The Future is Here: 20 Emerging Technologies That Will Change Our World
Invisible Computing and Smart Contact Lenses
Mojo Visions is working on "invisible computing" - smart contact lenses that can display information in the corner of your eye without obstructing your vision. This technology aims to make us less dependent on screens, allowing you to quickly check notifications or information without having to pull out your phone. However, developing smart contact lenses with the right sensors, power, and display is a major technical challenge that companies like Alphabet's Verily have struggled with.
The company Spin Launch has developed a novel approach to launching satellites using a high-speed spinning machine instead of traditional rockets. This "sub-orbital accelerator" uses kinetic energy to launch payloads into orbit, with the goal of making satellite launches much cheaper and more fuel-efficient. Spin Launch recently conducted successful test launches at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Graphene and Graphene Oxide
Graphene, a one-atom thick lattice of carbon, has been hailed as a "wonder material" for its incredible strength, conductivity, and other properties. Companies like Huawei and Ford are already incorporating graphene into consumer electronics and automotive parts to improve performance and efficiency.
The next generation GPS3 system being developed by the U.S. Air Force will provide significantly improved accuracy, signal strength, and interference resistance compared to the current GPS2 technology. This will enable much more precise positioning and tracking capabilities.
Floating Dairy Farms
The world's first floating dairy farm, located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, allows cows to graze and be milked on a floating platform. This innovative approach aims to explore new ways of producing food to feed the growing global population, utilizing robots and recycling waste to create a sustainable system.
Edge computing processes data closer to where it is generated, rather than in a centralized data center. This enables faster response times and more efficient use of network resources for applications like self-driving cars, smart equipment, and automated retail.
Self-Healing Concrete
Researchers have developed a type of concrete that can repair its own cracks by releasing adhesive liquids when damaged. This self-healing ability could significantly improve the durability and sustainability of concrete structures.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a clean chemical reaction, producing only water as a byproduct. This technology has applications ranging from transportation to backup power, offering higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to traditional combustion-based systems.
Branded Constellations in the Night Sky
Russian startup StartRocket has proposed launching small, reflective satellites into low Earth orbit that could be arranged to form branded "constellations" visible in the night sky. This has raised concerns from astronomers about the commercialization and "pollution" of the night sky.
GPT-3 is a powerful language model that can generate human-like text, raising both excitement and concerns about the potential for AI-powered disinformation and fake content. While Microsoft has licensed exclusive use of the GPT-3 model, the underlying technology continues to advance.
Connected Homes and the Smart Home Market
The connected home market, where devices, services, and apps can integrate to automate and optimize home functions, is still in its early stages. While the potential is significant, widespread adoption has been hindered by consumer confusion and unresolved technical challenges.
Researchers have developed lithium metal batteries that offer nearly twice the energy density of the lithium-ion batteries currently used in electric vehicles. This could enable longer driving ranges and lighter, more efficient electric cars, though the technology still faces some durability challenges.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
3D printing has evolved from prototyping to becoming a viable production technology, with applications in industries like automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods. The global 3D printing market is expected to grow to $41 billion by 2026 as the technology becomes more capable and cost-effective.
Blockchain's distributed, tamper-resistant ledger system has applications in digital currencies, supply chain management, and more. By eliminating the need for a central authority, blockchain aims to foster trust in digital transactions and records.
Acoustic Extinguishers for Wildfires
Innovative "acoustic extinguishers" use low-frequency sound waves to disrupt the combustion triangle of heat, fuel, and oxygen, potentially providing a new tool for fighting devastating wildfires without the use of water or chemicals.
Quantum computers, which leverage the quantum mechanical properties of subatomic particles, have the potential to vastly outperform classical computers on certain types of complex calculations. This could lead to breakthroughs in fields like cryptography, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence.
Self-Driving Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles use a variety of sensors, cameras, and sophisticated software to navigate and operate without human intervention. While still facing technical and regulatory hurdles, self-driving cars have the potential to improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility of transportation.
Cultivated or "lab-grown" meat, produced by directly culturing animal cells, offers a potentially more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional livestock-based meat production. Singapore has already approved the commercial sale of a cultivated chicken product.
The Pace of Technological Change
The rapid development and convergence of these emerging technologies is poised to dramatically transform our world in the coming years and decades. While some of these innovations raise concerns, they also hold immense potential to address global challenges and improve our lives in ways we can hardly imagine.
