Thinking back on how far this technology has come in such a short time, it is interesting to imagine what cell phones will be like in another 8 years. There are a number of technologies that are currently being developed by the scientific community and private organizations and the possibilities for mobile technology are nearly endless.
One of the technologies currently being developed involves a tiny device that is capable of "smelling" health problems. Scientists are working toward making this device small enough to fit into a standard cell phone and energy efficient so that it is able to run constantly. The theory behind this technology is that a cell phone is the one thing that people tend to bring with them everywhere they go, making it the perfect object to equip with health monitoring equipment. By creating a device that is able to take readings on a person's health by "smelling" the levels of different chemicals present in their body, they will be able to create a cheap, effective early warning system for all manner of health disorders
so people can get them treated in the early stages.
Another technology that is being developed (and already exists to some extent) involves linking banking information into people's cell phones and using RFID technology to allow them to make purchases with their phones, rather than cash or credit cards. Essentially, all of a person's banking information is tied into the phone and the phone contains an RFID chip. When they go to a store, they can load their purchases into a cart and simply walk out the door. As they exit, scanners located at the door will read RFID chips contained in the products they are purchasing and will scan the RFID chip in the individual's phone, instantly charging that individual's bank account for their purchases without forcing them to wait in long lines or deal with the possibility of human error when it comes to ringing up their purchases.
In addition to these technologies that are already well under way, I believe the next decade will see a number of incredible advancements with cell phone technology. One of the more obvious improvements that will naturally occur will be the development of thinner, lighter devices. That has always been one of the main focuses of mobile technology producers.
Another technology that could possibly be included might be temperature and weather indicators built into phones. By allowing the phone to gauge temperature, humidity, etc. itself, rather than relying on information from weather applications, it could make extremely accurate (albeit short-term) predictions about local weather patterns.
Miniature projectors are a technology that is already available, though not prevalent. Incorporating this technology into cell phones would be useful for a wide array of users, ranging from businessmen to teachers. By having a projector available at all times, an individual would be able to give spur of the moment presentations to unexpected clients, teach a lesson in a low-technology area, or simply have the capability of using the projector as a backup in the event that there are technical difficulties with a primary device.
All in all, I believe cell phones will continue to advance at an astounding rate. The possibilities are nearly endless and the evolution of mobile technology will see some very interesting developments along the way.
