The future holds a lot of interest for industrial designers. Now they are unshackled from the beige box we can expect to see computers in all shapes and sizes. In the United States you can already get
The future holds a lot of interest for industrial designers. Now they are unshackled from the beige box we can expect to see computers in all shapes and sizes. In the United States you can already get one that resembles an old valve radio, proving that, like clothing, retro fashion is alive and well in the computing arena.
Nokia and Ericsson have already unveiled prototypes of handheld devices they expect to see in the future and all involve colours and curves. Nokia favours oval shaped handheld readers and video phones, while Ericsson has gone more for compact, foldout or wearable devices.
Some experts are predicting that people will soon be able to carry their desktop computer in their pocket and that it will double as a mobile phone. The technology to make it possible is already being tested. IBM has released a micro hard drive the size of a 10-cent piece that has a 1Gb storage capacity, and Intel is working on its StrongArm2 processor, which will be capable of clock speeds of around 700MHz while using hardly any battery power.
These handheld devices will use Bluetooth or one of the other newly developed wireless technologies such as Home RF or IEEE 802.11 to link to peripheral devices such as flat screen monitors and keyboards. There will be no wires to connect because you will just place your smart phone near the keyboard, and screen and that will be enough to link them.
Screens will take up little space, keyboards will slide away in drawers, Internet appliances will blend with the decor and phones will become even more chameleon-like. It is a huge leap in fashion from where we were just a few years ago and it is obviously gaining favour, because sales of all types of consumer tech equipment and appliances are rising steadily.