The Mobile Phones of the Future are Already Among Us

smartphones have become inseparable companions of our days, our most trusted allies for communication, travelling and shopping online.

16:28 29 November 2021

Since 2007, when Steve Jobs and Apple introduced the first iPhone to the world, smartphones have become inseparable companions of our days, our most trusted allies for communication, travelling and shopping online, but also for work and play. When we wake up, almost unconsciously our hand reaches sideways for our phone, to check the time, to turn off the alarm or to look at the latest notifications. Shortly afterwards, when we are busy eating a leisurely breakfast at home, before heading off to work, we use our phones to read the latest news, or to check the latest posts on our favourite social networks. To go to work, many of us use our smartphone as a navigator, and in the office it is the undisputed star of every single activity: quick searches, phone calls or work calls. In short, the mobile phone has become a real extension of our body, as if it were an additional and indispensable organ for our survival. 

 

Science fiction technology? 

This technology is destined to evolve very rapidly, reaching goals that only a few years ago would have seemed impossible, or at least science fiction. One of the most astonishing technological developments in the field of mobile telephony once again bears the signature of Apple: the brand new iPhone 13 is equipped with the Qualcomm X65 chip, which will enable mobile phones to connect to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, using the signal from objects orbiting the planet to make calls and surf the Internet. This technological advancement will contribute enormously to enhancing the functionality of any device, making it reachable anywhere on the planet. The satellite signal will only be intercepted when the Starlink satellites are fully deployed in the Earth's sky in a few months' time. With a bit of luck, the best fruits of the new technology will be harvested during the spring or summer of 2022. 

 

Another possible breakthrough in mobile telephony concerns flexible smartphones: these are devices that can flex more or less considerably, making them much more manageable in the hands of their users. Some models with a flexible screen are already on the market, but this technology is set to be enriched with new, very interesting details. The first prototypes of devices capable of folding entirely, forming a sort of U with the main body of the mobile phone, are already being developed, and may soon see the light of day. Early results suggest that these super-foldable mobile phones could be on the market in the not too distant future. With a flexible smartphone, people will be able to slip it comfortably into their trouser pockets (including back pockets), without the risk of altering its structure or subjecting it to excessive pressure. In this sense, the mobile phone would acquire the ability to adapt to the human body, integrating even more deeply into our daily lives. But this peculiar integration could be even greater, especially if these foldable devices could be used as accessories, perhaps to be wrapped around the wrist or neck.

 

Holograms to interact with

One of the most eagerly awaited technological advances is undoubtedly holographic technology, which would allow users to interact with a three-dimensional image projected from the device's screen. Just as happened in some sci-fi films like Star Wars or Minority Report, and in other cinematic efforts of the same genre (almost all of them dystopian). Before transplanting holographic technology into a mobile device, a way will have to be found to project holograms from a single source (now three are needed) and to interact with the image, without going through external devices. 

 

The technological advances of smartphones are also closely affecting companies and digital service providers, who are increasingly moving towards a mobile-first offering. One example of this is online casino and slots platform, which for some time now has been making it possible to play the most popular games via your smartphone, from anywhere, with ultra-modern graphics, offering a wide range of games (including free games) perfectly optimised for all mobile phones, iPhone or Android, and also for tablets. With your own device, the gaming experience takes on a value and convenience unknown to those who have never experienced it. 

 

Regardless of future developments, the mobile phone is already an integral part of our lives, at home and at work. Future developments could make it increasingly capable of sensing people's concrete needs and even of anticipating their behaviour.