IBM forecasts holograms in mobile phones for 2015

"Help me, IBM, you're my only hope." IBM's latest technology forecast for the next five years includes mobile phones with 3D holographic capabilities.

IBM has released its fifth annual “Five in Five” forecasts, illustrating five technology innovations it believes will come to pass in the next five years. And while each of the predictions is intriguing, one is certainly capturing a lot of attention: mobile phones with built-in holographic projectors so users can get a 3D view of the people with whom they’re speaking…and maybe cute little blue-and-grey robots too.

IBM’s technological forecasts include:

• Ubiquitous simple sensors in electronic devices that turn everyday people into “citizen scientists,” automatically reporting things like climatic data (first freeze, first thaw, dry streams, etc.) as well as helping emergency responders and others in the event of a natural disaster.
• Two-way, 3D holographic-based communication technology will begin appearing in a wide variety of communications devices—including cell phones—enabling new levels of communications between people, as well as workplace collaboration. IBM forecasts the technology will enable users to interact with 3D objects (and people!) in real time.
• Batteries that “breathe air” to obtain oxygen to generate power, as well advances in battery technology that enable electronics to operate about 10 times longer than they do today. IBM also forecasts that advances in static and kinetic electricity will be able to eliminate batteries from some small electronic devices.
• Energy and heat generated by computer data centers will be repurposed to heat (and cool) buildings.
• Adaptive traffic systems will move beyond current GPS routing technology to learn traffic patterns and behaviors that help commuters move in and around cities in the most efficient way possible at any given time.

So, this being the fifth annual “Five in Five” forecast from IBM, how is the company doing with its predictions from 2006? One thing they forecast in the first “Five in Five” list was instantaneous computerized speech translation, and that hasn’t happened yet. However, in 2007 IBM forecast cell phones would be used as shopping assistants, banks, ticket services, and wallets—so it looks like they’re occasionally ahead of the game.

Logitech suspends Revue shipments, waits for Google app store

Logitech is halting all Revue shipments until Google gets their act together with the Google TV OS and marketplace.

The Logitech Revue, one of a trio of currently available Google TV products from Logitech and Sony, has drawn mixed reviews in early sales. Some have enjoyed Google’s Android internet TV fixings, but others have criticized rough edges in the interface and lack of utility. One of major sources of criticism is Google TV’s inability to access the Android Marketplace. Critics say that without apps, the box is just another internet-connected video streamer like Roku or AppleTV, with the only new feature being the inclusion of a search engine.

Google apparently is taking these criticism to heart and, according to reports, recently told its television partners (except for Samsung) to hold off on announcing their Google TV products while it fixes the OS. Now Logitech has temporarily suspended shipments of the Revue, according to sources speaking with Digitimes.

The sources cited say Logitech had originally predicted shipments of 500,000 units by the end of 2010, but is now forced to wait for Google to upgrade the Android distribution that its box relies on. Logitech has told Gigabyte, who it contracts to assemble the device’s hardware, to cease production.

The report follows recent comments by Sony TV chief Hiroshi Yoshioka, in which the Sony executive indicated that while sales of the company’s Google TV products (Google TV-equipped televisions and a Google TV Blu-Ray player) were meeting expectations, the product quality was not. He stated that it would “take a little longer for users to really start having fun”, presumably referring to the much anticipated January-February update from Google.

Even if Google can deliver apps to Google TV and convince its various hardware partners to stick with it, the platform already has been dealt a serious blow by the television networks. Numerous networks have joined together in blocking Google TV from accessing their online video offerings, despite the Google TV software have the requisite Flash player. It is possible that Google could try to tweak its browser to circumvent these restrictions, but if it’s planning that, it’s keeping its hand close to its chest.

Even if the Logitech production halt proves true, buyers will likely still be able to purchase units well into January, as retailers likely have some stock on hand. No formal sales halts have been announced at this point.

The only announced upcoming Google TV product launch at this point is the revamped Samsung SmartTV line, which is expected to be introduced in January.