Beyond Smartphones
The launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 has highlighted the latest advance in smartphone technology, with impressive computing power and a new near bezel-less display this smartphone joins the list of devices which are already hinting at what is only just on the horizon.
There are two incoming types of devices which are likely to take the place of smartphones and traditional computing devices. These include Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality devices (AR). Each is already in the hands of small groups of early adopters and developers, who are working hard to test and develop all sorts of new applications which will reshape our lives in numerous ways.
Virtual Reality has been the stuff of legend for years now and only recently has become consumer friendly in terms of price. This involves the user donning a headset which completely immerses the vision, often hearing and even now touch. Users are transported to 3D computer generated worlds or even 360-degree prerecorded footage from various media sources such as YouTube. There are numerous headsets available for mobile devices today such as the lower end Samsung Galaxy VR to the high-end Oculus Rift, now owned by Facebook.
VR is proving itself popular within the realm of gaming, with the PlayStation VR proving exceptionally popular given the lack of content available for the headset. Resident Evil 7, the first triple A title saw 87,000 users or nearly 10% of the user base use play the game in VR. Much higher than anyone in the industry had anticipated, this seems to demonstrate that gamers are at least keen to try the technology. This seems unsurprising given how games are constantly trying to create an ever more immersive experience, with VR being the ultimate way to take that experience to 11. Clearly, the ultra-violent and scary nature of the game was not enough to put gamers off, maybe it actually assisted?
Augmented Reality devices on the other hand layer over and also can immerse users in virtual worlds. This presents all sorts of computing challenges in having content interact with the real world environment and as a result, we are only seeing a small number of developer kits in the wild. Magic Leap an organisation acquired by Google following its Glass experiment has results posted online, but many are sceptical as to the actual level of accuracy the videos portray the technology as it stands today. Microsoft has the more tangible Hololens which is available to the tune of $3000, but there are already communities and early adopters creating fun experiments, from games to new ways of meeting your friends through holodeck style communication.
Developers are currently experimenting with numerous potential use cases for the device. These range from virtual multi-monitor displays to playing AR versions of games such as Pokemon Go or Portal. Needless to say, as with any technology, it will not be the hardware developers that decide the best reasons to purchase these devices but more likely the indie software developers.
The technology was a prominent selling feature of the controversial F-35 fighter jet. Those sitting in the pilot’s seat can dawn a powerful AR helmet which not only gives heads up display information about the various onboard systems but also allows them to look 360 degrees beyond the jet, effectively as though they were piloting Wonder Woman’s famous invisible jet.
Of course, the technology will continue to remain on the fringe until the hardware developers can create a solution that is not only but powerful and useful, but also slicker. Google, are in the process of releasing numerous devices which boast an array of powerful AR features under it’s ‘Project Tango’ programme. Tango-enabled smartphones include some neat little AR applications, some which are fun including a pet dinosaur and some that are more useful such as the ability to measure objects with very high accuracy, simply by pointing the phone at the points you wish to measure between. These are likely just a way of putting ideas in the heads of developers and businesses who will adopt the technology over time.
It is also currently rumoured that Apple is working on a device which it sees as the next big platform for the company, but will it be Apple that breaks AR into the mainstream, beyond what we are seeing already on our smartphones? Only time will tell.
Of course, we have only examined a few of the use cases for these technologies, without even touching on healthcare, psychology, building relationships and learning. Whenever these devices really hit the mainstream and if they take off successfully, they are sure to peak the curiosity of many more developers who will likely find new solutions which will help improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
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