Are smart phones, outsmarting PCs?

The revolution in the digital world has made life easy in today’s global times. Connectivity on the go, instant availability of information, light weight gadgets and availability of various apps are some of the advantages that make smart phones and tablets more appealing. Also, android-powered smart phones have better processing power than PCs. But will they replace the desktops? DNA finds out...

Corporates are encouraging the BYOD concept among employees
I definitely agree to the fact that smart phones and PDAs (personal digital assistant) are fast outnumbering if not replacing traditional PCs (personal computers). While the home desktops have some what become obsolete, even the corporates are encouraging the BYOD (bring your own device) concept on their campuses. With the cloud computing and virtual desktops on the horizon, the industry is welcoming PDAs and smart phones to reduce overheads on maintenance of desktop PCs. All this is possible without any threat to data security. In today’s times, desktop PCs are bound to die a natural death as there is a demand for agility and connectivity on the go.
Shivdutt Mhase, IT professional

PCs won’t be replaced as they will be used for high-end jobs
There is no doubt that due to major revolution in cellphone devices, today not only tablets but also smart phones have redefined communication. With these rich and more interactive devices, the personal computer in the form of desktops and laptops are facing a challenge. The personal computer is definitely facing a challenge and competition in many ways from smart phones and tablets, which have taken quite a number of every day tasks that we perform using PCs or laptops. However, the PCs will continue to be used for performing bigger tasks like software development and others, though they will no longer be the leading computing devices. The desktop personal computers will not be totally replaced as it is convenient to use them for high-end jobs. As the average users are moving on to tablets and smart phones that are getting powerful day by day, it would not be one-size-fits-all-purpose story.
Vijay Bhatkar, renowned computer scientist

Life beyond 2030 will provide us ‘chips in body’
When I joined IT field way back in 1985, IT was called income tax. Nobody had heard about information technology. Computers were Mainframe (stored in large rooms with air-conditioners on) and interaction was with dumb terminals. Disk space and memory was a scarce resource. Then came the path-breaking innovation of 80s’ personal computing, which brought an era of providing computers to individuals. Then laptops were launched around 15 years ago, which made computing a mobile commodity.

Earlier, owning a laptop was a matter of luxury. With the advent of mobile computing, another frontier was crossed when cellphones became slowly smart. Today’s smart phones can perform 80% functions of a laptop.

Tablets were introduced 3 years ago and tablet with SIM card and USB connectivity is now threatening both laptops and smart phones. I have also seen prototypes of tablet PCs with projector chip which can provide comfortable viewing for a group of 5-6 people.

Android and mobile computing apps have made life simpler for a cellphone user in many ways. The days ahead are difficult for laptops and desktops. In the near future, innovations in digital, embedded and pervasive computing will make computing present in physical objects as well. Smart mirrors, intelligent doorknobs, smart walls, tabletops and glass computing will make computing a very user-friendly and entertaining affair. We will be online when we wake up and many devices will provide and absorb information as we start our day. I don’t think after 2020, we will be using desktops or laptops. Life beyond 2030 will provide us ‘chips in body’ technology, which means computing will be part of our body, wherein chips will be surgically implanted. Today, computers carry convergence of data, audio and video. Next will be adding human thoughts as the fourth dimension.
Deepak Shikarpur, IT entrepreneur and chairman, IT committee, MCCIA

Wearable computing will be the next wave in the digital world
I agree that desktop computers will be outdated in the next couple of years. If you take even a basic android-powered smart phone, the processing power it has is almost comparable to a basic PC. We are getting cellphones with 1 gigahertz processing power, which was unimaginable even for PCs some years ago. With the processing power, increased memory and available apps, smart phones and tablets are bound to revolutionise computing and has enormous amount of potential, which PCs lack. Computing power with mobility and personalisation that are available with smart phones and tablets opens up a Pandora’s box. Today, in every family of 4 members, there are at least 2 smart phone users and 1 tablet user. Usage of basic smart phones will very soon go down among all the strata of people. With thousands of application developers and the cellphone apps being so user-friendly, anybody can learn to use it without a need to get trained. The future will be in multiplicity of device computing and connectivity will be embedded in many of the devices that we are using.

Wearable computing will be the next wave, which will be embedded in watches, goggles and many other mobile devices.
Prasad Shirgaonkar, CEO, AADII.NET

The wonderful world of apps has empowered devices
New ways of accessing digital content such as smart phones and tablets will continue to make their way into a consumer’s lifestyle. Their most compelling aspect is mobility i.e. accessing data whenever and wherever you want. The wonderful world of apps has empowered these devices with a wide range of functions. A lot of our time that was earlier consumed by the PC is now spent with these new web-enabled mobile devices. However, there is still some time before personal computers/ laptops get outdated. Their biggest advantage is ergonomics, more specifically screen size that allows us to use a PC for a longer duration. Imagine editing a 20-minute video or writing a research paper or maintaining financial accounts etc. Isn’t PC a more comfortable way of doing all these activities?
Mrunmaiy Abroal, Communication Manager, Opera Software India