I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase “the future is already here.” It is not taking a decade. The technology that we love and that you recognize as our future is already here. But what will future technology look like when it arrives? How will we adapt to these intelligent advancements?
Will we be entertained, or will we be bored? Smartphones are not just a fun way to stay in touch. They can also be the solutions for convenience, privacy, and transactions in our daily lives.
These emerging and upcoming technologies are still in the early stages of development but are now becoming more accepted by consumers and businesses alike. One such trend is “connected homes” that use your Smartphone and connected devices to automatically control smart home systems like thermostats and lights. Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular, so expect this trend to continue in the next few years.
Future Technology that will change the world
The world is constantly changing and advancing with new technology. But what will the future hold? With breakthroughs in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, it is hard to predict exactly what changes are in store for us. However, here are some of the most promising technologies that could have a huge impact on our lives in the years to come.
Augmented Reality
Social media is not even close. Augmented reality is a trending future technology that allows one to see their physical environment while seeing a computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, or GPS data. One can also create a new reality by painting 3D objects onto their surroundings using a mobile phone’s camera and the internet.
In more detail: Augmented Reality is an experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are “augmented” by computer-generated perceptual information. This additional information can take many forms, such as sound, graphics, haptic feedback, or GPS data.
Reality is augmented in the sense that a user’s perception of a real object (such as their physical environment) is enhanced or altered by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, or GPS data. Virtual Reality replaces one’s actual reality with an entirely virtual experience; Augmented Reality creates a hybrid of reality and virtuality
The primary value of augmented reality is that it brings components of the digital world into a person’s perception of the real world, and does so not as a simple display of data, but through the integration of immersive sensations that are perceived as natural parts of an environment. (Augmented Reality)
A person using Augmented Reality is able to see their physical surroundings while computer-generated images augment the experience in real-time. Augmented reality merges live footage from the physical world with computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, or GPS data. The first of its kind was created by SRI International, a California-based think tank that invented early touchscreens and gesture controls. They built an AR headgear called “The Sword of Damocles.”
Space Travel
The new generation of space travel is happening soon. NASA has been testing a rocket that can go nearly 7 miles per second (that’s about eleven times faster than the Concorde jet). This would make traveling to mars much more feasible and less time-consuming.
We’re not talking about the first generation of space travel. We’re talking about the next level.
Since the early days of space flight, we’ve been fascinated by what is known as “space tourism” and are constantly watching for developments that will make it more affordable, accessible, and enjoyable.
In a recent study titled “Exploring Future Space Travel Costs,” it was found that if we took into account the costs associated with developing space technology as well as its potential benefits such as increasing possibilities for self-sustaining life in outer space, it would be estimated that the cost to develop a commercial space station could be reduced by at least 50 billion dollars. Such a reduction would save companies in the United States up to $18 billion per year in research and development costs.
The most exciting part of this study is that it further highlights how much progress has been made over the past few decades regarding our understanding of physics and spacecraft design; however, these breakthroughs are still in their infancy and we still have a long way to go before we can fully explore our own planet — let alone make it available for manned missions.
Autonomous Vehicles
-Autonomous vehicles, such as self-driving cars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are poised to provide a fundamental change in the way we think about transportation as well as logistics, mapping, and warfare. Such vehicles typically use a wide variety of sensors — lasers, radar, cameras — for vision and other “perception” functions that allow them to navigate safely in their environment.
-In addition to the ability to navigate safely in their environment, self-driving vehicles need a sense of where they are and what is around them. This problem has been studied under the name “localization”, and it turns out that localization problems have a lot in common with classic problems in computer vision such as image recognition.
-The vast majority of autonomous vehicles use GPS for navigation, and to obtain a 3D map of the world around them. But while GPS works great on open roads and in cities with clearly defined street names and lane markers, it’s easily fooled when conditions aren’t so ideal — and that makes some scenarios involving self-driving cars too dangerous to attempt today.
Graphene
Graphene is widely regarded as the next material that will completely change our lives. This carbon-based material was discovered in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester, who won Nobel prizes for their work.
