Where will tablets be in ten years time?

Tablet computers are, without doubt, the ‘it’ electronic item of the moment. Since Apple launched its first generation iPad back in 2010 to critical and commercial success, the devices have really taken off. The fact Apple has released an updated model every year since – with the 3^rd and 4^th generation iPads, as well as the iPad Mini all released in 2012 – is testament to their popularity.

 

And it’s not just Apple that is dominating the market, as products from Google and Samsung are selling well, while Amazon’s Kindle is as popular as ever.

 

Many people are wondering what Apple will do next with its line of tablets following the launch of the iPad Mini, but looking even further down the line, where will tablets be in ten years’ time? And what features will people be after when they’re looking for a new tablet and The Snugg UK ipad case to protect it?

 

There is a lot of scope for the development of software on tablets, as there is no getting away from the fact they do have their limitations when it comes to what they can achieve. Apple may say ‘there’s an app for that’, but there are things tablets just can’t do as well as laptops and that fact cannot be ignored. Currently, many operating systems – such as iOS – are advanced versions of smartphone software. There is a great deal of potential for development here so that tablets could become even more like mini laptops than advanced phones. To achieve this though, apps would also have to become more advanced, meaning users could actually use programs such as Word and Excel to their full potential on a tablet.

 

Currently, as PC World points out, tablets are often used for leisure and chosen for their size and portability, while laptops are the devices of choice for more time-consuming and advanced tasks. The main way in which tablets will change in the future is that they will be better suited for increased productivity.

 

However, it is not just the improved overall power of tablets that can be expected in the future and there will be, without doubt, lots of clever gadgets and features to look forward to.

 

Electronics powerhouse Samsung recently debuted its new Galaxy 4S smartphone which, among many other new features, boasts eye tracking capability, meaning the user can scroll through pages without needing to lift a finger. While the Smart Scroll software analyses the user’s eyes and wrist to move through content, Smart Pause allows people to pause a video by looking away from the screen.

 

This technology is undoubtedly something tablet manufacturers will start using, as it would extremely useful for those who use their devices for watching films and videos. Similarly, scrolling through emails in the blink of an eye would be very handy for those who are sitting on a train or plane with the tablet in both hands.

 

Improved handwriting and advanced touchscreens are undoubtedly around the corner, as people will increasingly be looking to complete more pinpoint and precision work with their tablet. Wireless keyboards and even tablets that can interact with different screens and surfaces as the user is walking around are also a possibility as people seek to increasingly connect their world. Potentially, tablets could be used like control centres, capable of timing and controlling central heating systems, ovens, lights – in fact almost anything in the home. All electronic devices like laptops, music players, speakers and TV will also be centralised, with the tablet being the portable remote.

 

Although clever gadgetry is something to look forward to, it is the overall power and functionality of tablets that manufacturers will really be looking to improve over the next few years, as they increasingly attempt to completely replace laptops. Electronics firms have only scraped the surface when it comes to the potential power of tablets and where they will go from here is anyone’s guess. But what’s around the corner is a very exciting prospect.