It has been argued that for emerging technology to have staying power it needs to affect the economy and our politics, improve medicine, or influence our culture. Ticking some of these boxes is some impressive technologies developed in 2017. Although some of these next big future technologies will most likely take a decade or more to come about, we think that it is great (and quite exciting) to know what to expect.
So without further ado, the 10 Breakthrough Technologies with staying power, according to MIT Technology Review, are:
Reversing Paralysis
Expected to be available in 10-15 Years
Scientists are making remarkable progress at using brain implants to restore the freedom of movement that spinal cord injuries take away.
Self-Driving Trucks:
Expected to be available in 5- 10 Years Time
One of FashNerd.com’s contributors Scott Amyx wrote about The Future of Transport: Autonomous Cars & Autonomous Flying Cars which explores vehicles without a human at the wheel. This is a change that could affect 1.7 million truck drivers (in the US). I guess we should cross that bridge when we come to it in 5-10 years.
Paying with Your Face
Available Now
It wasn’t long ago when we wrote about a UK supermarket has become the first in the world to let shoppers pay for groceries using just the veins in their fingertips. So the idea of face-detecting systems does not sound so far fetched. Already operating in China, the technology is being used to authorise payments, provide access to facilities, and track down criminals, we wonder will other countries follow?
Practical Quantum Computers
Expected to be available in 4- 5 Years
Advances at Google, Intel, and several research groups indicate that computers with previously unimaginable power are finally within reach.
The 360-Degree Selfie
Available Now
Inexpensive cameras that make spherical images are opening a new era in photography and changing the way people share stories.
Hot Solar Cells
Expected to be available in 10-15 Years
By converting heat to focused beams of light, a new solar device could create cheap and continuous power.
Gene Therapy 2.0
Available Now
Scientists have solved fundamental problems that were holding back cures for rare hereditary disorders. Next, we’ll see if the same approach can take on cancer, heart disease, and other common illnesses.
The Cell Atlas
Expected to be available in 5 years
Biology’s next mega-project will find out what we’re made of.
Botnets of Things
Available Now
The relentless push to add connectivity to home gadgets is creating dangerous side effects that figure to get even worse.
Reinforcement Learning
Expected to be available in 1-2 years
By experimenting, computers are figuring out how to do things that no programmer could teach them.
Founding editor-in-chief of FashNerd.com, Muchaneta is currently one of the leading influencers writing about the merger of fashion with technology and wearable technology. She has also given talks at Premiere Vision, Munich Fabric Start and Pure London, to name a few. Besides working as a fashion innovation consultant for various fashion companies like LVMH Atelier, Muchaneta has also contributed to Vogue Business, is a senior contributor at The Interline and an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion, UAL.