For years, technology companies added screens to more and more products, from watches and cars to household appliances. Now, a different approach is emerging: devices that minimise their displays or dispense with them altogether.
The shift is not simply a return to older technology. Generative AI, voice assistants and systems that understand natural language can let people request information or carry out tasks without looking through menus and apps. Designers often describe this approach as “ambient” or “invisible” technology: products that stay in the background and step in when needed.
Interest has also grown amid concerns about notification overload and time spent looking at digital devices. Smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo Dot, Apple HomePod Mini and Google Nest Mini have helped make voice-based interaction familiar, allowing users to ask for music, check the weather or control connected devices without a screen.
Other examples include smart headphones and glasses that deliver information through audio, as well as screen-free fitness bands. The products named in the original report include Fitbit Air, ēllu band and Amazfit Helio Strap, which are designed for activity tracking, safety features or training and recovery.
The Humane AI Pin offered a more ambitious example. Presented at Mobile World Congress in 2024, it was designed to be worn on clothing and controlled through voice, gestures and a light projection onto the user’s hand. It failed to win over the market and was withdrawn less than a year after launch, following HP’s acquisition of much of the company. Its fate, however, has not ended efforts to develop alternatives.
Screen-free devices promise to reduce reliance on visual interfaces and make simple tasks quicker. A spoken request to turn on a light or play a song, for example, may be easier than opening an app. Some designers also see the approach as a way to counter the attention economy, in which apps compete for users’ focus.
There are trade-offs. Screens remain effective for presenting large amounts of information, comparing options and handling complex tasks. Devices that rely on microphones and voice processing also raise privacy concerns, including how personal data is collected, used and secured.
A future without screens is unlikely. A more plausible outcome is a hybrid model: voice, AI and automation for everyday interactions, with visual displays still available when a task calls for them.
Sources: El País Tecnología.