The two professors found that graphene is 200 times stronger than steel, harder than diamond and extremely flexible, and possesses the ability to conduct heat and electricity.
Graphene also has a high degree of transparency and acts as an excellent isolator. This means that it is virtually invisible to wireless signals, which makes it ideal for use in computer chips where more circuits can be packed into less space. It could also make its way into satellite technology and may eventually replace silicon as the base material for semiconductors.
Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a tightly ordered lattice. In other words, it’s a single layer of graphite – which is essentially what makes up pencil lead. It’s also flexible and transparent, and it’s the strongest material on earth.
In 2011, a group of researchers from China created a graphene aerogel – which is an ultralight solid that does not exist in ordinary solids due to their extremely large internal surface area. It has been described as being one of the lightest substances on Earth. In addition, the graphene aerogel is flexible, strong, and recyclable. The material has electrical insulation properties up to 1000 times greater than those of currently available materials.
All of this means that graphene could go far beyond what silicon chips are capable of. It’s also highly conductive, which makes it an excellent candidate for use in batteries.
GPS three
Dimensional maps are just the beginning of a technology that will change our future.
In the 1970s, the U.S. government began a program to build and maintain three geostationary satellites in space that would form what was then known as the Global Positioning System (GPS). The American GPS satellite network was the first worldwide navigation system and revolutionized how people knew their position on earth. At first, the advantages
From the way certain technologies function to Sat Nav systems and location-based monitoring, GPS has had an influence on our everyday lives. The difficulty with GPS, though, is that the initial 24 satellites plus any others that were added did not give a precise resolution and were only accurate within a few feet.
They’re not perfect; for one thing, they don’t provide comprehensive coverage across the world since anybody who’s attempted to utilize location monitoring in difficult-to-reach regions or dense urban areas knows, and signals are really simple to obstruct
The outdated system, as well as its technology, is quite undesirable and in need of an upgrade. As a result, there is a significant desire to reform the system and improve it. The satellites, known as GPS three and developed by Lockheed Martin, are presently being launched and will soon be completely upgraded to the network.
Floating farms
Floating farms are huge floating containers that are filled with fish, fruits, vegetables, or any other type of crop. These can be located on lakes, rivers, and oceans near urban areas. This kind of farming is more efficient since they are using their own water supplies instead of pumping them in from somewhere else. They also don’t need to worry about soil quality or weather conditions, avoiding the hassle of traditional farming.
They are different from Vertical farms and Super Crop.
Instead of leaving space for crops in wide-open fields, there are now skyscraper-sized vertical farms that produce much more crops in a very small area. They use hydroponic techniques which allow them to grow crops indoors with just artificial light and water-based on a conveyor system. These vertical farms are not limited to city centers, they can be built in the middle of a desert or any other place where food would normally be scarce.
Super Crop is a plant that has been genetically engineered to grow much faster and bigger than regular crops while using less water and nutrients from the soil
Edge computing
Edge computing is one of the latest technical concepts which has been picking up steam, intended to bring us closer to this ideal. Edge computing focuses on devices that are close to where data is generated or used.
The main aim is to provide faster services at a lower cost while maintaining security and reliability. This could be seen in the cloud storage market, with many providers offering services where people can upload their files to the internet. postmodern
When you access these files, they are brought down from the cloud so you can work on them, and when you are done, your changes are uploaded again. The main challenge with this is that there is a delay in accessing your data because it needs to travel over the network to get to you.
In edge computing, the data is processed closer to where it was created. Your house might be a good example of this. You may have a powerful computer which you use for work at home, and a tablet or phone with lots of storage space, which you use when on the go.
Because of this distance between them in terms of distance or system capabilities, a better solution might be to keep all your work files in the cloud and use your phone for entertainment purposes. Instead of using the cloud directly from within our homes, we should focus on edge computing where you can get better overall performance and responsiveness by running services next to the data source.
At the same time, there are challenges to maintaining security and reliability with edge computing. The main one is that there is a risk of losing data if something unexpected happens to your local system, particularly if it’s more powerful than the cloud system. There may also be cases where somebody can intercept information on its way back to you.
