What is the future going to look like?
- Asad Naqvi
- Apr 21, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 10, 2019
As a kid, i remember being amazed while watching “The Jetsons” - an American animated sitcom based on a comical version of futuristic world. In this blog i will try to take a stab at the different types on inventions that might change the face of planet earth in the next few years. I am not going to be focussing on specific technologies, rather i will talk about their potential applications in a few industries that i find interesting. This is also not an exhaustive list by any standards.
1. Transportation
Just like cars re-shaped the 20th century, self driving cars are meant to change the 21st century. If you buy a new car today, you’re getting a preview of how driving will change as we move into the era of autonomous, connected vehicles. Features that help you park the car in a tight spot, automatically adjust cruise control speeds and sound an alert when the car drifts out of its lane are examples of technology now offered by automakers.These new generation of cars are not only going to be able to get you from point A to B, but also talk to each other to make sure your drive is safe and convenient. Moreover, this will also force independent governments to adopt intelligent transportation systems to guide traffic concerns. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, ITS improves transportation safety and mobility by integrating advanced, wireless communications technologies into transportation infrastructure and vehicles.
2. Retail
We have already seen a significant change in the way we shop. Erstwhile brick and mortar stores are no more enough. Almost every successful retailer has an e-commerce platform. However, technologies like smart clothing, augmented reality and virtual reality are set to take it up a notch. Retailers are now looking to provide the full scale experience of shopping at your home. For example, a new mobile app from home furnishing retailer IKEA brings products virtually into your home, allowing customers to gauge how much space they need to plan around or determine the best color scheme for their home. Long standing online marketplaces, like eBay, have made it simpler to search for products using pictures through techniques such as AI and image recognition. The way we shop will also evolve with augmented reality, AI and connected data all playing their parts. Imagine walking into a clothes shop and being presented with an interactive changing room. The shop would instantly know your size and use AI to present you a selection of clothing it thinks you would like based on your previous purchases and upcoming social calendar.
© IoTworld.com
3. Healthcare
This is a truly revolutionary time for health technology. Not only has technology helped digitize and store heaps of data, but also played a major role in empowering the individuals to take control of their own health using trackers, wearables and sensors. However, the best of revolutions in healthcare are yet to be unveiled. Success in genome editing techniques, along with major advances in nanotechnology, have changed the way experts view disease prevention and diagnosis. AI is already being used to detect diseases, such as cancer, more accurately and in their early stages. According to the American Cancer Society, a high proportion of mammograms yield false results, leading to 1 in 2 healthy women being told they have cancer. The use of AI is enabling review and translation of mammograms 30 times faster with 99% accuracy, reducing the need for unnecessary biopsies.
4. Entertainment
The internet has made it easier to offer entertainment on almost all particular interests - music, news, and special information such as stock markets, weather, and social networking. Modern day streaming services and devices had made it possible for every person within reach of their preferred choice of entertainment, every day, at home, and away from home. The internet has also made it possible for viewers to become performers themselves, and upload their own videos and even have followers subscribe to their feeds. But the kicker is yet to come. Imagine having the experience of a full fledged Iron Maiden concert from your living room - fluid screens, virtual/augmented reality, holographic imaging, AI and other technologies are set to provide users with a more immersive experience that will transcend boundaries of time and space.
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