Technology moves fast, and it seems like every day, there’s some new breakthrough that will change the world as we know it. The future of technology holds promise and peril, but one thing’s for sure – the world will continue to change at an accelerated pace. Here are some of the most exciting and revolutionary technologies that you’ll want to keep an eye on in the coming years.
Think about what tomorrow could look like
While it’s impossible to know for sure what tomorrow will bring, we can at least hypothesize and ask questions. The point is not to get caught up in details but rather look at trends and extrapolate a little bit to think about what could be possible.
At best, it gives us a glimpse into our own crystal ball so that we might have an idea about what direction our life or business might take in 6 months or 10 years from now.
In reality, most futurists really just enjoy thinking about new gadgets, tech and social innovations – so don’t feel as though your predictions need to be a harbinger of doom and gloom. After all, nobody wants a wet blanket on their birthday...even if they are 50 years old!
3D printing
While it’s true that 3D printing isn’t quite mainstream, its presence is growing. Companies in industries like construction, manufacturing and aerospace are all adopting 3D printing as a way to speed up prototyping and make production more efficient.
Whether your industry uses 3D printing yet or not, there’s no doubt that in a few years there will be some company out there disrupting your current business model and changing how you operate for good.
If you want to stay on top of that game, it may be worth learning about 3D printing now so you can begin testing possible applications for your business before it becomes too popular to ignore. Most universities offer classes in topics like these; check out their class schedules online and take advantage of free classes where possible.
Future mobility
Why car crashes are inevitable – and how it affects us today. How can self-driving cars fix driving? The US government estimates that 94% of car accidents could be avoided with autonomous driving, which makes it an issue not only for automakers and public transportation companies,
but also for insurance companies, who could save billions in payouts. What do we know about these cars? So far, we’ve seen self-driving demos on highways as well as parking lot tests involving vehicles at low speeds.
Digital transformation
In recent years, businesses have begun adopting a new trend called digital transformation—which refers to a set of strategies meant to enable firms to break out of their traditional business models and grow. These strategies typically include leveraging big data, cloud services, mobile capabilities,
social media platforms, and more. While there are several different ways firms can utilize these technologies in order to remain competitive, it’s important for firms to understand which tools will best suit their needs going forward. Read on for a guide to digital transformation.
Virtual Reality (VR)
A virtual reality is a simulated environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.
While VR has been in existence for decades, its been largely used for gaming and research; however, as technology advances and costs come down, businesses are now starting to utilize VR in more mainstream ways. For example, VR can be used for training purposes—especially when it comes to flying airplanes and racing cars.
In addition to new training purposes, however, VR can also be utilized in marketing campaigns; some brands have even started using it to market their products through virtual storefronts on social media platforms such as Facebook.
Augmented Reality (AR)
As we’ve evolved from hunter-gatherers to city dwellers, our reliance on our sense of sight has grown. The ability to see what’s around us at any given moment helps keep us safe, and is one of our most used senses. But AR changes that in a big way.
Today, over 95% of people use their smartphones daily—that’s a lot of screens! With augmented reality devices that project information into your line of sight, like Google Glass or Magic Leap (some models),
some expect digital content will become more valuable than physical content—and they may be right. Someday you might not have a phone book on your coffee table; instead it will be projected right in front of you when someone calls.
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