Whether you like it or not, technology is advancing. It doesn’t matter if you’re excited about the future or weary of it, progress can’t be stopped. Of course, progress isn’t a straight line. It is jagged, zigzagging toward the future. When we think about the future, we all have different visions. However, technology gives us a different view of what’s to come. We can look to the future using the technologies that are developing today. Below are the most influential technologies right now.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence, otherwise known as AI, is probably the most dynamic and influential technology being used today. With machine learning, AI units can teach themselves new things and perform tasks a lot faster than humans can. AI can crunch numbers incredibly quickly. It can scan the internet for new information. AI can create graphs, charts, and even art. There’s no end to the number of tasks that AI can do. Technology is still new, and already we are realizing the world will never be the same without it.
Also read: Top 10 Augmented Reality Apps
Extended Reality
The technologies of virtual (VR), augmented (AR), and mixed (MR) reality can be put under the umbrella term extended reality (XR). These technologies can be used in all kinds of ways. VR is probably the most popular form of extended reality, providing a new digital world where we can work, play, and explore.
With headsets like the Meta Quest Pro, you can find yourself in a variety of different digital landscapes and interfaces. On the other hand, AR allows for all kinds of new ways to engage with the tangible and intangible worlds. AR enables us to imagine things that aren’t in the physical world yet. AR and MR even provide the ability to perform remote surgeries and other incredibly important tasks. XR will continue to be used in many ways as time progresses.
Automation
Automation is another technology that is greatly impacting our world. Between the robotic arms zipping back and forth on the floors of warehouses to the ability of cars to drive themselves, automation is when machines don’t need humans to perform functions.
This means that robots can move around and do tasks, cars can drive without human interference, and algorithms can fill in gaps to create more efficient systems. Automation is a defining technology in many ways. Whether you are an automated machine or an algorithm, automation is something that will be used in many ways.
Blockchain
A buzz term recently, you’ve probably heard of blockchain, but what is it? Blockchain is a technology that keeps track of every edit made to a digital file. This is referred to as an immutable ledger, an open-source log of transactions and assets. With this ledger, you can buy and sell digital copies of something or a unique digital file. Blockchain is used to buy and sell cryptocurrency, NFTs, and more. Only time will tell how blockchain is applied in the future.
Also read: Top 10 Emerging Technologies CIOs Are Investing In
Encryption
With advancing technologies, we all need to protect ourselves, our information, our identities, and our businesses. Encryption creates a tunnel, a channel between you and what you are doing on the internet. It scrambles the content and data so that hackers have a more difficult time finding this information. Nearly everything can be encrypted these days. From web browsers to messaging apps to email and more, encryption is providing basic protection for anyone who uses a computer. It’s one of the most vital technologies to use today.
The technologies above are just the beginning. The world is changing fast, and technology is advancing with it. Whether you are excited about the future or skeptical about it, one thing is for sure. You can’t stop progress or the advancement of technology. However, it’s important to keep up with it so that we all know where it is going.
As we understand where technology is headed, society can take in what we want to utilize and reject tech that will cause problems. No matter how you feel about technology, there are undeniable benefits and big questions about how it will impact human civilization. When it comes to technology, the sky’s the limit.
Leave a comment