The development of technology over the last twenty years has been nothing short of phenomenal, especially if one is to look at mobile phones. From the huge, clunky hand held devices of the late eighties, which often had a huge battery pack attached, to today's modern smartphones the difference between the two is amazing.
Perhaps one of the more interesting things to have happened is that the concept of the phone has been taken far beyond its original vision of just a device to communicate with other people by voice. Text and video messaging have become the norm nowadays, although their usefulness stretches far beyond that.
In fact, the phones with their free smartphone apps seem to resemble more a communicator device seen on Star Trek! It is possible to view maps, take the temperature, take photos, translate languages and much more all from the one gadget.
The development of applications for smartphones is perhaps what will help to develop this mobile phone technology even further. These devices truly are becoming more like pocket computers than they are phones, and increasing numbers of people use them more often in their other capacities than as a phone itself.
What does the future hold for mobile phones? It is quite possible that 3D or even holographic technology will play a part in their development over the next ten years, as will the continuing miniaturisation of the technology involved. During the meantime, each new phones release is met with anticipation as we see which boundary has been the next one to be pushed.
