9 tech trends that will change the way we live
Technology is constantly improving our lives. Each year dozens of new technologies and products are invented that change the way we live.
The impact that technology has on society can vary from just making things and processes better, faster and at times inspiring systems, industries, or even governments to change.
They can lead to cultural and social changes as well. It’s quite possible that the following trends will change the way we live tomorrow.
Virtual reality
What might seem like a computer scientist’s fantasy is fast becoming a reality. Virtual Reality (VR) will create unique human experiences in the future. Without the use of handsets, without any controller, we could be directing users through virtual worlds.
The future of VR will bring the use of the technology into our daily lives. Users will be able to explore reconstructed cultural treasures and global landmarks, doctors will be able to view CT scans and MRI data as 3D images, and we will be able to shop through virtual tours.
Self-driven cars
Autonomous cars are the vehicles of future, for sure. For the elderly, for the differently-abled and, most of all, for avoiding traffic snarls, self-driven cars will certainly be a boon. However, there needs to be substantial tests to prove the reliability of the software and function of the systems that will be processing these vehicles.
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| Autonomous cars are the vehicles of future, for sure. (Photo: Reuters) |
There has been significant progress with several successful trials conducted. There is one thing for sure, autonomous cars are coming and there is no stopping them.
Augmented reality
Augmented reality’s (AR) first major adoption has seen more than 100 million people take to the streets to hunt Pokémon. Augmented reality is the integration of digital information with the user's environment in real time, and it has more real-world potential than virtual reality.
The future of augmented reality is clearly bright, even as it already has found its way into our cell phones and video game systems. We have only scratched the surface of what we’ll eventually be able to achieve with AR. Who knows we could be hunting down some dinosaurs in the future?
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| Augmented reality’s (AR) first major adoption has seen more than 100 million people take to the streets to hunt Pokémon. (Photo: Reuters) |
Electric cars
As the world looks for ways to reduce the carbon footprint and oil dependency that is fuelling the dangerous climate change, in the next five to 10 years, every car on sale will offer a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full EV variant. The adoption rate of these technologies will increase dramatically.
In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that electric vehicles may be able to compete directly with petroldriven cars a lot sooner than most people think. Plug-in hybrids, capable of operating either on electricity or gasoline, are also getting better.
Internet of things
Imagine a tiffin box which can calculate the calories of the food that it carries. That’s the future we can imagine and experience it in our lifetime itself.
In the coming years, Internet of Things (IoT) will look completely different than what it does today. To understand the term Internet of Things, imagine the things to be anything — smart cars, smoke detectors, door locks, streetlights, heart monitors, trains, shoes, washing machines, even tennis racquets and toasters.
These smart things with chipsets will power a revolution that we can’t wait to witness. For a country like India, IoT can be an answer to basic issues like energy management and traffic management.
Take this as an example: Sensors and beacons embedded in the road working together with car-based sensors can be used for hands-free driving, traffic pattern optimisation and accident avoidance.
3D printing
While some still look upon 3D printing as a niche technology, it will change the world as we know it.
A lot of technology sometimes becomes redundant because what can be conceived in thought, can’t always find its way to existence due to multiple constraints. 3D printing puts us at a place where whatever can be designed on a computer can be possibly replicated in workable technology.
The impact of such open and accepting platform is already for us to see. The technology is already showing how 3D printing can make use of basic components and create a range of thermoplastics, thermoplastic composites, pure metals, metal alloys, ceramics and various forms of food.
5G phenomenon
Everyone loves speed, and networks of tomorrow will support just that. 5G will be an enabler for industries; fully automated production systems could run on it with super speeds. It will also make room for the thousands of internet-connected devices entering our everyday world.
Though 5G is at an extremely premature phase, the medium will revolutionise the telecom industry to its core.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is developing self-sufficient programs that have the capability to work as individual units in totality.
What’s exciting is that smartphones can be at the centre of this change as they could soon start to behave as intelligent entities that would know how we feel, read our emotions, and predict ways to improve our lives.
Integrated services
One of the biggest challenges that end users face while using mobile technology is that of the hardware and software integration. Micromax first launched AROUND in 2015. It was an industry-first solution that integrated basic services under one window for the user to access.
A consumer was empowered to book cabs and flights, order food and look for solutions for the day to day requirements. With Around 2.0 we went a step ahead and added other features with integrated mobile wallets and tying in certain health offerings.
(Part of Mail Today's ninth anniversary series.)