Communications of the ACM
Forrester's Five Futuristic Computing Form Factors
Lark silent un-alarm clock and sleep sensor
Credit: Amazon.com
Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps says there are five computing form factors that could gain momentum in the near future. For example, Epps says wearable devices will become popular, such as the Lark sleep tracker and Body Media wristband, which sync with Apple's iOS devices for health and fitness scenarios.
Epps also cites embedded devices, such as refrigerators, coffee machines, and other Web-enabled devices that users could control with their smart devices. Epps also sees smart surfaces, or larger interactive displays that rely on multi-touch, voice and gesture input, facial recognition, near-field communication signals, and any other wireless technologies and sensors.
There also will be flexible displays that can come in the form of electronic readers or larger surface displays, such as furniture or wallpaper, according to Epps. Finally, she predicts that mini-projectors, which project a larger image onto another surface or into three-dimensional space, will become available.
"The most successful products will work with other products--for example, wearables that talk to smartphones and TVs; surfaces that are activated by the presence of your smartphone," Epps says.
From eWeek
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