For most people smartphone is more convenient. I much prefer desktop computer though, because how more efficient it is, and apps don’t simply stop because of low memory (although I don’t understand why my phone with 6 gigs of RAM has this problem in the first place).
Some genuinely mind boggling innovations in UX and AI (not to mention battery) would have to happen to make it even close. There is just way too much that is too awkward to do on a smaller screen or without a proper kbm + the posture of sitting at a desk. You never really see anyone actually using those sci fi handheld devices. They always just kind of magically pull up whatever information is needed without us seeing whatever inputs were required to get there.
Only sort of related: But I always find it funny when I see some older sci fi able to imagine some technology way ahead of it’s time, but fail to think through the implications of how humans will actually interact with it. That’s the part you actually have some info and intuition on even without the technology. If I lived in the 60s I might not have been able to tell you whether we’d ever be able to fit the computers that take up rooms into the palms of our hands, but if you showed me a handheld computer and asked me to suspend my disbelief about the technical wizardry behind it, I could probably tell you whether or not I think someone would actually use something in that way because technology changes, but people don’t. Until we go trans humanist we still have the limits of two hands, 10 fingers, etc.
One funny example of this for me is the pad from Star Trek TNG. There are actually two relevant pieces of technology here:
- A portable computer that can presumably at least display and edit information.
- A ship wide computer that can do all sorts of complicated tasks, has artificial intelligence, a voice interface, and can be accessed via terminals, including personal ones around the ship.
Despite this, they couldn’t put two and two together and imagine that the pads might be connected through the ship’s computer. When crew members want to send information they have on the pads, instead of just sending data through the computer to the other person’s pad/terminal… THEY GIVE THE PHYSICAL PAD TO THE OTHER PERSON LIKE ITS A PIECE OF PAPER!
No way. The mobile is just a phone and messaging device. Without a usable screen and with no real keyboard it is completly useless for anything but that.
Phones… are computers.
They just have a different set of input and output. Phones will never fully replace desktops and no, they won’t merge into one thing. (Microsoft tried this to some extent with windows 8. The thing is, for some things kbm is the best method and for others, cell phones tap and swipe are.)
This could technically be possible with AR glasses. You’d still want to pair them with a wireless keyboard and maybe a mouse for efficiency. I don’t know what’s the state of that though.
Most AR systems aren’t going to be comfortable enough for, say, data entry jobs, mind. VR has come along way (anyone remember virtual boy?) but it does get taxing.
Depending on implementation, it’s also going to potentially have problems with shitty display quality, power/battery life, heat, etc.
You could also use a portable projector for a display. A smart phone is optimized for being a smart phone, though, and a desktop workstation is optimized for that.
Where AR tech is going to be useful is more for things like overlaying directions or providing virtual signage, or stuff. But that’s going to require some new form of UX design that’s optimized for that.
Also, for the record, the google glass headset sucked. Its display was like staring at whatever people did for power point slides in the 80’s. (I’m not that old, someone else is gonna have to chime in.)
I know a couple people who don’t really ever use computers anymore in favour of smartphones.
I personally try to reverse smartphone usage. Got myself a dumbphone and try to use a computer for everything else. The reasoning behind this is, I want it to be a conscious decision to do internet things at a defined physical place, instead of mindlessly using the smartphone everywhere. This should encourage me to reconnect to the world around me.
I’m still in a transition phase though.
My main use case for a desktop machine is cad. I come from an analog graphics background (I’m old). The whole arrangement of tech for graphics is inhuman and apparently designed to torture artists ;) Humans evolved over millions of years to have a finely tuned hand to eye coordination- that is your hands are directly within your field of view while you are using them. The brain requires this and forcing the hands out of view to operate a mouse limits the brain’s ability to function. Humans evolved as bipeds to stand, walk and move from a vertical position. Sitting unmoving in a chair for a significant portion of the day is damaging to the skeletomuscular and nervous systems. Compressing the human scale of motion onto a screen of less than or just barely within (in the very best case) the size of the human field of view limits the amount of motion the head, neck and spine get during the day. Over time this leads to more damage.
People who didn’t have computers before smartphones came around, don’t have computers now. For a lot of people the phone will be the first and only computer they use. As for convergence, yes, it’s happening. A modern smartphone is powerful enough tu run a desktop OS. That would be good enough for most tasks of most people. Google are working to bring that to the Pixels, Samsung had Dex for a long time. But again, that will only be relevant for people who want to use computers.
Nah. We still have the family computer that connects to the internet.
The family is pretty much just me and my dog though.
family computer
me and my dog
On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.
Are you really the human? Or the dog pretending to be the human? 🧐
Man, I sure hope not. I will never understand why people are willing to read or view content on that tiny screen. Give me my desktop any day. I can’t even tolerate laptops unless I’m on the road.
I haven’t owned a PC in years.
I have one at work that I use for work things, and if I ever need to print something and bring it home.
They have replaced phone, camera, music player for me.
I still have a computer and laptop at home and at work. They will not be replaced because good luck trying to write code on a phone or tablet.
They will not be replaced because good luck trying to write code on a phone or tablet.
With Linux phones coming up I can see that happening with a docking station to connect your phone to a monitor and keyboard.
Those have existed for years. I remember selling them at Verizon, and I left that job over ten years ago.
Still have both smartphone and pc (mostly for gaming). I think in the future we will have only a smartphone that will dock to screens (or maybe glasses) and will be connected to cloud computing for intensive purposes.
