Image via Wikipedia
With the trend toward all-in-one devices, you may be wondering if most hardware is becoming obsolete. Here’s an overview of some popular hardware and an analysis of whether its days are numbered.
Printers
Even though cloud sharing, email, and other tools have greatly reduced the need for printing reams of documents, there still is the occasional need to fire up the printer. So, these devices are not likely going away altogether. However, they are getting smarter. There are touch screen models that make printing easier and printing “in the cloud” can give users better access to printers—all you need is an Internet connection for the source and a printer that’s hooked up to the Internet. Maybe it’s just adapter cables that are going to the wayside.
Web Cams
Many people still have a globular webcam perched atop their monitor at home and at the office. As time passes, more and more laptops, mobile devices, and desktop monitors are coming with built-in web cams. So, the webcam itself is not going away, but it’s being integrated into other devices.
Keyboards
While most desktop computers still come with traditional keyboards, users are increasingly exposed to touch screens and flat keyboards, thanks to the proliferation of notepads and smartphones. It will be exciting to see how this evolution ultimately plays out. Someday, keyboards may be piled up alongside typewriters.
The Mouse
This piece of hardware may find itself caught up in the same whirlwind that could carry away the old-style keyboards. Laptops that use finger pads or touch pads and touch screen technology on portable devices have made clicking a mouse seem quaint and clunky.
