Dominance of touchscreen ‘will reduce over the next five years’

This will, in turn, lead to a reduction in the dominance of touchscreen user interfaces over the next five years, the report claims.

The Mobile Device User Interface Innovation Study examines popular user interface (UI) methods alongside “the natural sensory technologies transitioning from research labs into future product solutions”. Across 11 unique features from wireless connectivity to embedded sensors, ABI Research found that hand and facial gesture recognition will experience the greatest growth in future smartphone and tablet shipments with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 30% and 43% respectively from 2014 to 2019.

“Touch got mobile device usability to where it is today, but touch will become one of many interfaces for future devices as well as for new and future markets,” said senior practice director at ABI Research, Jeff Orr.

“The really exciting opportunity arrives when multiple user interfaces are blended together for entirely new experiences, Orr added. “Packing a mobile device with sensors goes little beyond being a novelty. Complexity contradicts good UI design and a critical mass of engaging mobile applications are required for mainstream adoption.”

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