Since the 20th century, man has dreamed about flying cars, holograms, robots, and artificial intelligence allowing everyone’s mind to run wild with how the future will look. It is hard to fathom that today’s technology has only been around for about twenty five years, and that smartphones, as we know them, have only been around since 2003! Many people are now looking forward to what new innovations will lead us into the 2020s and what the phones of tomorrow will be like. Many people, like Dr. Kevin Curan, a senior member of the IEEE, believe that “the smartphone has indeed reached its final form factor,” and that no major innovations will occur. However, there are still some key features that users long for such as unlimited battery life, flexible screens, and hologram projections. After expensive research, we have found 8 Ways Android Will Change by 2020.
1) Indoor GPS Navigation
How many times have you found yourself in an unfamiliar place like an airport, hotel, or shopping mall and had to find something as simple as a restroom or a place to eat? However there are no maps around you and you have no idea where to find what you need. This feature is not too far away, the InLocation Alliance has been working on this functionality for some time now. Leading software developers believe that this functionality will be available as soon as 2018 and will exceed our wildest imagination. Indoor GPS will be able to navigate you through complex forests, along mountain trails, rafting/ kayaking trails, and bike trails.
2) Truly Waterproof Phones (Without the Need for a Case)
With the release of the S7, the first waterproof consumer phone, many scholars in the tech field believe that waterproof phones will become a necessity for phone manufacturers to maintain an edge in the field. Waterproofing will be as normal as a phone camera, as well as phones that are shock proof and relatively shatterproof.
3) 5G Networks
According to an International Telecommunications Union report, connection speeds attained by LTE Advanced (which is likely to debut by 2018, and has been unveiled by Samsung in a beta, imperfect form) will be as simple as to connecting a fiber-optic cable to your smartphone. 5G will be able to produce speeds 100 times faster than 3G while using far less bandwidth. As a result, downloading or streaming an HD video or other massive file to a smartphone will be as fast and seamless as performing the same processes on your Ethernet-connected desktop PC.
4) Longer Battery Life
A longer battery life seems to be at the top of everyone’s list for advancements in smartphone technology come 2020. There are phones on the market that have reasonably long battery lives like the Droid Turbo and the iPhone 6S (when paired with an external battery case). “On average, we only see improvements in capacity of six per cent per annum. So by 2020 we can only really expect a 25 per cent improvement in battery life,” remarked Dr. Curan when asked about the future of smartphone battery life. However, this 25% increase may be sucked up by faster phone processors (like the rumored 32 core processor), NFC capabilities, and advanced censors.
5) Advanced Censors
In 2020, smartphone censors are getting a major facelift. They will have functionality such as the ability to “[detect] heat loss around windows and doors, spot moisture and missing insulation, identifying over-heating electrical appliances and circuitry, and seeing in complete darkness” Remarked Dr. Curan. In addition to these features, camera phone censors will be able to capture images in extreme low light conditions such as complete darkness as well as be able to capture -nearly- 360 degree images and video.
6) Biometrics
Not only will you be able to unlock your phone the old fashioned way of using finger print scanners, you will be able to do so with iris scans of your eyeball, by walking 15 feet with your phone, and through advanced facial recognition technology. The smartphone will be able to know who you are as a user. The phone will know what your keystrokes are like, be able to identify your distinct walk, and will even be able to recognize the sound of your voice! Meaning: it will be close to impossible for anyone to get into your phone besides you.
Also, increased research on biometrics can lead to advances in medical technology for smartphones for devices like FitBit. Your heart rate, blood sugar, blood pressure, respitory rate, and even your body temperature will all be able to be monitored by only your phone’s camera!
7) All-In-One Messaging
Do you ever wish that your text messages, e-mails, social network messages, video chats, and voicemails could all go into the same inbox AND to be accessible on your Computer, Tablet, and Smartphone? In 2020, that will be the norm. Companies such as Facebook and Google (through Google Hangouts) are already making strides to link these messaging systems into one convenient place so that you never miss a message again. In June 2016, Facebook introduced its latest functionality through its Messenger application that allows SMS messages along with Facebook Messages to be sent and received in the same place.
Google Hangouts is also working hard to make their application the first, true, one stop shop for messaging. They recently integrated Gmail, Hangouts Messaging, Video Chatting, and their version of SMS messaging into the program with their newest update from the beginning of August. They are still working on gaining the ability to include messaging from social networks other then Google Plus.
8) Advanced NFC Capabilities
Are you constantly forgetting your keys? Your cellphone, might become the solution you have been dreaming of. By advancing research on NFC (Near Field Communication) processes, somewhere within the 2020s, we will be able to use our phones to lock and unlock doors, start/ drive/ open/ close cars, pay for goods, automatically pair with Bluetooth enabled devices, and control electronics such as radios or televisions. We already have basic NFC functions such as the ability to transfer contact information, music, and small files (with certain phone models) as well as pay for goods, but not on as mass a scale as is expected for the mid 2020s.
As for YardTrac in the 2020s, the sky is the limit! Yard Management could be brought into the Warehouse and into Yards in never before seen ways by giving detailed GPS instructions on your current location and how to get to the precise location of your goods. Our hardware will become stronger, with longer battery lives, and with advancements in NFC processes and biometrics, it will make yard the most secure it can ever be at any point in history.
If you are still having trouble deciding if Exotrac is the right YMS system for you, download our latest case study by clicking here. Want to book a demo with us? Call us at 212.989.0171, or click the link below to send us your information at info@exotrac.com.
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