SEMINAR
[Link] Buttons
Years ago it was the norm that most phones had physical keyboards and any
mobile device without one seemed “out of touch.” But currently the opposite is
true, and most people think that tactile keyboards look old-fashioned. Well, that’s
all set to change again thanks to Tactus Technology and their development of a
keyboard that looks like it came from some sort of advanced alien civilization.
The keyboard uses special microfluidics technology which drives small amounts of
liquid into invisible pockets that rest over the typing pad on a smartphone. When
the user brings up the touchscreen keyboard, the pockets instantly fill with liquid
which has the effect of physically raising the buttons. The technology has already
been incorporated into a new Phorm case for the iPad Mini, but it wouldn’t be too
much of a stretch to see it directly built in to future smartphones and tablets.
[Link] SIM Cards
Although manufacturers have made efforts to reduce the size of SIM cards, they
still feel very much like a leftover relic of the ’90s. Thankfully, Apple and
Samsung are making strides to rid the world of the physical presence of SIM cards
by replacing them with an electronic version.
By having a programmable SIM integrated into your phone, you’ll essentially be
able to switch between network providers at the drop of a hat without having to
request a new SIM card. Which should come in quite handy for anyone travelling
or living abroad who wants to get set up with a local number. It’s said that the
technology could be available in new smartphones as early as next year.
[Link]-Sensitive Screens
The Force Touch on the Apple Watch has demonstrated that companies already
have the ability to manufacture screens that are capable of sensing pressure.
Controls that can distinguish between a light tap from a firm press will give users
even more ways to manipulate their phones and has obvious benefits for the
gaming community.
In addition to Apple, Samsung has filed a patent for something called “Touch
Display Apparatus Sensing Force,” which clearly uses the same technology, and in
July 2015, Chinese manufacturer ZTE revealed the ZTE Axon Mini which also
features a pressure-sensitive touch screen.
[Link]-Tech Batteries
In 2015, at the Mobile World Congress event, Israeli tech company StoreDot
revealed a customized Samsung Galaxy S5 with a nano technology-utilizing
battery that could charge from 0 to 100 percent in less than a minute.
The technology evolved out of research being conducted in the treatment of
Alzheimer’s disease. Through their study, scientists learned that peptide molecules,
which are responsible for the disease, have an incredibly high capacitance—
making them excellent little electrical storage units. The only catch is that, in its
current state of development, the StoreDot battery only lasts about two-thirds of
the time of a conventional lithium-ion smartphone battery. However, it shouldn’t
take too long for the company to improve the technology. StoreDot has already
received substantial investments from Samsung, and is in discussions with
manufacturers about integrating its battery into future smartphones.
[Link]
Since its development for practical application in 2004, graphene has been praised
as “wonder material” by nearly everyone in the electronics industry. It’s thin,
lightweight, flexible, transparent and over 200 times stronger than steel. It’s also
one of the best materials for conducting electricity, which makes it ideal for use in
electronic devices.
Incorporating graphene into smartphones could allow for designs to be ultra-thin,
transparent, flexible and virtually indestructible. Recently, there have been a few
breakthroughs by phone manufacturers who have been playing around with
graphene. Most notably, Samsung’s Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT)
produced graphene in a way that allowed it to retain its outstanding electrical
qualities—a problem that had proved to be a serious challenge up to that point.
This development should make flexible, transparent smartphone displays
commercially viable within the next couple of years.
[Link] Medical Apps
Recently, scientists developed an app called Athelas which makes use of a lens
attachment to track malaria and cancerous cells as they move through a patient’s
blood. This innovation has prompted scientists to look for other ways that
smartphones could be used to track highly infectious diseases, such as Ebola, to
gain a better understanding of how they move and spread.
Using an inexpensive phone add-on called PCR that’s able to tag and track
pathogens in the blood, diseases should be able to be diagnosed within hours or
even minutes. The data gathered would then be automatically uploaded from the
phone to an online database where other scientists can analyze it.
When you combine this emerging technology with other existing applications that
are able to track things like blood-pressure and heart rate, it’s easy to see how
smartphones could soon bring about a revolution in medical care.
[Link] Displays
One possible feature that may come to smartphones in the near future is the
integration of holographic displays and accessories. This technology would allow
users to view and interact with 3D holographic images, opening up new
possibilities for gaming, education and entertainment that could potentially be used
for virtual reality and augmented reality applications.
[Link] displays
Yet another feature concerning displays. Flexible display technology has already
arrived in foldable phones, but even more elastic screens could emerge in the
future. Companies like LG are developing displays that can be pulled and stretched
to expand screen dimensions on the fly.
Using an innovative silicon substrate and micro LEDs, these ultra-flexible
prototype displays can be elongated in any direction up to 20% while maintaining
full RGB color and resolution. This “rubber band-like” consistency allows the
screen to comfortably stretch and snap back without damage.
For mobile devices, this could enable smartphone screens to physically expand
diagonally when more viewing area is needed. A user could simply pull the corners
to temporarily enlarge a 6-inch screen to 7 or 8 inches when watching videos or
gaming. With flexible components, the entire phone could stretch to transform into
a small tablet shape. Apps and UI elements could even adapt and rearrange
themselves dynamically when stretched.
[Link] instead of SIM cards
The era of physical SIM cards may be ending as integrated eSIM technology
replaces removable plastic chips. This transition, already underway at Apple and
Samsung, promises more flexibility for consumers to switch networks on demand.
Users could select service providers instantly based on location, deals, or needs
without visiting stores for new SIM cards.
This technology also enables sleeker device designs freed from SIM trays and
slots. Streamlined manufacturing without SIM components reduces costs as well.
While this technology has obstacles to overcome, the benefits of instant network
switching and clutter-free designs will likely drive adoption. The familiar SIM
card, a fixture of mobile life for decades, approaches its inevitable obsolescence.
10.6G technology
5G brought blazing-fast speeds and low latency, but 6G promises to take
connectivity even further. While the 5G rollout continues globally, 6G research is
already underway to outline the next major network leap.
Early 6G development indicates speeds up to 1,000 times faster than 5G, with
near-zero latency enabling real-time immersive applications. Expanded bandwidth
and capacity will link more devices simultaneously, from industrial IoT networks
to self-driving cars.
New radio frequencies like Terahertz waves are being explored to transmit huge
amounts of data faster while increasing penetration of remote areas. AI and ML
will optimize 6G performance, tailoring connectivity via intelligent analysis.
Though launching commercially around 2030, 6G poses immense technical
hurdles. New chipsets, antennas, infrastructure, and architectures require pioneers
like Samsung, Nokia, and leading universities worldwide to lay the groundwork
now.
For consumers, 6G may realize sci-fi concepts like hologram calls and digital
twins. But crucially, it will also amplify 5G capabilities to empower innovative
mobile experiences. While 6G’s arrival remains distant, advancing wireless
generations will continue connecting smartphones and society in new ways.
