I'm here to write just a little bit about the upcoming future of technology. I've been doing some of my own research on this new and evolving "phenomenon" (If you want, you call it a number of different ways, including "technological advancement"). Actually, I've really just been reading about the new kinds of technology being proposed. (So I don't know if you would readily consider something like this as "research"). So, the technology that I am going to write about, that people have come up with recently, would have to do with computers in general, as well as cell phone technology. Specifically, the imaging capabilities that may be employed in smartphones in the very near future. So let's start off by delving into the world of computer technology.
One of the two main developments in computer design systems would be the employment of what is known as "quantum computing". In this kind of system, a computer would not need to operate using binary code, such as the one found in today's modern computers. Instead, it would be able to perform calculations using a single unit of binary code. Such computers have been a great subject of research over recent times. However, this technology is yet to be developed specifically for usage by the public. What kind of an advantage would such computer technology have over our current systems? Well, quantum systems would be able to perform tasks much, much quicker than our current computers are capable of.
The next paradigm shift in electronics?
Another major development concerning computers, as well as electronics, in general would have to do with the idea of moving away from the usage of electrons. In fact, this might very well also Yes, that's right, there could, in fact, be such a paradigm shift, in which our society is capable of moving away from using electrons to transmit signals. This would potentially be the next best thing since when humans discovered the use of electricity. I've read a recent article concerning photonics on the science website called "Sciencedaily". I really enjoyed the fact that in that one article they write something like, "Electrons are so twentieth century." So, if we could move away from electrons, what kind of signal transmission would this better form of technology incorporate? Well, for that, I have a little hint for you... this new form of technology would now not be called electronics anymore! In fact, we would now be able to incorporate a new term for our electronics- "photonics"! ""So, what advantage would such technology have on our device?", you may ask. Well, the advantage may actually seem obvious to a great deal of people. Also, this new advantage sounds literally as if something you would read or hear about a science fiction story. We would be, in fact, literally dealing with "electronics" that would now enable us to "operate at light speed." That is, the electronic devices themselves would be "operating at light speed". And that's true, even in the very real sense of the phrase. (At the end of this paragraph, I have posted an article in which photonics are explained more clearly, and the article even explains how photonics work). In fact, researchers have very recently made an amazing breakthrough concerning this technology, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This will allow the development of a new form of material, one which is able to literally modify the characteristics of light, allowing light to enter the material; once the light enters the material, it's wavelength can then be modified by stretching it out. This new form of material can actually take a specific wavelength of light, and transform it into one with longer wavelength, and is what we call a zero-index material. Amazingly enough, the new, longer wavelength which can then be produced has no limitation as to just how long it can be! The breakthrough which you can find more information about, is here: More info After all, the study of photonics can be an incredibly interesting subject, as it involves different, specific wavelengths, of light, each of which has its own different function. Let's think about radio waves as a similar analogy. (The only difference that might come to play is that radio waves come in differing frequencies, rather than ligh, which comes in varying wavelengths.) In this case, each frequency corresponds to a different radio station. And with light, it is more or less the same, whereas a specific function can be achieved by the use of particular (specific) wavelengths of light. In other words, each wavelength of light serves its own function.
The future of internet
So, we may need to wait a while until photonic devices are actually made available to the general public. However, while we are waiting for photonics, there is yet another light-based technology on it's way. This technology may not be quite as advance as photonics. It is still quite interesting, however. And, unlike photonics, we may be able to take advantage of this new form of technology here pretty soon. Much sooner than photonics, that's for sure. We are now beginning to move on to talk about technology that will help us in transmitting and receiving information over the internet. What is this new technology, specifically? Well, it is commonly known as Li-Fi, even if it has not been deployed yet. This is closely related to Wi-Fi. The difference? Wi-Fi uses a signal that comes from a router. Li-Fi is an idea that would employ the use of lights. These lights would flicker on and off at specific frequencies, in order to transmit signals to a computer. Places such as office buildings, for instance, would work best for this kind of internet signaling. This would be because, unlike traditional Wi-Fi, Li-Fi has a couple of benefits:1. It would be at least approximately one hundred times quicker, and,
2. It has a difficult time getting around walls
Wait, since it has a difficult time getting around walls, why would this make it preferable over Wi-Fi? Well, walls could then act as very effective firewalls. This form of internet transmittance would most likely work best if the source of light being used were to come from LED lights. The advantages, as well as explanation, can also be found on this article: More about Lifi
Now, if this technology starts becoming widely available, then there may be a new question that one may think of: What will happen to Wi-Fi?
