Developing Technologies in Mobile Applications

The focus of this research is to explore emerging technologies and the impacts they can have on mobile devices and their applications. Such a study is important in understanding technological innovation within the context of mobile devices. An exploration will be carried out into which technologies have the potential to revolutionise mobile devices and how long until they reach mainstream adoption. Benefits and limitations of mobile devices being at the forefront of technological innovation will also be explored.The main conclusions drawn from this study include designers' opinions that, Augmented Reality and Gesture interfaces were the two technologies with the highest potential. Haptics will revolutionise mobile gaming and Natural Language Question Answering (NLQA) is seen to have voice recognition issues impeding its current levels of practicality. Flexible screens are now being mass manufactured, but will initially enter the E-reader market before being implemented into other devices. Augmented reality and NLQA will take five to ten years to fully mature. Haptic technologies are verging on entering the consumer market, whilst gesture controls will take five years to reach.