# What is the next big thing in mobile phone technology? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961 "2015-11-07T21:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/21 "2015-12-05T22:11:41Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Google Glass failed because people don’t want to walk around looking like Borg drones (or douches) Make a device that does the same thing but looks less conspicuous, and it will be a huge hit. Makes me sad, because I really liked the idea. (The very first thing I would have hooked up on a Goggle Glasses toy would be a rear-view camera, so I can walk around without anyone creeping up behind me!) Actually, combine that with “watch out for that car” – how about motion sensors? They’d give you a warning if anything is on a high-speed intercept course with you. Also: continuous real-time uploading of 360-degree imagery – so the police would have video images of the guys who held you up and stole your phone. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/22 "2015-12-05T22:30:50Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Rotary dials. There are apps to put a virtual rotary dial on your phone. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/23 "2015-12-05T23:11:29Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Makes me sad, because I really liked the idea. > > (The very first thing I would have hooked up on a Goggle Glasses toy would be a rear-view camera, so I can walk around without anyone creeping up behind me!) > > Actually, combine that with “watch out for that car” – how about motion sensors? They’d give you a warning if anything is on a high-speed intercept course with you. > > Also: continuous real-time uploading of 360-degree imagery – so the police would have video images of the guys who held you up and stole your phone. Google glass would have been the perfect tool to help me out with my job. Really would have liked to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/24 "2015-12-06T00:02:45Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > because the power requirements are at least an order of magnitude apart. A lot more than that. A 2,600 mAh cellphone battery lasts for a few hours of surfing the web, while a 27 mAh watch battery will generally power a watch for six months to a year. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/25 "2015-12-06T00:20:58Z")
I’m not sure how far off it is, but built in projection and holographic capabilities. Maybe in the next 5-10 years. ---
**Author:** ![guitario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@guitario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guitario)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/26 "2015-12-06T00:44:45Z")
I remember reading about how the Japanese are developing the technology to enable people to watch movies in our field of vision - via tech inside our head. No Google glasses here. I’m sure this will be instantly integrated to our personal phones or wearable tech, but this wont be for another 10-15 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/27 "2015-12-06T00:50:40Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Google glass would have been the perfect tool to help me out with my job. Really would have liked to use it. I’m curious: can you give more detail? (If you’re a CIA operative on surveillance duty observing military bases in foreign lands, never mind!) ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/28 "2015-12-06T15:59:15Z")
Let’s say you go to a train station in a strange city. The station knows who you are and where you are going (because you googled it earlier). It directs you to your train, tells you about connections, buys your ticket and helps you find a seat. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/29 "2015-12-06T16:24:28Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I like this. Smart phones already can detect motion. Mine can automatically shut off the screen when I set it down or put it in my pocket. Why not add a generator to charge the battery? Generators take up space, and something running just off of random motion isn’t going to generate very much at all. Just putting in a slightly larger battery is probably more effective in prolonging battery life. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961/30 "2015-12-06T17:45:57Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > An app that generates subtitles floating in front of anyone who’s talking to you. Is that so much to ask? Check out the 8 minute mark: > **[The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology](https://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology)** > > At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-next-big-thing-in-mobile-phone-technology/736961.md?page=1)