Edge computing will bring us closer to this ideal, but it will require a lot of effort to get right. There are also many other factors that contribute to how we use our devices every day. How do you see edge computing affecting the way we use our devices?
Hydrogen fuel cells
Hydrogen fuel cells are currently at the forefront of automotive technology. Automobile manufacturers are investing heavily in the development and promotion of this technology to produce zero-emission vehicles for use in everyday life.
However, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HCV) are not without their problems. Hydrogen storage is still viewed as an issue by many; hydrogen can be compressed to a liquid at 700bar and stored under high pressure, but this is extremely costly.
There are also the issues of safety and potential for leaks to consider. The cars themselves can be very expensive to produce compared with similar electric/battery-powered vehicles: Toyota’s latest FCV is rumored to cost $69,000.
This puts it in the same bracket as a top-of-the-range Tesla Model S. The FCVs themselves are considerably slower than standard petrol counterparts, with 0-60mph taking around 10 seconds and a top speed of 111mph.
It’s not just car manufacturers who are displaying interest in hydrogen technology, however: ITM Power recently received $9m in funding from the European Union to begin building hydrogen refueling stations across Europe. There are currently just three stations in operation, but by 2020 they hope that there will be at least 100.
Hydrogen is an incredibly abundant resource on the planet, mainly present with water. This means that it can be created using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind.
Satellite constellations
As the cost of launching satellites into orbit reduces and with the improvement in component design and the potential uses of space technology, a number of big tech companies are now exploring the feasibility of creating their own satellite constellations.
These constellations consist of hundreds or thousands of small satellites that will be much closer to Earth than traditional high-flying satellites that are used for telecommunications right now. It is expected they will use the same technology to provide internet access all over the world, bringing connectivity to under-served areas and offering speeds much faster than current 4G LTE technologies used by wireless companies today.
The low orbit of these constellations also enables them to cover more area on Earth, which means more potential customers on the ground. However, they may also pose a danger to traditional satellites used by many organizations for Earth observation and military use.
The companies involved in these space technology projects include Alphabet (Google), SpaceX, Boeing, and OneWeb.
OneWeb is already working on its first six satellites ahead of launching 900 similar satellites in the near future.
Google’s project is known as Project Loon, which will use balloons instead of satellites for delivering internet access to remote areas. However, it was recently reported that Google has also made an investment in SpaceX with a view to using its technology for connecting people on Earth.
SpaceX once again confirmed last week that it plans to fly two paying customers around the Moon and back within the next two years using its Falcon Heavy rocket and Crew Dragon capsule.
GPT
The Future of Artificial Intelligence
The concept known as GPT is the idea of a computer writing and publishing its own articles on any given subject, without human oversight or interaction.
So what’s an example of this? Well, two examples were actually released by [company x] and [company y]. One article discusses how self-driving cars will eventually be more efficient than human drivers, and another discusses the reasons for Elon Musk’s behavior.
So wait a second. Isn’t this just a form of automated writing? In some regards, yes. But the difference here is that GPT can take in any stream of information possible and then come up with an overall conclusion that can be published with no oversight.
This means that in the very near future, facts won’t come from vetted sources, they’ll come from unfiltered data across the web. The implications of this are huge, and while some may say it’s dangerous or irresponsible to let computers analyze information on their own, it will undeniably lead to major changes in how technology works.
So will this be the future of AI? And if so, what are some possible implications?
Connected homes
The idea of connected homes isn’t new, but it is becoming increasingly popular as technology progresses. The connectivity of many different devices in a home allows them to all work together.
Connected homes utilize the power of automation and IoT (internet of things) technologies to simplify everyday tasks such as controlling several smart appliances with one device, or adjusting an entire house’s temperature from a phone screen. For example, connected lights could turn on by themselves when it gets dark.
While the idea of connected homes isn’t new, technology is allowing us to be increasingly efficient in our usage of time when at home. For example, researchers are working on developing automated vacuum cleaners that do not require any type of remote control or direct supervision; instead, they can operate themselves by utilizing sensors to detect dirt and obstacles.
