Next Generation Computer Technology

I dreamt last night of the next generation of computer devices. Just about all of these capabilities exist in today’s cellphones, somebody just needs to integrate them and repackage. Biden’s high speed Internet will be integral.

The basic unit is a flat (1/4" thick) handheld screen, 4x6, bigger than a cellphone but smaller than a tablet. It has all the functions of both: cameras front & rear, phone, voice recognition, handwriting recognition using a finger. It can be used for voice or video calls. The screen goes all the way to the edge of the device.

To transfer large amounts of data, you partially insert it into a slot in your desktop computer (or at a vendor's), like a credit card. Small amounts of data are transferred wirelessly via Bluetooth.

The device has GPS. You can call up a StreetView of where you are, and the device will use augmented reality to overlay business names, hours, menus, maps, walking directions, phone numbers.

The device has no control buttons, so it is watertight. Everything is gesture based. Swipe down with your finger to download data from what you’re looking at. Scroll up to open apps. Scroll side to side to switch between applications. It also responds to voice commands, like Siri or Alexa. To turn one on, you pinch out from the middle of the screen.  To turn off, pinch in.  To zoom in or out on a picture or map you do the same motion, but keep your fingers from meeting.

The camera can be used with facial recognition to identify people in your contact list, or people known to the public. It records streaming video with a voice command "Record this."

It’ll play music from your collection, or streaming online, with large (4” x 4”) album cover images. You can scroll through the liner notes and track list. You can also watch videos and broadcast TV. It uses wireless earbuds that hang from your earlobes like hearing aids.

If you want to send a picture to somebody, you call it up on your screen, point it at her screen, then scroll up as if "pushing it" to her. It jumps wirelessly.  Maybe she'll have to scroll down to accept it, to avoid unwanted transfers.

Dunno what we’ll call these devices. They’re more than cellphones or tablets. Maybe we’ll call them “BidenBuddies.”  No, we will not call them "phablets".


The Samsung Galaxy Fold (pictured above, $2k) is about the size I dreamed.  The folding-in-half feature is an interesting twist.

Things I like about the Galaxy Fold (released 9/1/2020):

• It can be used as a phone (folded) or a tablet (unfolded) or a mini-laptop (half-folded)
  
• it can be used vertically or horizontally (any configuration)
  
• matching earbuds
  
• the hinge in the screen appears to totally disappear in use
  
• multi-window capability (3 simultaneous apps)
  
• supports Bluetooth controller
  
• two batteries
  
• the website (linked above) is slick
  
• Hiroshi Lockheimer says "Foldables represent the future of the mobile category" -- is he right?
  

Things I don't like about the Galaxy Fold:

• the $2,000 price
  
• the camera lenses stick out
  
• the hinge looks flimsy
  
• the colors are limited
  
• plugs in rather than wireless