Gartner’s Roberta Cozza has chosen the top 10 technologies that mobile device vendors must investigate over the next two years. The full article is available as a Gartner blog post.
The top technologies are:
- Fast charging
- Wireless charging
- Augmented and virtual reality
- Multiple-lens camera solutions
- Sensors: Biometric authentication and technologies
- Virtual personal assistants (VPAs)
- Flexible/curved displays
- Wi-Fi 802.11 standards
- USB Type-C
- Embedded SIM (e-SIM)
These were chosen by looking at five key areas: the battery, an immersive experience, a personalised experience, display technology and connectivity. These areas have the potential to address users’ ‘pain points’ and unlock new business models.
Some of the list may be confusing. Cozza explained the inclusion of virtual personal assistants (VPAs) and biometrics in more detail. She said that VPAs represent a shift in human-machine interaction – by 2020, Gartner expects 40% of mobile interaction will be done through such smart agents. 74% of smartphone users currently use VPAs frequently; at least once a day. However, there is still demand for a more personalised experience.
When it comes to biometrics, new methods – beyond fingerprint recognition – will be explored as smartphone users increasingly store more and more details of their personal lives. Vendors will need to work more closely with biometric technology providers and software developers.
Cozza also discussed AR and VR. Opportunities are emerging for VR to be used in business settings; Gartner estimates that 26% of HMDs will be designed for business use in 2018. Today, improvements in the AR/VR sector revolve around new display technology. However, it is forecast that sensing and tracking hardware/software improvements will increase interest and adoption. 360° imaging will also assist.
Gartner expects vendors to sell 40 million AR and VR HMDs by 2020.