A new advancement of imaging technology in progress for smartphones- soon smartphones may have new imaging capabilities... and more: "paradigm shift" for camera sensors?
Foreword
Smartphones might be increasingly popular among many people, primarily younger people. However, how about photographers, people who are serious about obtaining the highest image quality possible? Are more and more ditching their regular cameras for a smartphone instead?
Well, manufacturers are currently working on a new form of sensor technology to be implemented in future smartphone models. It is likely that this kind of technology may, in the future, very well make smartphones better in such a way, as to take smartphone photography to a whole different level. Before we go on, let's talk about why smartphone photography can be a problem currently in our digital world. After all, usually the smaller a camera is, the smaller the pixels are. And when it comes to smartphones, we are talking about the smallest camera sensors on the market. And with such small sensors we are also talking about some of the most smallest, most densely-packed pixels, as manufacturers try to make phones with more megapixels. That's because Consumers generally demand ever-higher resolutions with the major technological advancements that are being made. However, high resolution is not something that's particularly beneficial in a camera phone. Why? Because higher resolutions come with tradeoffs. Let me reiterate what I said earlier. The more the pixels must be packed densely, the smaller they need to be. And it may seem counterintuitive. Paradoxically enough, however, the truth is that while higher pixel density does result in higher quality, then it does, at the same time, result in lower quality. (By higher quality, what I'm getting at specifically is the resolution) The thing about smaller pixels, though, is that they cannot be able to achieve as much tonal range as, say, a micro four-thirds camera with the same resolution. And another thing about smaller pixels is that they are not able to achieve as high a level of lowlight sensitivity as those cameras with larger pixels. How does this work? The difference is probably much more noticeable in smartphones then say, DSLRs. The reason for this phenomenon is this: pixels can be thought to work effectively as "buckets of light". The larger the bucket is, the more light it can obtain. And so, while the imaging sensors with higher pixel density might be able to gather in more data when it comes to resolution the "per-pixel data", or what I like to just call "per-pixel quality", is smaller. That is, even though the difference when comparing different imaging sensors with differing pixel densities are noticeable or not.
Well, we have now already explored a couple main issues that come about concerning digital camera phone sensor technology, and which, nonetheless, can also be applied to just about every other kind of imaging sensor on the market. And this new form of technology, may just be able to make smartphones compete with other, more expensive cameras with larger sensors. It may even be able to compete with larger sensors that are more advanced, such as, for example, the high sensitivity sensors one might find in modern advanced cameras. Such a new form of sensor would then employ a new form of technology comprised of what is known as "quantum film". This film shares a similarity to today's current modern imaging sensors in that it records color. The thing that would set quantum film apart, however, would be that it uses quantum dots, instead of the traditional color RGB filter array. This kind of sensor has the ability to achieve higher light sensitivity, as well as higher tonal range. Higher tonal range can otherwise be known as DR. DR is an abbreviation, which is short for dynamic range. And, of course, as I've written previously, these are the exact same things that set apart sensors in cell phones from those in other cameras. And, as might be obvious to some, these are the reasons why today, many people who are serious about photography prefer to stay with a regular camera, rather than a smartphone. The latter which just does not have the ability to gather as much information as a regular camera. So, the question that maybe should come to people's minds, should go something like this: "If such sensor technology becomes available, then what are the worlds of possibilities that such an advancement will be able to bring with it to the world of photography?"
This is the digital age. Which means that, in this world, technology is constantly driven by digital innovation. And thanks to this, such technology might someday not only need to be limited to mobile devices! And with this in mind, it is probably safe to say that such an advancement would allow camera companies to produce cameras with higher resolution, or megapixel counts, all while maintaining a relatively high dynamic range, as well as sensitivity to light.
As I would like to say it, "We will then be able to advance a little bit further into the darkness". I mean, when it comes to lowlight photography especially, we may enter a new world of possibilities. And while doing so, the world of digital photography (and videography) will benefit... because it will enable to achieve more creativity.
So, to sum things up, in the future we are likely to have photonic cameras that may or may not quantum film technology. And, instead of using Wi-Fi, these cameras might be using Li-fi!
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