Actualizado el 17/12/2024
Actualizado el 17/12/2024
5 Technologies that Will Change the WorldEscrito por Marjorie DeHey el 08/01/2019 a las 23:25:024227
(Co-founder of MediaMojos)
As we look over the past year, there were lots of incredible advances that influenced not only what we do on our planet, but also our adventures into distance lands. We thought we’d share some of the innovations that took a forefront in 2018 that we think might change the world.
(Virgin Spaceship Unity – Image Courtesy of Virgin Galactic)
1) Dueling Neural Networks – The challenge with Artificial Intelligence is that it lacked the creativity of the human brain… until now. Work at Google Brain, Deep Mind and Nvidia is focused on enabling systems that will create ultra-realistic, computer generated images or sounds. Currently, neural networks learn through human involvement – for example, AI can determine something is a cat after analyzing millions of cat photos but humans had to previously label those photos as cats. Enter Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) a technique whereby AI can learn without so much human involvement. GANs pits two separate networks against each other – one network produces answers (generative) and the other network distinguishes between the real and generated answers (adversarial). The process starts to give AI an “imagination” and the ability to create. With increased techniques for machines to learn on their own, there is always the concern of, well… Skynet.
2) Pixel Buds – For anyone who wants to travel the world (and…who doesn’t?) Pixel Buds are one of the most incredible inventions for communication. Pixel Buds create near real-time translation allowing for people to communicate with each other in different languages. The process is simple – one person wears the earbuds while the other speaks into a connected phone. The app on the phone translates speech, so the person wearing the earbuds understands whatever language is spoken. The person wearing the earbuds can respond and the phone translates to the other person. Reviews say that these are great for simple sentences but longer sentences “get lost in translation.” The concept is brilliant as finding ways to communicate better when traveling is a definite must have technology that will change the world.
3) Rapid Expansion to the Internet of Things – The Internet of Things (IoT) has been around for years, however, in 2018, IoT applications and products expanded extremely rapidly. Currently, there are over 15 billion IoT devices worldwide and that number is forecasted to grow to over 30 billion by 2020 and 75 billion by 2025. Investment in IoT is predicted to grow to US $1.3 trillion by 2020 (that’s five times the spend on AI and big data combined).
4) Sensing Cities - Alphabet (Google’s parent company) is implementing sensors and analytics in order to rethink how cities are built, run, and lived in, in Toronto’s Waterfront district. The concept is that sensors will gather data to monitor everything from water use to noise levels to pedestrian and vehicle traffic flow, all in real time and at a very detailed level. This technology is utilized to make “smart cities” more affordable, livable and environmentally sustainable. Proponents claim that this technology will make cities cleaner and safer, while opponents have concerns about their privacy rights.
5) Space Travel – Virgin Galactic was founded with the mission of making outer space travel possible. With competitors like SpaceX and Blue Origin hot on its trail, on December 13, 2018, Virgin Galactic completed its first VSS Unity “spaceplane” flight. The spaceplane was carried by another aircraft called WhiteKnightTwo to a height of 13 kilometers (8 mi), where the VSS Unity then separated and ignited its own engines. VSS Unity then flew to a height of 82.7 kilometers (51.4 mi) at a speed of Mach 2.9.[7] - at which point, the spacecraft exceeded the 80-kilometer (50 mi) limit that NASA considers to be the beginning of outer space. This flight is one of the first steps into true space tourism.
From free thinking machines to learning cities to touring the universe, we hope we have given you a glimpse into how technology is changing the world. There is MUCH more to come!
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