We’ve put forward a number of key technology predictions in the past about what we think the future might look like. Two of these are the rise of wearable technology and immersive technology.
And for some time we’ve been looking forward to the release of wearable tech, particularly in the form of Qualcomm’s Toq, Google Glass, MYO Armband and Interaxon’s Muse.
Most of these wearable technologies are complimentary to your smartphone. And that leads us to the question, what innovation is happening with smartphones at the moment? Well the answer to that is, ‘Not much.’
It seems as though smartphones may have reached an evolutionary cliff face. Apple has a crack at smartphone innovation with a fingerprint reader…a bit too 2000′s tech for us. Samsung also gave it their all with eye tracking…which isn’t so fun if you’ve got a lazy eye or wearing sunglasses. It also seems as though most of the smartphone makers released a smartphone, then a slightly bigger one, an L and an XL version. In other words, innovation came in size.
Sure there are faster processers and more megapixels per square fairy dust. Maybe it’s not just apple that’s put a freeze on phone innovation. It’s kind of pathetic too that HTC have put a fingerprint reader in their new One Max phone. If there’s ever a company on the verge of also doing a ‘Nokia’ and ‘Blackberry’ it’s HTC. ‘Abandon ship!’
Anyway, to further prove the point that all manufacturers have stopped being truly innovative with the smartphone, have a look at LG and Samsung’s latest offerings, the G Flex (LG) and Galaxy Round (Samsung).
Both of these phones are…wait for it…curved. And to think we’re suggesting innovation is dead in smartphones? Actually that’s exactly what we’re saying.
Let me clarify for you the benefit to you of a curved screen vs. a flat one. None. If you’ve got short fingers, maybe it’ll help. But it won’t help your jeans pockets. It certainly won’t help your existing accessories. And it most definitely won’t help your bank balance.
Wearable tech is in the early stages of development. But over the next couple of years, you’ll start to see further integration of phone features in everything that’s not a phone.
So right now, this points in one direction. The end of the mobile phone. Yep from what I can see the smartphone, mobile phone, whatever you want to call it, is dead.
As we watch the rise of wearable tech we’ll start to find our phones pointless and frustrating. Soon enough sales will slide, and the new era of communication devices will be upon us.
But for nostalgia’s sake I’ll hold onto my N73, Razr V3 and Galaxy S2 so one day I can say to the grandkids, ‘Back in my day we used to use these things to call each other.’
I like American Football. In fact I like it so much that a couple of years ago I even played a season in Melbourne. Our team went on to win the VicBowl championship that year.
I retired after my first season due to other time commitments. But had I the information I have now, I might have retired earlier due to health reasons.
The allure of American Football is the bone crunching hits players take. The NFL is a serial offender in using these ‘hits’ in their promotional material for games. Fans live for the big hits. However it often results in horrific injuries for the players involved.
And for the players of this wonderful game, they’ve had enough of suffering well past the time when they retire. Joint and muscle injuries are part and parcel for any high impact, elite level sport. But in the NFL’s case the big issue at play here is the mental health of players.
In fact this issue is so relevant that 4,500 retired players brought a court case against the NFL. The players and the NFL recently settled out of court for US$765 million. It was alleged the NFL misled players about the dangers of head impacts received while playing games.
Research has just come out that supports the players. The study looked at 12 retired NFL players and 60 normal people selected from the San Diego area. It compared their brain function across a number of tests.
In short, the test proved that the NFL players were indeed suffering from cognitive impairment. The study even went so far to say,
‘Whilst none of the NFL alumni tested here had previously been diagnosed with a cognitive impairment…many of them reported they were experiencing distressing cognitive problems in everyday life.‘
‘Thus while they are not classified as patients based on behavioural assessments, we would suggest that they should be based on the conjunction of evidence from previous post-mortem studies, the self report of real life executive problems, and the observation of pronounced functional brain abnormalities…‘
The mounting evidence of brain injuries to players is damming against the NFL. I for one would expect a raft of safety changes and rules over the coming years as a result of this issue.
Unless there’s significant change to the safety afforded to players, the game might struggle to exist. They say you can’t have a game without the fans. Try running a game without the players…
So hopefully new technologies will find their way into the game to help keep players safe. Both in the short term and over the long term.
‘Checklight‘ is one of those technologies. A joint program between Reebok and MC10, it’s a skullcap designed to provide a visual warning when a payer receives a heavy knock to the head.
‘Checklight’ is just one example of innovative private companies looking to preserve the health of players. X2 Biosystems is another that uses impact sensors to monitor players. Add to that list helmet maker Riddell, Verizon and even Intel all with sensors and monitors designed to provide data and information in real-time about players’ health.
Let’s hope some of these technologies become mandatory, for the longevity of both the players and the game.
Alternative forms of transport are important for a greener world. But it’s hard to wean off our dependence on cars. You see, cars don’t just provide an effortless form of transport, but they can also keep you warm or dry, and typically when you arrive at your destination you’re not dripping with sweat.
That’s why people will tend to use a car, motorbike or scooter for longer distance travel. Of course there are electric bikes, but they typically are hefty contraptions that simply don’t have the style to fit the substance.
I’m sure if there were a better way to electrify a bike more people would use them. It would mean being able to rock up to work in the same clothes you left home in without the huffing, puffing and resultant sweating.
The FlyKly is a new kickstarter project that aims to make any bike as effortless as a scooter. It kind of looks like a small cushion on your rear wheel. It fits on like any normal wheel, and is activated by the most minimal pedaling effort. It’s also integrated with its own app to help you control the speed and power.
As you ride, the wheel starts up. It means you can pedal with barely any effort. Not only will it help you up hills and along the flats but also it recharges when heading downhill.
It’s basically the easiest and best way I’ve seen to electrify a bike and make riding easier. Particularly when you want to avoid the bike sweats.
Sam Volkering
Technology Analyst, Revolutionary Tech Investor
Sam is also the assistant editor and analyst for the new breakthrough technology investment service Revolutionary Tech Investor headed by Money Morning editor Kris Sayce.
If you’re already a subscriber to these publications, or want to follow Sam’s eye on technology more closely, then we recommend you join him on Google+. It’s where he shares technology insights, commentary and ideas that he can’t always fit into his regular Money Morning essays.
