Lesson 9

Emerging and Future Technology

Thoughts and Summary: New technologies are changing the old ways on how human behave and do things in the past. As far as I have conserved, computers have become more powerful, media is becoming more digitalised and computing, business firms are moving towards adopting “green” approach to save their operating costs, growing use of nanotechnologies and many more to benefit the mankind.

In fact, emerging technologies can be seen as a contemporary advance and innovation that human seek to serve towards their goals of creating progressive developments, competitive advantage and other more purposes. This lesson is definitely an eye-opening observation as I get to be exposed to many new technologies that are being discussed in class, like the plastics electronics, augmented reality, perfect lady robot, spider pill, driverless car and more.

One of the interesting discussions on the driverless car can be discussed further. From the response of the class, some are sceptical on this idea of driving without a driver while some are very supportive and prof is one of them. Personally, I always feel that this driverless car technology is just around the corner and we are getting ready to step into a driverless utopia (I get this image when I was 16 years old). Machines/ technologies are getting into our daily life so much so that we are dependent on them and without them it seems like the world is going to come to an end. At that age, I was hoping to have such an implementation of driverless car technology so that my parent will not feel so exhausted after his long day at work and with the aid of this technology he is able to sleep in his vehicle soundly without the risk of falling asleep while driving. We would be able to see less car accidents on the roads as driver error would not be a factor in this case, decreased traffic and pollutions. Furthermore, drivers are able to hop in their car and enjoy the “automated” ride. For those who are not convinced because they feel that we must completely entrust their lives in the hands of this driverless car technology which in the end would not be possible as there could be also errors when the car malfunctions or passengers have no control over the car. There are always extreme views on this issue but whatever the reasons I am supportive of this driverless car.

Another interesting presentation is on the spider pill. Listening to the name of it just scares me off. Spider is an eight-legged creative, so does the pill? The concept of swallowing such a big pill in your mouth and making its way to the digestive tract seems rather uncomfortable. However, when you compare another option of using endoscopes, it might seem that the spider pill is better in a way. Prof has mentioned that the patient would not feel a thing when the pill inside the patient’s body which I did not the truth until now. It just gives me the idea that whatever going down to your intestine traits will leave you pain moreover it’s in the control of doctor’s hands to examine until they find the reasons why. But I still believe many would slowly accept the use of spider pill in time to come.

Readings:

I went over to the readings and browse through reading 3, Futre technologies to watch, beacuse I am curious on what I can expect for the new technologies. It is about the PC Mag.com delivering the latest technology news to the world and create a lab-based reviews for readers to help them find the best products at the lowest price. I looked through the Project Natal (a small box device that have a wide varity of inputs - gestures, facial recognition and voice command), Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision (retail price at $200 on the stereoscopic glasses to get a 60Hz worth of images to get you fully immersed into a game) and Touch Capative Gloves (for Iphone/ Ipad/ Ipod users). Iphone/ Ipad/ Ipod are using capative screens which will not detect any movements if you are wearing a non-conducting material (cloth) on your hand. Therefore, Leto who has found a solution for apple users by imbuing fabric with nanoparticle to operate their devices or even ATM/ touch screen devices without removing your glove. Its retail price is $185. Personally, I would not buy as it will cost me too much just to operate any apple device using such a glove. I would just save the trouble and remove any glove on my hand if I am wearing one. Whatever it is, this product is targetting to other consumer market who serve their needs. There is always a market demand, as in for this case, no technology is a bad technology.

Key Takeaways:

There are many exciting emerging technologies that are currently in development stage, and the power of growing acceptance is definitely increasing and projected to be soon implemented in the near future as long as it serves the benefits to mankind. In another 10 years to come? I have also come across one interesting website which has written down the foreseeable technologies mankind would be expecting in the future timeline. Just to share, http://www.futuretimeline.net/index.htm

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