This way, they can clean for longer hours than traditional models and adjust to changing patterns of usage throughout the day without human intervention.
Connected homes are already fully functional in some buildings, including some complexes where all electricity is controlled by one main power source (e.g., solar). Regardless of whether every single structure on a property is ‘smart’ or not, residents can still make use of many conveniences.
Examples include security systems, where cameras are placed around the property and alerts are sent to homeowner’s phones in case of an emergency; this way, they do not need to be at home to monitor what is going on (and therefore worry less).
Lithium metal battery
Lithium metal battery has the potential to boost electric vehicles and energy grid stability.
Lithium metal batteries (non-rechargeable) are commonly used in watches. A rechargeable version, like the lithium-ion battery, is found in laptops and mobile phones. They can also be made bigger for use in cars and trucks to store more power, potentially causing less environmental damage.
“Lithium metal batteries offer a very interesting opportunity because they can — theoretically — reach much higher energy density than other types of batteries,” says lead author Huayou Cobalt’s Zhu. “Currently, our lithium-ion batteries have an upper limit of about 600-700Wh/l and we’ve achieved that already.”
With twice the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, they could store enough power to drive one million electric cars for the same weight as today’s fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
They are not without issues, however – currently, they can dissolve organic electrolytes, which limits their use in wet conditions.
Using a cobalt-based material means that some of the cobalt ends up in the final product, typically a graphite electrode. This is bad from an environmental point of view because it means that valuable cobalt is being lost rather than recycled and because it involves what Cobalt’s Zhu describes as “energy-intensive” processes which can release pollutants.
The proposed solution to this problem comes from the cathode, rather than the anode. Silicate compounds are used in lithium-ion batteries to prevent them from degrading over time. Cobalt’s Zhu suggests trying the same approach with cobalt silicates which have added carbonate ions to make them stable enough to avoid the problems of dissolved electrolytes.
To produce these batteries so-called “green chemistry” techniques are needed, minimizing the use of toxic chemicals and reducing the risk to human health.
While lithium metal batteries using cobalt silicate cathodes remain promising, Cobalt’s Zhu emphasizes caution for their development due to issues with processing and durability.
3d printing
3d printing is a way of making 3-dimensional objects by printing successive layers.
It was first introduced in the 1980s, with one machine being called “rapid prototyping machine”.
They were very expensive at that time and used mainly to print plastic items.
3D printers are now more accessible and affordable, they are also easier to use, and allow for more materials to be used.
The principle is very simple: a 3D printer typically consists of only one or two motors that move the extruder back and forth, while another motor makes the extruder go up and down.
Then comes the tricky part: The computer takes digital information (typically STL, OBJ, or AMF files, like 3D models), and tells the printer how to move its motors in order to create an object.
The extruder is essentially a motorized syringe, it moves back and forth over the working area (the “build plate”) where it deposits material layer after layer until an object appears.
One of the main advantages of 3d printing is that limited and simple geometries can be achieved with very few moving parts.
The first rapid prototyping machines were expensive and used mainly to print plastic objects, but nowadays many materials can be used:
plastic, metal, silver paste for printed circuit boards, chocolate, sugar… even living cells.
3D printers are used in all kinds of industries, from medicine to art.
The technology is still rapidly developing and 3d printing can be used more efficiently than ever before. Only time will tell how the technology evolves…
Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology at its core is a shared, immutable distributed ledger. This means that anyone with access to the ledger itself can see what’s been entered into it and change anything they’d like as long as they have an internet connection.
The most useful aspect of this technology is that it removes the need for a central party to maintain its accuracy. While this might not be particularly useful in terms of transactions, where the ledger acts as an additional step between two parties, Blockchain technology enables us to decentralize many different types of data storage by removing the need for trust between parties.
Many of you may be thinking, “what’s the big deal”? Data storage isn’t particularly hard, there are many cloud providers who offer large amounts of space for very little money. The issue with this type of service is that someone else has the power to decide what you should and shouldn’t have access to, or even worse, to remove your data completely.
