The pervasiveness of smartphone use is apparent in some of the more shocking statistics to come out about users and their habits. To start, there is a new term that has been coined for people who can’t seem to live without their phones. It called nomophobia. It’s the fear of not having your phone on your person or with you. While this might seem outrageous, the current stats reveal that about 66% of the global population displays signs of nomophobia. Almost 75% of Americans bring their phones to the bathroom with them, and almost 71% usually next to or with their cellphone. There is definitely an addiction associated with smartphone use, as 20% of the people surveyed for one study indicated they would rather go without shoes for an entire week than to have to put their phone down for a week.
Changes Through Time
The original cell phones that were introduced to the public were nothing like the current phones the world is so crazy about today. Prior models were clunky, had unreliable signals, and very short battery life. Since that time, mobile phones have gone through some impressive changes and are now tailored to the individual user through apps and special features like Bluetooth. Smartphones have apps that allow a smartphone user to customize the information and options that their phones provide, and depending on the maker of your mobile device, app creators rely on things like an Android crash log analysis to continually update their services and running capacity. As programming and coding continue to development and technology breaks new ground in all industries, the future potential of smartphone apps seems almost unbelievable. Here are some of the things users might see in the coming years.
Futuristic Potential
- Mind Control. Although this seems incredibly illogical, consider the progression that has taken place with the phone keyboards. The need to physically press buttons to indicate numbers or letters has been replaced by touchscreen options. However, while still around, more phones are offering voice-controlled commands through things like Siri and Google Assistant. While you might not be able to simply think a thought and have your phone comply, there are a lot of apps that connect multiple devices through the internet of things. In a roundabout way, you can control your shopping list from your phone based on what your tech-connected refrigerator tells you. Then, you can open another app and purchase your groceries for delivery. This way the internet of things will continue to advance will be able to help individuals complete more daily tasks with less interruption.
- Virtual Reality. There are already lots of virtual reality applications being explored with video gaming and even in the medical field. The current smartphone virtual reality connections are made by inserting a smartphone into a set of VR glasses, but future applications may have the connections done through Bluetooth compatibility. Video gaming is becoming more popular for users with smartphones and cloud-hosted games, and the ability to connect more realistically will serve to help advance the gaming industry and smartphone applications.
- Wireless Charging. Smartphone battery life can be a real drag. Even with the improvements to battery types and conservation changes, the typical use of smartphones in a day can have a battery drained by the end of the afternoon. While there has been development in battery stations that allow you to lay your device across and get a boost, there is new progress looking at charging over the airways. One company, Energous, is developing a device that will allow you to lay your phone within three feet of the transmitter and will receive the charge through the air.
The dependence on smartphones doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. In fact, as apps change and become more intuitive, their use might only increase.