To understand how impactful this advancement will be, we have listed below 10 technological trends that will change the world in the coming years.
1. Internet of Things
Click to Read: 10 Real Instances of IOT in Use
IoT is currently trending and has become a hot topic of discussion everywhere. Just connect any device to the internet and then the data is analyzed and transferred in such a way that the machine knows the user's needs on its own. Nest thermostat and Philips light bulbs are some notable examples of IoT that are gradually becoming an essential part of our lives.
In the future, it is estimated that more and more devices will be connected to the Internet on a large scale. Possibly someday the alarm clock would transmit the brewer to make a cup of coffee or the refrigerator would order food when the supply ran out. However, this will need some time to implement.
According to Mr. Cees Links, Founder of Green Peak Technologies, we need to understand the rules and legislations associated with IoT before it becomes a common practice; just like what happened with Wi-Fi.
2. Augmented reality
In this trend, the real-world environment is supplemented through computer-generated sensory inputs in the form of video, audio, graphics and GPS. It works to improve users' vision, combining the digital world with the real world. Although it is perceived as a large part of the gaming industry, the fact is that it has been applied in military and medical applications since the beginning. It can be availed in the form of devices like glasses, wearable devices, head-mounted display, etc.
Today, it is being developed to be used in almost all areas, such as tourism, art and architecture, education and others. It will soon be common for people to use this technology to see what a sofa would look like in their living room or what a house would look like on a certain piece of land.
3. 3D printing
3D printing is the process by which a three-dimensional object is printed from a digital file, layer by layer. It is currently being used in several areas, such as the fashion, healthcare and automotive industries. It started with printing plastic material which later evolved into metals and now it can even print human cells.
Day after day, the 3D printing industry is growing at a rapid pace, with experiments being carried out on food, body parts and internal organs, automobiles and even homes. It is believed that the manufacturing and design sector would be largely affected by this trend in the near future. If everyone could print everything, no one would actually be buying anything and that's apparently not a positive thing to happen.
4. Artificial intelligence
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Artificial Intelligence is actually the ability of machines to think and act like humans. Today the stage has arrived where machines can adapt to the environment and perform various tasks without being told what to do. Robots are being developed to understand human emotions and to work like humans in factories. Additionally, they are available as chatbots to serve customers online, offer medical diagnosis suggestions and act as virtual assistants on smartphones.
Reportedly, it is growing at such a fast rate that it could even replace humans in the near future which could lead to mass unemployment. Without a doubt, this trend will make decision making easier and save a lot of time and costs, but most technology experts believe that it will be a huge setback for humans if the right limit is not decided.
5. Microelectromechanical Systems
This technology is used to build very small or integrated devices by combining mechanical and electrical components. The size of these devices can vary from 1 micron to a few millimeters. It can be commonly seen in the form of accelerometers with objects such as airbags equipped in modern cars, Nintendo game controllers, or smartphones and laptops.
The expanding IoT market, increasing production of wearable gadgets and the growing need for integrated devices will drive the volume of MEMs in the coming years. At some point, this technology could be used in the form of tiny microrockets equipped on space shuttles.
6. Quantum Teleportation
It is a process in which quantum information, i.e. the exact state of an atom or photon, can be teleported from one location to another through the quantum entanglement between the two locations. However, unlike the Star Trek Transporter series, it is not possible to transfer matter (say, human) through this technique.
Apparently, there have been numerous experiments on quantum teleportation since the 90s and it has been quite challenging. Even though it can't be applied to humans, a recent experiment has brought the trend closer to real-life applications . Basically, it presented a way to send encrypted messages over the web and now the challenge is to make it available to the masses on a large scale.
7. Nanotechnology
Suggested reading: Nanotechnology and its role in agriculture
It is the branch of technology that allows us to study and understand the subject at the nanoscale. It allows us to observe atoms and molecules that would not otherwise be visible. Today, it can be found in cosmetics (anti-aging lotions and sunscreens) and in clothing to make surfaces self-cleaning for a long time.
Over the next 20 years, this concept will affect the lives of each of us. It will be possible to make nanobots that will autonomously enter patients' bloodstreams and repair all damage . However, like any other trend, this could be harmful to health as well as the economy in the future.
8. Blockchain Technology
Blockchain is an innovation that serves as proof for all transactions that occur over the internet. The blockchain contains several blocks interconnected with each other, where each block carries batches of valid transactions. It is an electronic accounting system that can considerably reduce cybercrimes.
In the future, this trend will be popular among banks in settling fixed income transactions and managing stocks. Furthermore, it can also be used by small businesses to create reliable trading platforms. While this would mean a lot of time and efficiency savings, it could eliminate the need for multiple banking apps that would affect the work of bank employees.
9. Big data
Conventionally, Big Data is defined by data sets with a size that is beyond management by traditional databases. However, in recent years, the meaning has changed to tools that have the ability to manage large amounts of data. Due to the growing popularity of IoT and wearable gadgets, this value will multiply further in the coming years.
Due to the increase in the use of the web, the database created daily amounts to 2.5 quintillion bytes. Therefore, Big Data is very important to make better use of this data and manage it properly. Cisco believes the Big Data industry will reach $450 billion next year and up to $85 billion by 2020.
10. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is defined by the practice of storing data and programs on the Internet rather than on a personal computer's hard drive. Sharing data on a cloud means it can be easily accessed by other (authorized) users anytime, anywhere. The most common example of a cloud service is Google Drive.
It has many advantages such as reduced operational cost, high security, and unparalleled flexibility along with instant system updates. Cloud computing service will benefit every industry in many ways. It will help people stay fit, help companies go global, help online shoppers shop and eliminate language barriers.
Conclusion
After looking at the emerging technological trends that will transform the future, it can be concluded that the future certainly holds a lot of changes. However, changes can be positive and negative and, when it comes to technology, the implications will obviously be quite serious. From Artificial Intelligence to Nanotechnology, excessive dependence can be very disruptive, as discussed above.
According to Steve Case, an American entrepreneur, “For better or worse, this is true with any new innovation, certainly with any new technological innovation. There are a lot of good things that come out of this, but also some bad things. All you can do is try to maximize the good things and minimize the bad.”
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