5.+The+Future+of+Tablet+Computing

Consumers of tablets find the convenience and accessibility of __Tablet computers__ to be fairly expensive commodities considering the hardware. Reviews for Tablet computers continue to receive somewhat less than satisfactory ratings. In the article, "Living with technology: The trouble with tablets" a consumer lists the following complaints about their iPad:


 * Expensive
 * Hard to read in sunlight
 * Difficult to type on the touch screen keyboard

With the success of iPads, due to its user experience and its refined design, it’s a race for other companies to design their version of __Tablet PCs__. The price point, hardware and software restrictions of the __iPad__ leaves more than enough room for competition and innovation.

At the CES 2011, manufacturers are aspiring to do just that. This year’s __Tablet__ are going to include faster dual-core ARM processors, 3G or 4G network connectors with data plans, and will be thin and light with high resolution screens. Google is releasing the Honeycomb, which includes the Android OS firmware update, was expected to be released in February. This will give software developers and manufacturers an opportunity to get back into the Tablet PC game.

In the report, “[|iPad and Beyond: What the Future of Computing Holds],” released in October, 2011, Gartner research director Angela McIntyre describes numerous computing prototypes that are in development by various manufacturers. These prototypes predict how consumers and businesses will change their gadget habits within the next decade as various devices are designed similar to today’s __tablets__.
 * __phones__ that use a docked tablet as a screen for videoconferencing
 * home media systems that come with a tablet for controlling the TV and accessing the Internet
 * washing machines that allow users to start the machine or change settings through a tablet from another room in the home
 * point-of-sale systems that retail staff use to enter customer orders or data from anywhere in the store (similar to how __Apple__ stores use iPhones today)
 * tablets docked in __car dashboards__ to replace navigation devices, in-car music and video systems, and car-interior temperature and other controls
 * wirelessly connected at-home healthcare systems, such as a blood-pressure-reading bracelet device, oximeter, and a bathroom scale that together sync with a tablet to help analyze a user’s health and send data to a doctor
 * tablets that replace __digital signage__ in retail environments
 * two tablets that can hinge their screens together to be opened and read like a traditional book.

In February, 2012, Asus introduced a __tablet computer__ and __cell phone__ combination mobile device called the [|Asus PadFone]. The Padfone is an ideal device for people who don’t want to shell out cash for two separate devices, or for those who would prefer the simplicity of maintaining a single device.