I keep saying that (except for the flying cars) the future has finally gotten here. Thanks to smartphones, iPads and broadband, from a communications perspective, at least, 2012 makes 2002 look like 50 years ago.
We have information on demand, virtually anywhere. We have ubiquitous high-definition video. We can look at the person we’re talking to on the other side of the planet. I mean, add warp speed and a transporter beam and it’s Star Trek.
So what’s next?
How about flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays that will merge lighting with computer displays with windows? Real windows. Windows that will be transparent to let light in during the day, turn opaque on demand and glow to provide “natural” light after the sun goes down. They’ll be able to turn entire walls into multi-use display screens. And they’ll roll up, too, to fit inside of handheld mobile devices the size of a pen. Here’s an example from Mashable:
Hopefully, the windows in my house won’t start showing me advertisements anytime soon – but the new technology is sure to open up some new possibilities.
~ Adam Schnitzler, @aschnitz1 & CCO, The S3 Agency