A large example of the big deal that is blockchain technology stems from what happened to net neutrality in the United States recently where ISP’s are now allowed to sell priority on their networks. This means that if someone with a lot of money wanted to pay an ISP, they could offer preferential access for individuals who use their services.
This would mean that anyone who couldn’t afford to pay could access the internet at a much slower speed than those that could. This is just one example of how centralization can be dangerous and it’s certainly not limited to data storage.
Blockchain technology has huge implications for all industries, here are some examples:
Net Neutrality – Blockchain technology can be used to decentralize control of the internet, which means that it cannot be controlled by ISP’s.
Music Industry – Artists can release their own songs on a blockchain where people will pay them directly for listening using micropayments. This means that no intermediary is necessary and artists are paid exactly how much they deserve.
Data Security – Storing data on the blockchain means it cannot be hacked, with no central point of failure.
Supply Chain Management – The blockchain can be used to track products along their entire supply chain so that they are not faked or damaged.
Energy Consumption – Blockchain technology can give smart contracts to things like energy companies where they will automatically pay you for using less energy than you’re supposed to and can also keep track of energy consumption.
Payments – The blockchain is a decentralized ledger that means transactions within it don’t need to go through a third party, which means transaction fees are much lower and it’s very fast.
Decentralized Autonomous Organisations (DAO) – This has huge implications for democracy, removing the need to put trust in politicians or their ability to speak on behalf of voters.
Source Code Reference: https://github.com/lukechilds/SCC-Blockchainarticle91e80d4ad67adcaf5c30f3e6ce7086fa43b0a
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale. It deals with structures sized between 1 and 100 nanometers in at least one dimension. The concept is based on the “assembler” which would be able to create nearly any object from raw atoms, allowing a nanotechnological revolution in manufacturing to take place.
The word itself is derived from the prefix ‘nano’ which means 10−9, or one billionth. It was first used by Norio Taniguchi in 1974 to describe semiconductor fabrication techniques that produce structures smaller than 100 nanometers.
The idea of creating machines with atomic precision surfaced soon after Richard Feynman’s famous 1959 talk There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom, where he discussed the possibility of manipulating individual atoms as part of a thought experiment.
The term “nano-technology” was first coined by Norio Taniguchi in 1974 when he wrote a series of articles for Asahi Shimbun. He is also credited with coining the term ‘quantum dot’ in 1981 to describe the quantum mechanical properties of semiconductor particles on the nanometer scale.
The Japanese National Nanotechnology Initiative had organized several conferences by that name, but it was not until 1997 that more permanent organization began through an initiative of Arden Bement, then Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) which hosted the 1st Foresight Conference on Nanotechnology, in October 1995.
In 1996, an initiative was proposed by Darcy Peterka (NIST), Tom Murcko (Rice University), and Jim Von Ehr (Caltech) to form a non-profit organization that would hold ‘Nano’ conferences consistent with the original ‘Foresight’ vision.
On July 23, 2004, the NNI (National Nanotechnology Initiative) was ‘formally launched by U.S. President George Bush with a Presidential Directive aimed at strengthening and coordinating nanotechnology R&D’. This Directive made a commitment to a broader definition of nanotechnology that included ‘the application of specific nanoscale structures and dimensions to enhance or enable new or improved function’.
The definition is: “Nanotechnology” as used herein refers to the understanding of matter and engineering at an atomic, molecular, and macromolecular scale. The United States National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) was established in 2001 by President Bush under Executive
Quantum computing
Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize computing in a way that classical computers can’t match. Unlike all other forms of machine learning, quantum computing uses quantum phenomena in addition to the familiar properties of transistors and information.
The problem with quantum computing is that, while it harnesses beautiful mathematics, it requires entirely new technology, and has the potential to be massively unstable. Developers now need to find a way of putting quantum computing into practice, by creating algorithms that work with current and future technology.
What is quantum computing?
