New Technologies,In the next several years, the world will have orders of magnitude more devices, data, and interactions than it does today. This global, hyperconnected system will transcend societal and political boundaries to deliver services and resources to everyone. It is already beginning to emerge, as the next generation networks combine a variety of technologies into one global system of billions of connected devices. For example, the Internet of Things (IoT) will create a world of smart cities, with optical sensors, persistent sensors, and public cameras monitoring people and places.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is a new technology that is already impacting our everyday lives. Search engines, product recommendations, speech recognition systems, and other services powered by AI are only a few examples of applications of AI. But the technology still has a lot of hype surrounding it. The hype cycle is similar to that of other new technologies, such as self-driving cars and personal assistants. It is characterized by a high peak of expectations followed by a trough of disillusionment.
Artificial intelligence works by automating repetitive tasks by analyzing data. It performs high-volume computerized tasks reliably and without human fatigue. Despite this, humans still need to program these systems and answer the right questions.
Internet of Things
In 1999, Kevin Ashton coined the phrase ‘Internet of Things’. At the time, he was working for Procter & Gamble and the Auto-ID Centre at MIT. He preferred to call it ‘Internet for Things’, because he felt RFID, or radio frequency identification, would enable computers to manage objects. However, it wasn’t until 2008-2009 that the Internet of Things truly became a reality. In that year, Kevin Ashton and others incorporated RFID technology into their prototypes. As the technology continued to develop, Ashton and Weiser developed an internet-connected soda vending machine that could communicate with the Internet of Things. This machine would report its stock levels and the temperature of newly loaded drinks.
As the number of connected devices grows, the risk of hacking and data theft becomes more acute. In addition, there is a lack of standardization among IoT devices. This makes it difficult for enterprises to manage the data from millions of connected devices. Further, there are many technical issues with IoT systems, including bugs that can corrupt data from all connected devices.
Augmented reality
Augmented reality is a new and exciting technology. In education, it is being used to enhance teaching and learning experiences. A new monograph has been published that provides comprehensive research on the subject. It brings together 58 world-renowned researchers, artists, practitioners, and educators to explore the potential of this new technology.
There are currently thousands of AR apps in the App Store and iOS. Many are utilitarian, such as Google’s AR Measure App that lets users take measurements using their phone’s camera. But as the technology grows, more applications will emerge. Despite its early stage, AR is already a pillar of the extended reality industry, which is expected to be worth $28 billion by 2021. As the technology matures, new applications and capabilities will emerge.
Businesses are beginning to see the benefits of AR, too. While the technology is still in its infancy, some companies are already actively adopting it to help their customers make purchases. Dior, for instance, has launched experiences that let consumers try on shoes virtually. Another example is FRED Jewelry, which lets customers try on bracelets virtually.
5G
With 5G, the speed of data transfers will increase exponentially. Currently, 4G networks have a latency of around 30 milliseconds, but the new technology promises latency well under 10 milliseconds, or even less. This is critical for heavy machinery that needs to be remotely operated. The new technology also uses a new digital technology known as Massive MIMO to optimize the performance of 5G networks. This technology combines multiple antennas on a single cell tower to improve coverage, speed, and capacity.
The development of 5G technology can help improve the experience of customers. This super-responsive internet will be critical in emerging industries like self-driving cars, virtual reality, and telemedicine.
