Evaluate the Impact of a Potential Future Development in HCI
Introduction
Human computer interaction has been developed and expanded
upon for quite some time now. Ever since more advanced technology (at the time)
came out, many companies have been working on development of these devices or
updated software for the user to be able to use these devices efficiently. As
it has become part of a rapidly growing industry, more and more companies keep
developing to assist users in this regard, while companies that have been
around for a long time have established huge reputations for themselves by (at
least partially) making these developments.
What developments might we see in HCI in the future?
I, likely along with almost everybody who knows about it,
believe that HCI will only carry on progressing through the companies work on
it. Computers are ‘evolving’ at a rapid rate so it only makes sense that the
way we interact with these devices will improve at a similar if not faster rate
at some point. Looking back, developments have already progressed greatly.
Comparing the first mobile phone (which at the time was a technological marvel)
with a modern smartphone just shows by itself how much HCI has developed
because now most people won’t leave the house without their potentially
expensive smartphone.
Think about how you use your smartphone and compare it to how
(mobile) phones were when they first came out. The first was solely used with
buttons for numbers, microphone and a little speaker for sound to come through.
Modern smartphones, however, are so much more advanced that it’s difficult to
imagine that they started with the old mobile phone. Now smartphones can save
contacts for instant calling and texting but alongside that it has easy access
to the internet and internet connections from around a city for example. There
are things that have been improved among even smartphones themselves that we do
almost as a natural reaction. If you wanted to zoom in to something on your
phone, you would (probably) use two fingers and spread them apart, like most
people. That is a general response but wasn’t around a while ago. The fact that
things today would have been thought impossible when technology was first
introduced leads to potential with what could happen with smartphones in the
future. Think about things you’d not be likely to think is possible. Hover
boards? Holographic projections? Well they’re possibly just around the corner,
as I hear news of an actual hover board in production (one without wheels,
which isn’t technically a hover board).
Recent Developments
As you may have heard, virtual reality is being developed
rapidly with multiple companies all jumping on the VR headset boat. Some of the
purposes differ among the companies but all of them are based off the same
basic concept, interact with your surroundings, computer or even game console
in new ways that are more immersive. Virtual reality is a rapidly growing topic
especially among the video game community. A lot of virtual reality headsets
are being designed to allow those playing games to feel more immersed and more
like they are in the world. Mostly this is based on a headset that shows
images, but I believe I have seen news of a virtual reality kit that is trying
to work on making the person feel entirely like they are in a game by using
body sensing technology [1], which
personally I find exciting as it shows what technology is (or at least close to
being) able to accomplish.
Gaming aside, Microsoft is developing a headset [2] that isn’t
primarily for games although I believe that is an intentional function considering
the Xbox and PC market that they have. Their headset is there to try and make
life easier for people in terms of their technology and surroundings. Using the
surroundings, the headset type thing displays things in your surrounding that aren’t
there but function using the headset. The best way to describe it would
probably be like phone apps but not on a phone and instead using the
environment a person is living in.
Conclusion
In conclusion, HCI is rapidly growing. Considering that, impending advancements could
be great and also just around the corner. I imagine we will all be living much
differently in the future than we do now, considering that we’ve come this far
with technology alone.
[1] http://www.inquisitr.com/2818227/sword-art-online-anime-video-game-sao-mmo-real-life-full-dive-oculus-rift-virtual-reality-ibm-ai-video/
[2] https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us
[2] https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us
