Smartphones at Play
During the first wave of smartphones, technology advancement impacted our lives first, and then our work. Now, the two forces will join hands to make the journey faster, more exciting. Here are five w...

2. PlayYou will be able to control games with your mind: Mindgames, a company from Iceland, has games that challenge you to bend spoons using your mind (you need an EEG device). Then there are near-field technologies: In 2011, Google showed how two Android phones can exchange notes by tapping (like two wine glasses). Of course, bigger screens, better resolution, 3D, will all impact gameplay.
Illustration: Sameer Pawar
3. Take control Dutch company Waleli’s GSM doorbell allows you to talk to a visitor from any location, and even let him in. Two years ago, computer scientist Pranav Mistry showcased the app TeleTouch that converts your smartphone into a remote control. With apps such as these, the possibilities are endless. For example, turn the AC on as you come close to your house.
4. ShopPhones can already remind you to buy provisions when you are near a shop. Soon, they will let you compare prices with shops nearby. The Zillow app tells you prices of houses for sale as you drive along. Autotrader’s iPhone app lets you photograph the number plate of a car you might fancy to find out more about it and see if it’s for sale.
5. ConnectFuturist Ray Kurzweil speaks of a time when phones will project realistic 3D holographs, giving the impression that you are talking to others face to face. That might be several years away, but the increasing integration of social media with a more advanced mobile device will help us connect deeper. Streaming videos will become elegant.
First Published: Feb 21, 2013, 06:05
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