What features does the smartphone of the future need?

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Life streaming

Your phone will automatically record every aspect of your life through camera, microphone, and location. It will log every activity you do so that the whole of your life can be reviewed to predict your future actions.
Insurance companies and healthcare providers will then be able to predict how your life will play out, based on big data analysis of your past activities.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Geralt

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Payment by phone

Whilst payment by phone is possible today through apps such as Apple Pay, these mechanisms will become more ubiquitous. Like the Amazon store in Seattle, stores will no longer have payment registers. As you shop, updated NFC technology on your phone will recognise that the item has been placed in a bag that you are holding.
The chip on the item will register that it has been removed from the shop and your account will be debited. Shoplifting will become a thing of the past, as items will alert the store that the person is not carrying a phone and has no means of payment.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Jarmoluk

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Voice prints

Unlocking your phone by speaking to it will become normal as voice prints become more sophisticated. Voice assistants will perform all tasks currently performed by screen swiping and pinching, and they will become the primary way of communicating with your device.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Cstrsk

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Facial recognition

Although facial recognition technologies already exist on mobile phones, with solutions from Apple and Windows Hello, these will become widespread. Your phone will recognise you and transmit validation to your workplace -- or any secure entity that requires personal authentication.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: RyanMcGuire

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Health monitoring

Your phone will be able to monitor in real time your vital signs such as heart beat, breathing rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. It will update your medical information in the cloud in real time, advising your healthcare provider of your change in health.
Sensors will warn you if you are at risk of diabetes and will alert you to dangers if a high-sugar donut comes within your reach.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: PublicDomainPictures

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Proximity detection

Car doors will open for you and engines will switch on if your phone is with you. You can go through subway gates without getting your phone, card, or ticket out of your pocket. Your phone will automatically pay the fee.
Automatic doors will open for you -- if you are authorised to enter that space. Friends will be alerted that you are in the vicinity.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Dattolirenata

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Recognition algorithms

The phone will not only recognise your face or your voice -- it will recognise the way you naturally work by monitoring your patterns of behaviour.
If you are forced to unlock your phone in a dangerous or hostage situation, the phone will understand the change in your movements and alert relevant contacts that you need help.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Geralt

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Smart remotes

Your phone will become the central controller for your smart home. From locking the doors, to making you coffee when you wake, the phone will become the central hub of functionality.
It will change the TV channel, dim the lights, and start the washing machine for you. All you will need to do is talk to the phone.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Gadini

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Real time language translation

If you do want to use the phone for what it was originally designed for, you will be able to make calls and benefit from simultaneous language translation during the call.
Global trade will become seamless as the economy benefits from new global connections without language barriers.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: TessaKay

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Employee authentication

Your employee ID card will become redundant -- as will any ID card to validate you. If your phone is stolen, it will trigger an alert at the authentication station and will not let the person with the stolen phone enter the building.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Simeworks

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Flexible wearables

Your phone as a physical object will change form dramatically. From flexible screens to wearable projectors that project images onto your skin, the physical form factor of your phone will change from its current shape and become part of you.
Microchip implants under your skin that respond to your voice could become the next version of our communication devices.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Cicret

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Ubiquitous high speed connectivity

Forget your current patchy cell phone coverage, loss of signal, and dead zones. In order for the phone of the future to work, it will need to be able to switch between cell phone data, super fast Wi-Fi, and satellite signals in a frictionless way.
Service providers will have to get together to ensure network sharing, coverage, and speed is available worldwide -- even mid-ocean.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: Bertomic

Caption by: Eileen Brown
Biometric encryption

Like your unique DNA, your biometric data will form part of your personal cryptography signature, which ensures the security of your data.
A combination of biometric data will be needed to unlock the data stored, including touch, eyes, saliva, and other fluids such as perspiration. This unique combination of biometrics will ensure your cloud data remains secure and can be unlocked only by you.
Read also: Future mobile tech needs these features to work | Bringing voice control to the office of the future | 8 impressive Chinese smartphones you've never heard of | High tech gadgets for the home of the future

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)
Photo by: PublicDomainPictures

Caption by: Eileen Brown

2 of 13 NEXT PREV

Smartphone sales have plateaued now that everyone has a mobile device. So, what is next for mobile phone makers and service providers in the post-app, post-smartphone era?

Payment by phone

Whilst payment by phone is possible today through apps such as Apple Pay, these mechanisms will become more ubiquitous. Like the Amazon store in Seattle, stores will no longer have payment registers. As you shop, updated NFC technology on your phone will recognise that the item has been placed in a bag that you are holding.

The chip on the item will register that it has been removed from the shop and your account will be debited. Shoplifting will become a thing of the past, as items will alert the store that the person is not carrying a phone and has no means of payment.

Published: March 23, 2018 -- 17:27 GMT (10:27 PDT)

Caption by: Eileen Brown

2 of 13 NEXT PREV