With big developments in 2012, these technologies are gearing up to make news in 2013. Deebashree Mohanty reports
When the talk is about latest technologies, there is a lot happening on that front in 2013. From complete wireless charging for mobiles, laptops and players to 3D printing to even leap 3D, come 2014 and these will not be a distant dream anymore. “There was a lot of noise when these new inevntions were announced last year. In 2014, we are positive to introduce some of these variants, if not all. Wireless charging has already been employed by many cell phone giants and the reviews that we have gotten are great. Next in cue is the introduction of 3D printing. This will change the entire experience of picture viewing and scanning,” Debabrata Swain of Tech Solutions, a Gurgaon based company that deals with printing, tells you.
Swain and his team of technicians have been helping global players to convert this ‘magical technology’ into a reality. He says, this is only just the beginning in the printing technology. “We are still far away from a complete printing experience. Even 3D printing will take time to come to India. But we are making strides in the right direction. Give it another decade and printing machines will get smaller. Even smaller than your normal cellphones,” he tells you enthusiastically.
While the printing technology is inching towards a revolution, there is a lot of work being done in the smartphone segment as well. Added features and imbedded technology apart, cell phone companies are now looking to modify the charging element. Around 5 million smartphones with wireless charging were sold in the global market. Towards the end of this year, analysts tell you this number could well double itself.
“We are expecting to sell 10 million products by 2013. When that happens you know that wireless charging has been successful. This kind of charging makes it easier for the user and also makes the phone less bulkier. Wireless power could reduce demand for power cables while making gadgets more durable, eliminate the need for throwaway batteries, and perhaps even accelerate the adoption of electric cars. It is not exactly a green initiative but this can make mobiles more energy efficient and sustainable,” Ayush Bhanot, specialist at the Indikom wires & co, Hyderabad, tells you. He adds that the mobile industry could go up by $600 billion by 2016 thanks to this technology.
There are other analysts like Bhanot who tell you that Stylus is going to change the way of mobile usage in many countries. “The stylus has been in use for a long time now but the actual benefit of the devise has been noted only recently. This finger-free computing on mobiles is user friendly and increases human productivity by over 30 per cent. According to a latest research done in California, the stylus also prolongs the life of touch screen,” Ashwin Pathak, from Tech Solutions, tells you, adding that stylus is going to be a key in making mobile usage more accurate.
Then there is the leap 3D motion control system, which can track motion to around 0.01mm accuracy — 100 times more accurate than the Kinect. Rather than taking Microsoft’s approach, leap Motion creates a personal 3D workspace of about four cubic feet. The leap consists of a small USB device with industry-standard sensors and cameras that, in tandem with the company's software, can track multiple objects and recognise gestures.
“leap will be compatible with either Windows or Mac OSx and we are hoping that this revolutionises the gaming platforms.
“This accurate motion control system will make the usual sensors redundant,” Ajay Dash, owner of lintus smart gaming solutions in New Delhi concludes.