.3 almost transparent box to be your phone? Do not worry, since the year 2025 will have smart wearables (Fig 1) for buyers, which will perform basic features of a regular phone (call, text, MP3 player, camera, internet, and organizer etc); they will also be able to perform unique functions like "keys to door, a public transportation card, thermostat controller, home security system controller, etc" (Wang 2014) . These high tech wearables will come in the shape of watches, glasses, wrist bands, "smart fabrics, patches, jewelry, and other items that can be easily worn" (Wang 2014). Also the electronic components (processors, batteries, speakers, sensors, chips, wiring) of these materials will be smaller as compared to the electrical component of present smart phones and tables (aka Nanotechnology is the future).
If by year 2025, these devices can be charged by using solar energy in addition to electrical energy, as explained in the functions portion of this website; it is possible that these devices might replace smartphones by that year.
While we will have wearables in forms of everyday devices; JP Rangaswami, the chief scientist for salesforce.com has predicted that we will have wearable devices that "will become embedded more and more in our bodies, more like implants" (Anderson, Rennie 2014). This will expand our "ability to use nerve impulses to engage with information" (Anderson, Rennie 2014), and also help us see "connected devices become smaller and smaller and slowly merge into the part of the body from where the particular sense related to that device operates" (Anderson, Rennie 2014).
If by year 2025, these devices can be charged by using solar energy in addition to electrical energy, as explained in the functions portion of this website; it is possible that these devices might replace smartphones by that year.
While we will have wearables in forms of everyday devices; JP Rangaswami, the chief scientist for salesforce.com has predicted that we will have wearable devices that "will become embedded more and more in our bodies, more like implants" (Anderson, Rennie 2014). This will expand our "ability to use nerve impulses to engage with information" (Anderson, Rennie 2014), and also help us see "connected devices become smaller and smaller and slowly merge into the part of the body from where the particular sense related to that device operates" (Anderson, Rennie 2014).
Below is the video of how an employee of ICT (in the year 2025) uses his smart wearable devices; please note the way he uses his smart bracelet (also take a look at how it looks, are the electronic components visible or not?).
References
Anderson, J., & Rainie, L. (2014). The Internet of Things Will Thrive by 2025. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved 21 November 2014, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/05/14/internet-of-things/
Anthony, S. (2011). Transparent lithium-ion batteries make sci-fi gadgets a reality. Extreme Tech. Retrieved from http://www.extremetech.com/computing/90964-transparent-lithium-ion-batteries-make-sci-fi-gadgets-a-reality
Anthony, S. (2013). MIT startup makes transparent solar panel that will allow your smartphone to power itself. Extreme Tech. Retrieved from http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/149163-mit-startup-makes-transparent-solar-cells-that-will-allow-your-smartphone-to-power-itself
Future Technology,. (2014). A Day In 2025 A look at the future technology. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Indy_VdBv5g
Hewitt, J. (2013). How do you make a transparent smartphone?. Extreme Tech. Retrieved from http://www.extremetech.com/computing/148542-how-do-you-make-a-transparent-smartphone
Miles, G. (2011). Smartphones of the Future: How They Will Look, What They Will Do. Tech Hive. Retrieved from http://www.techhive.com/article/237610/smartphones_of_the_future_how_they_will_look_what_they_will_do.html
Mobilegeeks.de,. (2013). Transparent Smartphone Prototype by Polytron Hands On Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkhWXspmiYE
Mukherjee, S. (2014). Wearables to replace smartphones by 2025. Techmagnifier. Retrieved from http://www.techmagnifier.com/opinion/wearables-replace-smartphones-2025/
NTTç ”ç©¶æ‰€ã€ŒæŠ€ã€ãƒãƒ£ãƒ³ãƒãƒ«,. (2014). 2025 The Future of ICT. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpJ36KzHJG4
Virgin Media Business,. (2012). Generation IP: 2025 (interactive). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY7_S66BUIs
Wang, H. (2014). Future Innovations in Digital Health: A Look at 2025. Parks Perspectives. Retrieved 21 November 2014, from http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/future-innovations-in-digital-health-2025
Anthony, S. (2011). Transparent lithium-ion batteries make sci-fi gadgets a reality. Extreme Tech. Retrieved from http://www.extremetech.com/computing/90964-transparent-lithium-ion-batteries-make-sci-fi-gadgets-a-reality
Anthony, S. (2013). MIT startup makes transparent solar panel that will allow your smartphone to power itself. Extreme Tech. Retrieved from http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/149163-mit-startup-makes-transparent-solar-cells-that-will-allow-your-smartphone-to-power-itself
Future Technology,. (2014). A Day In 2025 A look at the future technology. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Indy_VdBv5g
Hewitt, J. (2013). How do you make a transparent smartphone?. Extreme Tech. Retrieved from http://www.extremetech.com/computing/148542-how-do-you-make-a-transparent-smartphone
Miles, G. (2011). Smartphones of the Future: How They Will Look, What They Will Do. Tech Hive. Retrieved from http://www.techhive.com/article/237610/smartphones_of_the_future_how_they_will_look_what_they_will_do.html
Mobilegeeks.de,. (2013). Transparent Smartphone Prototype by Polytron Hands On Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkhWXspmiYE
Mukherjee, S. (2014). Wearables to replace smartphones by 2025. Techmagnifier. Retrieved from http://www.techmagnifier.com/opinion/wearables-replace-smartphones-2025/
NTTç ”ç©¶æ‰€ã€ŒæŠ€ã€ãƒãƒ£ãƒ³ãƒãƒ«,. (2014). 2025 The Future of ICT. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpJ36KzHJG4
Virgin Media Business,. (2012). Generation IP: 2025 (interactive). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY7_S66BUIs
Wang, H. (2014). Future Innovations in Digital Health: A Look at 2025. Parks Perspectives. Retrieved 21 November 2014, from http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/future-innovations-in-digital-health-2025