A number of exciting technological breakthroughs emerged this year. Whether they are helping us to better understand ourselves or improve our ability to communicate, these innovations offer glimpses into a technological future that promises hitherto unheard-of opportunities for mankind.
The latest innovation is artificial intelligence and ML (machine learning). These technologies are progressively transforming industrial manufacturing systems and facilitating business automation. They have enabled predictive maintenance, cognitive computing, swarm intelligence, hardware accelerators and generative design. They are also driving a shift toward lights-out manufacturing and efficient supply chain management.
Another interesting development is a new method of genetic engineering known as CRISPR. Using this technology, scientists can alter DNA at specific locations within fertilized eggs. This can help researchers study genetic mutations that cause diseases like autism and Alzheimer’s. Another health tech innovation is a lab-on-chip test that can detect pancreatic cancer and other diseases by searching for biomarkers.
Autonomous vehicles are a key emerging technology trend. They are improving safety, efficiency and sustainability in transportation systems through intelligent traffic management, self-driving cars and other applications.
Other notable emerging trends include augmented reality and virtual reality, which are blurring the lines between physical and digital worlds and opening up immersive experiences for users. A growing number of companies are enabling telepresence, which allows employees to work together remotely through photorealistic avatars that can feel and act like people in real-time. New collaboration tools are leveraging these advances to enable real-time communication that’s more effective than email or telephone calls.