The technology we use improves our lives, from personalized medical diagnostics to virtual tours of homes before you purchase. What technologies will shape the future? This article examines 10 emerging trends that are poised to change the face of our world.
The 3D printing technology was rumored to be the next big thing, but there’s several less mainstream innovations that are on this list, like clothing that shrink or expand as temperatures change and furniture that adapts to brain signals. It is also worth considering the potential of shape memory polymers that can change from soft to hard depending on an event, such as changes in temperature, which is why they are beneficial in a range of applications, including healthcare (pills which only activate at a particular temperature) and fashion (clothes that tighten or become loose when exposed to cold).
Another crucial technology that is expected to emerge in the near future is edge computing, which permits data processing closer to the place it originated (ultra-low latency) it also provides data sovereignty and increased security, as well as reducing the costs of running data centers. It is a key technology that will enable the Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT), autonomous vehicles, vision-guided robots drones, AR/VR, and drones.
Space is another area in which we are making remarkable advancements. From spacecrafts that can be reused to satellite technology, to the possibility of crewed missions on Mars or other planets colonies. We are also developing technologies that will help us fight climate change from drought-resistant crops to sensors for forest fires to carbon removal technology.