Part 1/11:
The Future is Here: 20 Emerging Technologies That Will Change Our World
Invisible Computing and Smart Contact Lenses
Mojo Visions is working on "invisible computing" - smart contact lenses that can display information in the corner of your eye without obstructing your vision. This technology aims to make us less dependent on screens, allowing you to quickly check notifications or information without having to pull out your phone. However, developing smart contact lenses with the right sensors, power, and display is a major technical challenge that companies like Alphabet's Verily have struggled with.
Kinetic Energy Satellite Launches
Part 2/11:
The company Spin Launch has developed a novel approach to launching satellites using a high-speed spinning machine instead of traditional rockets. This "sub-orbital accelerator" uses kinetic energy to launch payloads into orbit, with the goal of making satellite launches much cheaper and more fuel-efficient. Spin Launch recently conducted successful test launches at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Graphene and Graphene Oxide
Graphene, a one-atom thick lattice of carbon, has been hailed as a "wonder material" for its incredible strength, conductivity, and other properties. Companies like Huawei and Ford are already incorporating graphene into consumer electronics and automotive parts to improve performance and efficiency.
GPS3 and Improved Satellite Navigation
Part 3/11:
The next generation GPS3 system being developed by the U.S. Air Force will provide significantly improved accuracy, signal strength, and interference resistance compared to the current GPS2 technology. This will enable much more precise positioning and tracking capabilities.
Floating Dairy Farms
The world's first floating dairy farm, located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, allows cows to graze and be milked on a floating platform. This innovative approach aims to explore new ways of producing food to feed the growing global population, utilizing robots and recycling waste to create a sustainable system.
Edge Computing
Part 4/11:
Edge computing processes data closer to where it is generated, rather than in a centralized data center. This enables faster response times and more efficient use of network resources for applications like self-driving cars, smart equipment, and automated retail.
Self-Healing Concrete
Researchers have developed a type of concrete that can repair its own cracks by releasing adhesive liquids when damaged. This self-healing ability could significantly improve the durability and sustainability of concrete structures.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Part 5/11:
Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a clean chemical reaction, producing only water as a byproduct. This technology has applications ranging from transportation to backup power, offering higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to traditional combustion-based systems.
Branded Constellations in the Night Sky
Russian startup StartRocket has proposed launching small, reflective satellites into low Earth orbit that could be arranged to form branded "constellations" visible in the night sky. This has raised concerns from astronomers about the commercialization and "pollution" of the night sky.
GPT-3 and AI-Generated Text
Part 6/11:
GPT-3 is a powerful language model that can generate human-like text, raising both excitement and concerns about the potential for AI-powered disinformation and fake content. While Microsoft has licensed exclusive use of the GPT-3 model, the underlying technology continues to advance.
Connected Homes and the Smart Home Market
The connected home market, where devices, services, and apps can integrate to automate and optimize home functions, is still in its early stages. While the potential is significant, widespread adoption has been hindered by consumer confusion and unresolved technical challenges.
Lithium Metal Batteries for Electric Vehicles
Part 7/11:
Researchers have developed lithium metal batteries that offer nearly twice the energy density of the lithium-ion batteries currently used in electric vehicles. This could enable longer driving ranges and lighter, more efficient electric cars, though the technology still faces some durability challenges.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
3D printing has evolved from prototyping to becoming a viable production technology, with applications in industries like automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods. The global 3D printing market is expected to grow to $41 billion by 2026 as the technology becomes more capable and cost-effective.
Blockchain and Decentralized Ledgers
Part 8/11:
Blockchain's distributed, tamper-resistant ledger system has applications in digital currencies, supply chain management, and more. By eliminating the need for a central authority, blockchain aims to foster trust in digital transactions and records.
Acoustic Extinguishers for Wildfires
Innovative "acoustic extinguishers" use low-frequency sound waves to disrupt the combustion triangle of heat, fuel, and oxygen, potentially providing a new tool for fighting devastating wildfires without the use of water or chemicals.
Quantum Computing
Part 9/11:
Quantum computers, which leverage the quantum mechanical properties of subatomic particles, have the potential to vastly outperform classical computers on certain types of complex calculations. This could lead to breakthroughs in fields like cryptography, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence.
Self-Driving Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles use a variety of sensors, cameras, and sophisticated software to navigate and operate without human intervention. While still facing technical and regulatory hurdles, self-driving cars have the potential to improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility of transportation.
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Part 11/11:
Cultivated or "lab-grown" meat, produced by directly culturing animal cells, offers a potentially more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional livestock-based meat production. Singapore has already approved the commercial sale of a cultivated chicken product.
The Pace of Technological Change
The rapid development and convergence of these emerging technologies is poised to dramatically transform our world in the coming years and decades. While some of these innovations raise concerns, they also hold immense potential to address global challenges and improve our lives in ways we can hardly imagine.