Phones will soon have five senses, says IBM

Posted by Emma Woollacott

IBM has released its annual set of predictions for the next five years - and says it expects computers and smartphones to see, smell, touch, taste and hear.

You'll be able to touch through your phone, experiencing different textures, and your device will be able to suggest new flavor combinations and even detect if you're coming down with a cold.

"IBM scientists around the world are collaborating on advances that will help computers make sense of the world around them," says Bernie Meyerson, IBM fellow and VP of innovation.


A sense of touch would mean that shoppers could experience the texture of clothing before buying online, differentiating silk from linen or cotton, for example.

In terms of sight, says the company, systems will not only be able to look at and recognize the contents of images and visual data, they will be starting to make sense of it, much as a person views and interprets a photograph.


"By being trained to discriminate what to look for in images - such as differentiating healthy from diseased tissue - and correlating that with patient records and scientific literature, systems that can 'see' will help doctors detect medical problems with far greater speed and accuracy."

Improving sound perception will  allow devices to detect elements of sound such as  pressure, vibrations and sound waves at different frequencies - and use them, for example, to predict when trees will fall in a forest or when a landslide is on the way.

And your device will also be able to help when your palate's feeling a little jaded, says IBM.



And, says the report, your phone will soon be able to tell if you're ill by checking you for germs. The company's also working on systems to 'sniff' for disinfectant, for example, to check that hospital rooms are clean.

