For the better part of the 21st century, innovations and developments in technology have driven the industry towards becoming one of the biggest and most valuable sectors globally. According to 2019 data, the tech industry was worth $11.5 trillion, equivalent to 15.5% of the global GDP. As the dependence on digital technology continues to increase, these numbers are only expected to get higher.
As the industry continues to grow, people expect more and more innovations that will bring even bigger changes to the world. Just like many new technologies have done in the past, these futuristic innovations are expected to further expand the boundaries of human achievement and efficiency.
We take a look at some of these technologies and how they can affect the world around us.
Smart Mirrors That Monitor Health
In recent times, there’s been a deliberate push towards ensuring people pay more attention to their overall wellbeing and general health. This has been further augmented by the tech industry through the creation of tools that allow people to easily monitor and maintain certain aspects of their health such as their heartbeat and blood level. By incorporating these innovations into smart devices, the tech industry has been able to make a great impact in ensuring people live healthily.
However, there are bigger innovations that have been created for use within the healthcare system and the smart mirror is one of the latest and probably the most ambitious of them all. In the not-so-distant future, inventors will have created a mirror-looking device that can carry out a comprehensive health assessment of anyone looking into it.
It is projected that the smart mirror will use facial recognition software, 3D scanners, sensors, and cameras to identify signs of stress or anxiety. It will also use these components to analyze fat content and blood hemoglobin levels.
Its gas sensors will take breathing samples and analyze them, looking for compounds that indicate an individual’s drinking and smoking habits. After collecting the necessary details, the multisensory system will produce results of health checks within 60 seconds. And at the end, it will give nuggets of health tips tailored to each individual.
One of the huge benefits of the smart mirror is that it will reduce healthcare costs by contributing massively towards the early detection of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Summarily, it will enhance enhancing preventive health care which eventually reduces cost.
Human Exoskeleton
If you’re a lover of Sci-Fi action movies, then this should get your juices running because this technology might just be able to give you the superpowers of your favorite superhero. Exoskeleton technology is an external frame that can be worn to support the body. It can be used to either help a person overcome an injury or to enhance their biological capabilities. Powered by a system of electric motors, the frame gives limbs extra movement, strength, and endurance.
Just like in biology where an exoskeleton refers to the rigid covering found on the exterior of most invertebrate animals, providing protection for their soft internal organs, exoskeleton technology is more or less created based on the same concept.
In truth, the field of exoskeleton systems has seen so many changes over the years, making it almost impossible to find a one-size-fits-all definition. But, the generally accepted idea is that exoskeletons are wearable devices and work in tandem with the user.
Exoskeletons differ from mechanical prosthetics like robotic arms or legs. On the contrary, an exoskeleton is fitted on the user’s body and it helps to augment, reinforce and restore human performance. Equipped and powered with sensors and actuators, exoskeletons are designed to increase human performance. This is different from robotics which is created to replace humans in doing menial tasks.
Although exoskeletons are generally made from rigid materials like metal or carbon fiber, soft and elastic materials can be used in their production.
Artificial Intelligence
Machines are tools that we use to increase performance and work efficiency. Before any machine can work, it must receive instruction from an operator or user. At the moment, computers are the most widely used machines. What if they can be programmed to think and solve problems on their own without any human interference?
The answer to this question is all around us on our smart devices. And that is just a tip of the capabilities of AI-enabled devices. With Artificial Intelligence, computers can now perform tasks using the intellectual process characteristic of humans.
Essentially, Artificial Intelligence refers to the ability of machines to think like humans and mimic their actions. AI incorporates machine learning and deep learning techniques that allow computers to absorb and learn from a large volume of unstructured data. By collecting and analyzing this large data volume, the decision-making process of computers is informed. And it can rationalize decisions before taking effective actions.
There are many applications of AI around us. As earlier mentioned, many of our smart devices are equipped with certain AI functions. In the car-making industry, with AI, manufacturers can produce self-driving cars. The health industry uses AI for dosing drugs and surgical procedures in the operating room. And in finance, AI is used to identify fraudulent activities and ensuring safe trading practices.
Jet Suits
Work on creating a jet suit date back to the 1970s. One of the first designs of a jet suit was when peroxide rockets were used to make people air-borne. Today, researchers are looking to create efficient and aesthetical designs to meet general demands.
The most recent jet suit design created by an American company uses two miniature jet engines on each arm and a fifth one on the backpack. These specifications power the suit to create 317 pounds of thrust, make 1050 brake horsepower and carry 5.25 gallon of jet fuel. This design is perfectly suited to propel anyone who weighs less than 200 pounds for four minutes.
While this is a massive breakthrough, there are still many modifications required to make it achieve the goal of personal flights across locations. And airports might not be a necessity anymore.
Invisibility Cloak
If there are machines that can make people fly, how about creating one that makes people invisible, right? While there is skepticism regarding the feasibility of creating a machine that can make things invisible, research has confirmed that invisibility is indeed possible. Although it might be impossible to keep objects invisible from more than one wavelength of light at a time, hiding something from a single bandwidth is within reach.
What benefits does an invisible cloak bring to the table? For one, invisibility can protect from danger. If you can’t be seen, you can’t be armed. Also, it provides complete and total privacy. Although it might take some years before total invisibility becomes reality, it sure feels good to know that it’s in the works.
Conclusion
The world of technology is never static. Even as a new product is hitting the market, activities are going on behind the scenes to create something even better. At Guiding Academy, our goal is to help individuals acquire essential tech skills that will ensure they bring their creative ideas to the bearing in the digital space.
