Interview
The Future of Work: What’s Next for Hardware
- Desktop and mobile phones may shift toward software applications running on laptops and desktops, while PC purchases for home use are expected to continue as users prioritize quality equipment.
- Printing activity is forecast to accelerate in its decline due to challenges in transporting physical documents between remote and office locations, and traditional infrastructure companies face a projected aggregate revenue decline of approximately 3% annually over the next five years.
- Cloud-based architecture adoption will likely accelerate as on-premise data centers are viewed as static and less resilient, potentially prompting companies to ship wireless LAN access points to homes in exchange for IT troubleshooting and connection monitoring rights.
- Scanning technologies such as facial recognition and LiDAR may be integrated into laptops, desktops, and monitors over the next couple of years to enhance virtual environment interactions, though these will not yet achieve full immersion.
- Mass adoption of augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) glasses, enabling shared virtual presence, is estimated to occur three to five years from now, while product iterations featuring these technologies are expected to arrive within the next couple of years.
- 5G technology is positioned to provide high-speed wireless home access without fiber installation, becoming a strategic asset for broadband resilience against future lockdowns, with broadband access expected to become seamless across home, mobile, and office environments.
- Significant growth in home broadband access via 5G is anticipated in the interim, despite ongoing technical challenges regarding signal penetration through obstacles, with final data on potential user access availability expected by the end of next year.