Implications of the user interfaces of tomorrow: A thought piece
As traditional GUIs are superseded by brain-computer, AR and AI chat interfaces, how we live and work will significantly change, revealing both promises and pitfalls.
The landscape of human-technology interaction stands on the brink of transformation. Despite current voice technology barely providing useful weather updates, bulky nausea-inducing VR/AR headsets and nascent brain-computer interfaces, the horizon promises a departure from conventional graphical user interfaces. Recent strides, made for instance by Apple’s Vision Pro, Neuralink’s brain chips and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, point to a significant shift in how we engage with technology and pave the way for a future where our interactions are more intuitive and efficient.
Traditional devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets rely heavily on graphical user interfaces (GUIs), necessitating physical manipulation and often impeding multitasking. Being tethered to a traditional setup of screen, mouse and keyboard is not only a poor user experience in itself but it’s also inefficient.
From an experience perspective, imagine how the next wave of technology could transform what your day looks like: rather than being seated at a desk, you’re out for a stroll with your dog, able to seamlessly shape and conduct presentations while on the go. Through integrated AR technology, you would effortlessly engage with colleagues, review slides and make changes with intuitive gestures, all while embracing the mobility and freedom of being on the move. Sure this shift is already somewhat underway as society embraces hybrid work models, leaving behind the static, dedicated office space, but we’ll no doubt see this trend amplified. Without needing a phone or laptop perhaps you’ll be facilitating a meeting while skiing in Italy or surfing in Indonesia. Not only will we we better be able to multitask, performing our jobs at the same time as other activities, we’ll be just as efficient as if we were behind a desk.
How you use spaces within your own house could drastically change too. With greater flexibility to work from anywhere, your additional home workspace may become unnecessary. Instead of searching for a 3 bedroom property, a 2 bedroom may suffice. Not only would this change your lifestyle, increase your choice of properties and potentially lower your financial hurdle to buy, it would also significantly impact the property market at large. It could help to increase supply of suitable properties, lowering overall property prices.
From an efficiency perspective, new UIs will better enable us to keep up with machines. Our advancements in AI mean that programs can swiftly interpret, respond and transmit information across the globe in milliseconds. Meanwhile, our own communication methods remain slow, from the time-consuming process of crafting emails to engaging in lengthy discussions to reach consensus. Voice and Brain-computer interfaces hold promise of helping us to bridge the gap, enabling communication at significantly faster speeds. Whether it’s controlling home appliances or digitally sharing information with each other, these technologies offer potential for unparalleled efficiency.
Some recent advancements in this realm include Neuralink’s brain implants and Apple’s Vision Pro. Consider Noland Arbaugh, who was paralyzed from the neck down following a diving accident eight years ago, yet at the beginning of this year, he became the first recipient of a Neuralink cybernetic implant. In the 5 months following his surgery, he’s achieved the remarkable feat of playing Mario Kart with his mind. Not to mention, only months prior to the Neuralink announcement, Apple launched the Vision Pro, reimagining a reality without dependency on physical GUI’s. .. it as “a spatial computer that blends digital content and apps into your physical space, and lets you navigate using your eyes, hands, and voice”. As these new UIs become more embedded in our lives, they enable unprecedented efficiency, allowing us to complete tasks in seconds rather than hours.
Yet, while the ability to move things with our mind, or with a mere gesture, may be the closest our modern society comes to magic, it will be important to remember what makes us human. The genuine connections we build when we’re face-to-face, an appreciation of nature, our privacy and ability to disconnect may be put at risk if we over-index on embedding technology into all aspects of life. Already we’re glued to our devices and as technology becomes more wearable and even surgically implanted, we’ll need to do our best to find balance, to switch off and to be present so that we can continue to form meaningful social connections and soak in our surroundings.
With the shift away from traditional GUIs, the job market will also inevitably undergo a transformation. Roles in UX and UI design will increasingly emphasise AI, Voice and gesture-based interactions, while demand for Developers and Product Managers proficient in these domains will also increase. Already, we’re seeing how AI is transforming the workplace. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2025 85 million jobs will be displaced yet 97 million new jobs will be created across 26 countries due to AI. While AI seems to be drastically changing the job market, other technologies to come will cause similar disruption. We must continue to learn and retrain accordingly more than ever before. Amidst these changes, it will also be important the focus remains on solving real-world problems for people and businesses, with interfaces serving as a conduit to solving the solution rather than the focal point.
Whether you’re excited or concerned by the technological changes on the horizon, my view is that this progress cannot be stopped. A collective upskilling is required in order to keep up with technological advancements or risk falling behind. The key is to progress in a considered way so that the innovations to come not only pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and intuitive future, but also one where people’s lives continue to improve with it.
