Future Smartphones, all about weaving super designs around AI, AR and IoT

By Zia Askari | TelecomDrive.com

Whether it is a business user or an end customer, Smartphones are fast becoming an integral part of our lives – so how does a future smartphone look like? What are some of the capabilities that these futuristic multi-purpose devices will have? We ask these questions to Mahesh Lingareddy, Co-Founder and CEO, Soft Machines.

With a focus towards architecture-based microprocessors and SoC products for IoT, mobile and cloud markets, Soft Machines came into existence in the year 2006, the company has grown into a 250-person semiconductor startup with operations in the U.S., India and Russia today and it is in the business of licensing and co-developing Soft Machines VISC.

How do you look at the future of smartphones?

The future of smartphone looks pretty interesting. Currently, we ask and instruct our smartphone on what our requirements are and use it to organize our lives better. In future, the smartphone will tell us what our needs and wants are and it will organize our lives without asking us.

What are some of the big changes that you see would shape the future of a smartphone?

The big changes that would shape the future of the smartphone will be an increased integration of sensors, artificial intelligence with the aid of big data analytics in the cloud, virtual/augmented reality and breakthrough display technologies.

Smartphone design seem to be a big factor while conceptualizing a new smartphone model today - but is it going to be all about design only?

Design definitely plays a major role while conceptualizing a new smartphone today, however there are other factors to be considered as well. While purchasing a smartphone the customer looks for the overall experience a phone can provide and just not its look and feel.

Factors such as long battery life, good user interface experience and ease of use are important too. Apart from these, customers also look for a smartphone which can provide good quality images/audio/video. Hence, it’s not going to be all about design as it’s not the sole factor in purchasing decision by a customer.

What are some of the new age functionalities that are likely to be integrated with a future ready smartphone? For instance Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality?

Augmented reality is something that can be definitely integrated in a smartphone. The concept of virtual reality today is on a rise and has been widely used in the field of advertising. However this can be challenging as integrating this with a smartphone would require at least 4-8x improvement in computing capability without sacrificing battery life. Today, Oculus Rift requires a high end desktop performance for a good user experience. This is something which needs to change.

How about the changing materials being used to make a smartphone. What is your opinion on the future materials that can be used to create a successful smartphone in future?

Innovation is the key for success. Even at the material level there is huge opportunity for innovation. Reducing the thickness, weight and flexible/durable displays is something one can experiment with. Continued improvement or innovation in materials can improve the quality of a smartphone. Like, self-destructive and organic materials can make devices more secure and constant progress in materials will result in improved quality of radio.

Please share some of the future ready innovations that are likely to come from Soft Machines?

Soft Machines is involved in developing VISC architecture-based CPU and SoC products for IoT, mobile and cloud markets. Soft Machines' VISC architecture advanced and revives Microprocessor/SoC performance per watt scaling while addressing multi-core programming and legacy software issues. VISC architecture enables new form factors and applications in the areas of mobile, cloud and real-time computing.