Quantum computers are devices that can process information using quantum bits (or qubits) instead of processing 0s and 1s like regular computers. Qubits are the key to harnessing the power of quantum physics, using concepts such as entanglement. Eigendecomposition of a large number (for example, factoring the number 21) would be much faster on quantum computers than on any other kind.
But harnessing that power requires quantum error correction, to protect against the destructive effects of decoherence.
Computer scientists have been trying to build quantum computers for decades. Now that the future technology is close, they need to learn new ways of doing things that aren’t possible on conventional systems. Quantum algorithms are one way to do this.
These are computer software specifically designed for quantum devices, using concepts such as entanglement. Once complete, they’ll be able to solve problems that are just too complex for conventional computers.
There’s still a long way to go before you see quantum algorithms in use, however. The trick is harnessing all this potential without losing the qubits. The machine can’t be too hot, too noisy, or too small, and it needs to run for long periods of time before any useful computation takes place.
Drones & Robots
A drone is an unmanned aircraft. An unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) is a machine that can safely fly without any human guidance. Drones are widely used in military operations, but their use is becoming more common across all sectors of society, for example in law enforcement and by businesses.
To avoid collisions with people or objects, drones monitor the airspace around them with their onboard sensors. If they lose the signals from these sensors, they carefully crash land before losing power. This means that drones can also operate in dangerous or inaccessible terrain.
Drones are now being used to carry out a variety of tasks, such as capturing images of severe weather events so more accurate forecasts can be produced. Drones are even being used to disperse mosquito repellent in a bid to reduce the spread of malaria.
In agriculture, drones scan plants and crops on large scales, enabling farmers to spot problems quickly and efficiently so they can be treated before it’s too late.
In the future, we expect that drones will do more than just carry out physical tasks. UAVs could also transport goods as well as people, as a pilotless helicopter already demonstrated during a test flight in Dubai. Researchers are looking at how drones can be used to transport blood and organs for medical purposes.
A robot is a machine designed to carry out a variety of often complex human tasks on command or by being programmed in advance.
There is a wide range of different kinds of robots and they are becoming an increasingly important part of the manufacturing sector, particularly in Japan and some countries in Europe. Robots can carry out tasks that would be extremely dangerous to humans such as defusing bombs or exploring mines deep underground for example.
Robots are also already used in some hospitals, helping with operations and procedures. But although they look like humans, robots are not conscious beings. Robots don’t make their own decisions; they carry out the commands they are given by people. This includes household cleaning robots that can vacuum or wash floors without human input once programmed in advance.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy is a form of alternative energy that, unlike traditional resources such as coal and oil, cannot be depleted by use. Renewable sources include wind power and solar power, and many other types of low-impact and environment-friendly energies.
Solar Energy: Solar energy is created by the sun’s rays, which reach the earth as photons. Photovoltaic panels convert these photons into energy, which is then used to power the electrical grid.
Wind Energy: Wind energy uses turbines to create wind currents, which are in turn converted by generators for electricity production.
Biomass Energy: Fossil fuels are biological materials that release stored solar energy through burning or decomposition. Biomass sources include landfill waste, plants, wood, and other organic materials. Geothermal Energy: Heat from within the Earth’s crust powers geothermal reservoirs. Steam is typically used to turn generators for electricity production.
Tidal Energy: When the gravitational pull of the moon or sun creates a bulge in an ocean or inland body of water, the resulting gravitational energy is used for tidal power.
Hydroelectric Energy: Water pushes against turbine blades that in turn rotate air intake fans. The rotating fans in turn spin generators for electricity production.
The future is already here. Technology that we love and think of as our future technology, such as graphene, GPS three, floating farms, edge computing, self-healing concrete, hydrogen fuel cells, GPT 3, connected homes, lithium metal battery,3D printing, blockchain, drones & robots? nanotechnology is all around us now. The truth is that the future isn’t coming; it’s already here. All you have to do is open your eyes and see it for yourself.”
The future is now, and you’re already living in it. These are just a few of the technological trends that have been developed over the last century that will shape our lives today and tomorrow. Some of these upcoming future technology surely will make your brain spin more.