Gartner: people are hungrier than ever for devices

There’s a video that’s made its way around the web a million or so times: it shows all the devices we used to need on our desk and how every function they performed can now be done with a laptop and smartphone. It suggests that our lives are simpler now and that we need fewer things. It could be right too, but it doesn’t mean we want fewer things.

Not even a little bit.

In fact, according to technology research house Gartner, we’re buying more devices than ever and are unlikely to slow down anytime in the near future.

During the next five years, Gartner says, consumers will add more devices to their personal portfolio rather than consolidating it. By 2018, it says, a consumer in a mature market will use and own more than three personal devices.

According to Gartner, the installed base of devices (including wearables, phones, tablets and PCs) will reach 7.8-billion units by 2016 and is on track to reach 8.3-billion units in 2018.

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“The combination of the high level of adoption of technology, the availability of faster networks, and decision making becoming increasingly dependent on real-time information, will undoubtedly lead to more devices per user,” said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner.

The research house expects mature market users to use three to four personal devices from a mix of “main” and “niche” devices. Main devices will include smartphones, tablets, convertibles (two-in-one devices) and notebooks, and will contribute to more than two devices per person at any time. Niche devices will include a growing range of wearables such as smart watches, health bands, smart glasses and new types of connected devices such as smart cards, e-readers and portable cameras.

Gartner has made several more predictions for the personal device market, including:

By 2018, at least one non-traditional phone maker will be among the top five smartphone brands in China

“Chinese Internet companies are investing aggressively in mobile device hardware development, platforms and distribution to secure a prominent position in the smartphone market,” said CK Lu, principal research analyst at Gartner. “They are not only keen to increase user loyalty and engagement through partnerships and investments, but also willing to sacrifice today’s hardware revenue in order to secure higher net worth and a more profitable revenue stream in the future.”

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As a result, Gartner says, the smartphone segment is becoming increasingly competitive and complex, and the way in which value is derived from it is also changing. “The smartphone market will become more fluid and will allow new players to enter it,” added Lu. “The entrance of Chinese Internet companies will put further pressure on traditional smartphone vendors, who will be forced to innovate beyond hardware in order to stay in the game.”

By 2019, 20% of personal devices will record emotions used to create individual responses or crowdsourced analysis by the system

“With wearables recording heart rates, blood pressure, sleep patterns and steps taken, emotions are the next frontier for personal devices,” said Annette Zimmermann, research director at Gartner.

Gartner estimates that over 740-million wearables will be in use in 2016, up 20% from 2015. Wearables are set to reach 1.1-billion units by 2019.

Emotions can be measured using a combination of different sensors, including sound recording, or human emotions could be captured and analysed by recording facial expressions via video or a still camera. “Organisations will be able to translate voice analysis into training tools for customer service employees, and smartphones will be able to analyse conversations and provide feedback on how to improve client interactions,” said Ms Zimmermann.

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Devices tracking personal health and fitness will become more accurate, allowing people to better track their physical and mental health. At the same time, organisations will be able to track the stress or fatigue levels of employees who work in hazardous environments or carry heavy responsibility (such as air traffic controllers), and take preventative measures where necessary.

By 2019, one-third of PC users will use speech or gestures to issue commands

With the recent introduction of 3D cameras on desktop and notebook PCs — together with the Windows 10 personal assistant feature — gesture and voice are set to boost existing keyboard and touch functions.

By 2019, Gartner estimates that more than 60 per cent of total PC installed base will be on Windows 10. “If at least half of Windows 10 users opt for voice or gesture to give commands, that will make 30% of the installed base using this function,” said Lillian Tay, principal research analyst at Gartner.

“Speech and gesture will bring new usage and productivity gains in the commercial sector,” said Ms Tay. “Take, for example, in field service where a worker can have hands-free access to files and documents by using a gesture to flip a page. Similarly, at home, voice and gesture provide a nice fit with a hands-free PC interaction scenario. For example, waving to a screen to change the page of a recipe book when the user is cooking, or opening a browser to search and add items to a grocery shopping list whenever something comes to mind.”