As the world moves into the next era of technology, where will you be? Did you know that companies like Microsoft and Google were founded by people with a computer science degree? Did you know that the first personal computer was made in 1971 by a man named Ed Roberts? Forge closer emerging technologies to is an organization that monitors emerging technologies so that their creators and investors can stay ahead of the curve. Here are some facts about seven areas of emerging technology, from quantum computing to DNA sequencing.
Forge closer emerging technologies to see which technologies are likeliest to impact your business. Technology in 3D printing is advancing exponentially. One such example is Voxel8, a company that has partnered with Microsoft to print electronic gadgets like smartphones and sensors without a printer! Instead of printing objects layer by layer like you would with an ordinary printer, Voxel8 uses a conductive ink to print circuitry onto the object, which then allows the object to be controlled by Bluetooth and WiFi.
The company uses a method called “additive manufacturing” so that there isn’t any waste when making products because the materials only cover where they need to be. Forge Closer offers clued-in insights on which new tools will be most beneficial for practitioners, which fields will see major changes upon implementation and how these developments could affect your life.
Seven Facts About Forge Closer Emerging Technologies That Will Blow Your Mind :
1. Wearable Materials
The idea of smart materials has been around since the 1960s, but it has only been recently that we have seen advancements in this area. Smart materials are able to become hard when they need to and soft when they need to. They can also bend, stretch, and move without distorting themselves. A great example is a new kind of metal called high-entropy alloys that adapt according to the environment. Another example is shape memory polymers that change their shape as a response to heat or light. These new smart materials will make it possible for us to create things like flexible robots and wearable devices that can change their shape based on temperature changes.
2. Quantum Computing
In 2011, a quantum computer reached a speed of 1 teraFLOP/s (1 trillion floating point operations per second). This is only a fraction of the power that we need to break the encryption of modern cryptography—the encryption that protects our sensitive data such as personal information, credit card numbers, and passwords. Quantum computing will allow us to better the security of the encryption systems that we use today.
Advances in quantum computing can help us solve certain problems that we can’t do today because our computers aren’t powerful enough. One application of quantum computing is in DNA sequencing. A new method called DNA origami allows researchers to sequence DNA for less than a dollar per base pair. Once a sample of DNA is broken down into single strands, it could carry a code that could reveal drug resistance, susceptibility to infectious diseases, or even genetic predisposition to cancer.
3. Virtual Reality
A few companies like Facebook, Google, and HTC, are currently in a battle to create the best virtual reality experience. The Oculus Rift, which was bought by Facebook for $2 billion in 2014 , has a display resolution of 2160×1200 and produces a field of vision of 110 degrees. It is said that as the technology advances that we will get displays with higher resolution and field of vision—which means a more realistic VR experience.
4. Deep Learning
Deep learning is a type of artificial intelligence that allows computers to learn without being explicitly programmed. Deep learning uses “neural networks” which are composed of layers upon layers of nodes (artificial neurons) where information is passed from one layer to another. This technology is being used to improve video recognition, speech recognition and language translation.
5. Digital Power
Advances in digital power will be able to help change the way we generate electrical energy, store electrical energy and distribute our electrical energy. The grid can be described by a giant matrix of devices called power electronics or “converters” that move electricity from place to place and convert it between different voltages.
Today, rectifiers can only move electricity in one direction, but a new kind of rectifier that has been created by a company called Enphase allows electricity to flow both ways through the device—which means that you can distribute more electricity at less cost and with more efficiency. Digital power will also allow software to control our electrical systems, which will lead to the ability to predict the amount of electricity that is needed and switch on the grid in a more appropriate manner.
6. Augmented Reality
Apple has pushed forward with its own take on augmented reality called “Digital Crown” where you can select content based on how far into the screen you press. Google also has its own version of augmented reality called Project Tango that allows smartphones to detect their position in 3D space and recognize objects like furniture or food. It might not be long before AR becomes a standard feature of every smartphone!
7. Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles, which include cars, buses, trucks, and drones will be able to drive themselves. This is known as an autonomous vehicle because it is a vehicle that can make decisions without any human input. People will be able to sleep while their cars drive themselves to work and back home again—all without having to touch the wheel!
