Flying cars, teleportation and robot companions are some of the things that come to mind when we think of future technology. But that future isn’t as distant as it sounds. With technologies that were merely science fiction not too long ago permeating our lives, we are already feeling the effects of these innovations and will continue to for decades to come. Listed below are ten of the most astonishing future tech that you do not know already exists.
- The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Daily Life
From their side, AI has swiftly become a necessity in our everyday operations. From virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to sophisticated AI tools capable of generating works of art or writing essays, they learn and evolve according to our needs. In healthcare, it’s helping with early detection of disease; in finance, it’s forecasting trends.
- BCIs (Brain-Computer Interfaces)
Controlling devices with your mind might seem like something out of a cyberpunk novel, but brain-computer interfaces are not just science fiction. Systems like the ones being developed by Neuralink let users send neural signals directly to a computer. Such innovations have tremendous potential in helping individuals with disabilities recover mobility and communicability.
- 3D-Printed Organs
3D printing technology is revolutionizing medicine. Bioprinted organs can now be made using patient cells, making the risk of rejection far less likely. But while functional organs are still in the works, simpler structures — skin and cartilage, for example — are already making their way into surgeries.
- Lab-Grown Meat
Food production that is environmentally sound has become one of the foremost challenges, and lab-grown meat appears to be a 21st-century solution. Now, companies such as Upside Foods and Mosa Meat have produced actual meat made from animal cells, thus doing away with the need to farm livestock the traditional way. Beyond handling ethical implications, this technology has also recently become a game-changer in environmental impact.
- Quantum Computing
Quantum computers are expected to tackle problems impossible for conventional computers. Still in its infancy, quantum computing has already shown its potential for use cases ranging from cryptography and drug discovery to climate modeling. IBM, Google, and other companies are at the forefront of bringing this technology to market.
- Self-Healing Materials
Today we are asked to envision a future in which your cracked phone screen heals itself while you sleep. Self-healing materials, inspired by biological processes, are making that possible. Scientists have created self-repairing polymers and concrete that can mend themselves when certain conditions exist, paving the way to ever more durable infrastructure and consumer products.
- Autonomous Vehicles
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But while fully self-driving cars aren’t yet everywhere you look, autonomous technology has evolved significantly. Companies such as Tesla, Waymo and Cruise are stocking up on vehicles that can make their own way — without a driver behind the wheel. In some cities, autonomous delivery drones and robots are also becoming ubiquitous.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
It’s about time for mobile AR and VR — those micro-trends that started as an epic blip for gamers. They are already used in education, healthcare and even real estate. Surgeons use virtual reality to practice, architects use augmented reality to visualize projects, and museums use both of them to create interactive exhibits. As the technology continues to get better the possibilities are endless.
- Advanced Robotics
Robots have evolved from merely simple machines performing repetitive tasks. Today’s robots can do complex surgeries, they can socialize and learn from their environment. This post is not about humanoids but about robots with more human like robots that can mimic some of our instincts, so close to our future robots with the company's robots move in closer to humans.
- Reusable Rockets
There are features that are compelling to space exploration. Pioneered by firms such as SpaceX, reusable rockets cut the cost of space missions by an order of magnitude. Slovenian firm Akran has developed a system known as KUKA that uses a specially designed robotic arm to redistribute the forces of gravity with the goal of creating zero-gravity conditions during extended journeys.
The Future Is Now
From their side, AI has swiftly become a necessity in our everyday operations. From virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to sophisticated AI tools capable of generating works of art or writing essays, they learn and evolve according to our needs. In healthcare, it’s helping with early detection of disease; in finance, it’s forecasting trends.
Controlling devices with your mind might seem like something out of a cyberpunk novel, but brain-computer interfaces are not just science fiction. Systems like the ones being developed by Neuralink let users send neural signals directly to a computer. Such innovations have tremendous potential in helping individuals with disabilities recover mobility and communicability.
3D printing technology is revolutionizing medicine. Bioprinted organs can now be made using patient cells, making the risk of rejection far less likely. But while functional organs are still in the works, simpler structures — skin and cartilage, for example — are already making their way into surgeries.
Food production that is environmentally sound has become one of the foremost challenges, and lab-grown meat appears to be a 21st-century solution. Now, companies such as Upside Foods and Mosa Meat have produced actual meat made from animal cells, thus doing away with the need to farm livestock the traditional way. Beyond handling ethical implications, this technology has also recently become a game-changer in environmental impact.
Quantum computers are expected to tackle problems impossible for conventional computers. Still in its infancy, quantum computing has already shown its potential for use cases ranging from cryptography and drug discovery to climate modeling. IBM, Google, and other companies are at the forefront of bringing this technology to market.
Today we are asked to envision a future in which your cracked phone screen heals itself while you sleep. Self-healing materials, inspired by biological processes, are making that possible. Scientists have created self-repairing polymers and concrete that can mend themselves when certain conditions exist, paving the way to ever more durable infrastructure and consumer products.
a
But while fully self-driving cars aren’t yet everywhere you look, autonomous technology has evolved significantly. Companies such as Tesla, Waymo and Cruise are stocking up on vehicles that can make their own way — without a driver behind the wheel. In some cities, autonomous delivery drones and robots are also becoming ubiquitous.
It’s about time for mobile AR and VR — those micro-trends that started as an epic blip for gamers. They are already used in education, healthcare and even real estate. Surgeons use virtual reality to practice, architects use augmented reality to visualize projects, and museums use both of them to create interactive exhibits. As the technology continues to get better the possibilities are endless.
Robots have evolved from merely simple machines performing repetitive tasks. Today’s robots can do complex surgeries, they can socialize and learn from their environment. This post is not about humanoids but about robots with more human like robots that can mimic some of our instincts, so close to our future robots with the company's robots move in closer to humans.
There are features that are compelling to space exploration. Pioneered by firms such as SpaceX, reusable rockets cut the cost of space missions by an order of magnitude. Slovenian firm Akran has developed a system known as KUKA that uses a specially designed robotic arm to redistribute the forces of gravity with the goal of creating zero-gravity conditions during extended journeys.
