A few years ago, I had a long email discussion with an American Guru
about the use of hand-held computers in stores such as you see
everywhere, and my take was that they would be simply a browser with
scanners and such like attached. The idea was that application
developers of the future would just have to be web developers. Telxon
had a DOS OS +Browser being introduced at that time as well as a Java
based tablet (that went nowhere).
I am not sure that it has completely happened, but I would be interested
to hear. Of course Android Apps are the other direction from that, and
in 2001 I was employed for about 2 weeks in Brussels by a company
writing bespoke apps for their hand-held device. I didn't like Brussels
or the company really.
Peter
On 08/07/15 13:40, Natalie Hooper wrote:
I've just remembered, we also discussed where computing in general, and
smartphones in particular, was heading to in the next 5 years, and I
explained my vision for a truly portable system (nothing like trying to
carry a laptop while pregnant to realise they're not that portable!):
1. A small headless computer that fits in a pocket. Attempts have been made
already eg http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33008346 Of course, it
should have bluetooth, so you can connect a bluetooth keyboard for example.
2. A foldable touch screen. My take is that as you can fold paper only 7
times, perhaps folding 3 times is achievable for a screen, so you could
fold a 10" screen (doesn't fit in pocket) into a 4" or 5" (fits in pocket).
Again, I believe all manufacturers are working on foldable or rollable
screens - nothing ready to be commercialized but my guess is first ones
should appear in a couple of years, and by 5 years, they will be
ubiquitous. Yes, I'm aware that battery will be an issue (how will it fit
into the foldable design?).
3. Locations with screens available for users to connect to, perhaps via a
subscription fee. Eg coffee shops, libraries, bookshops, train stations etc
Once the technology is there, I think this will follow, in the same manner
that wifi hotspots are now fairly easy to find.
I may be totally wrong but this is my take anyway ;-)
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