EIGHT TECHNOLOGIES WILL
SHAPE THE NEAR-TERM FUTURE
According to an IBM-led
study of C-Suite executives, these are the technological foci (focuses) which
will shape the near-term (3-5 years) future. While C-Suite executives
tend to be fadists more than
Global
Futurists, the power of the effect of their self-fulfilling
prophesy must be given its due. It might be a good exercise to at
least understand the aspects and implications of each of these
innovative areas before we judge the C-Suite denizens too harshly.
Cloud Computing And
Related Services:
Cloud computing,
also known as on-demand computing, is a kind of internet-based
computing, where shared resources and information are provided to
computers and other devices on-demand. It is a model for enabling
ubiquitous, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources.
Cloud computing and storage solutions provide users and
enterprises with various capabilities to store and process their data
in third-party data centers. It relies on sharing of resources to
achieve coherence and economies of scale, similar to a utility (like
the electricity grid) over a network. At the foundation of cloud
computing is the broader concept of converged infrastructure and
shared services.
Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient,
on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing
resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications and
services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal
management effort.
Cloud computing, or in simpler shorthand just "the cloud",
also focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of the shared resources.
Cloud resources are usually not only shared by multiple users but are
also dynamically reallocated per demand. This can work for allocating
resources to users. For example, a cloud computer facility that
serves European users during European business hours with a specific
application (e.g., email) may reallocate the same resources to serve
North American users during North America's business hours with a
different application (e.g., a web server). This approach helps
maximize the use of computing power while reducing the overall cost
of resources by using less power, air conditioning, rack space, etc.
to maintain the system. With cloud computing, multiple users can
access a single server to retrieve and update their data without
purchasing licenses for different applications.
Mobile Solutions:
Definition
Mobile solutions refer to the online services that are made
available to users while they are on the go. Mobile solutions
technology has not only traversed geographical boundaries but has
also accessed various domains. Providers of the technology continue
to provide services in many different countries through by making use
of the many developments in mobile technology. Today, this technology
continues to give services in tune to today’s urban mobility needs.
Components
The first component is wireless data networks. This refers to
an electronic communications process that allows the orderly
transmitting and receiving of data through the use of a wireless
network of computers. The next component is wireless data modems.
These are devices that allow computers to connect to a wireless local
area network (WLAN) without wires or cabling for transmitting and
receiving data. Devices need this in order to connect to networks.
The third component is mobile computers. These are devices that are
wireless ready. These can be easily connected to wireless modems and
run wireless enabled applications. These include laptops and notebook
computers, handheld computers, palm-sized computers and many more.
Next is wireless middleware. Middleware is defined as software that
connects different parts of an application or a series of
applications. The last component is wireless-enabled applications.
These refer to programs and other software that can be readily used
once connected to a network.
Functionality and General Uses
There are many mobile solutions providers all over the world.
Each provider strives to set itself apart from the other providers by
boosting its competitive advantage through differentiation, lower
costs and the formation of alliances with leading companies.
Mobile solutions providers have an array of services. Some
providers focus purely on payment solutions. Some providers offer an
electronic wallet feature that allows businesses to make or accept
payments, accept international and local credit card payments and
industry specific payments using only their mobile phone. There are
also providers that offer online hotel reservations with a deposit,
ticketing solutions for events and events organizers, mobile banking
and other electronic payment services.
Some providers offer mobile solutions for personal use. Some make
use of services such as information alerts and notifications, travel
updates, news alerts, sports updates and horoscopes. Other mobile
solutions providers have brought the chat services to a whole new
level through personal chat, dating and personal consultations. Some
providers generate great profit by providing entertainment to their
clients through quizzes and games, jokes and cartoons, videos with
the use of mobile phones with 3G.
Some providers focus on mobile solutions for providing corporate
or business use through file storage, file sharing and mobile
e-mailing system. Some companies involved in direct selling also make
use of short message service or SMS to allow their customers to check
availability of stocks, updates on products, check distribution
address and other details for their business. The most common use of
mobile solutions technology today is for direct marketing. Companies
are able to utilize mobile solutions for their promos and contests
and brand advertisements. They are able to advertise their products
and services through SMS. Because of the popularity of SMS all over
the globe, most companies make use of this as their medium in their
promotions.
The Internet Of Things (IoT):
The Internet of Things (IoT) is an environment in which objects,
animals or people are provided with unique
identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a
network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer
interaction. IoT has evolved from the convergence of wireless
technologies, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and the
Internet. The concept may also be referred to as the Internet of
Everything.
The
Internet of Things (
IoT) is the network of
physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics,
software, sensors, and network
connectivity, which enables these objects to
collect and exchange data. The Internet of Things allows objects to
be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network
infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration
between the physical world and computer-based systems, and resulting
in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit.
Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its
embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the
existing Internet infrastructure. Experts estimate that the IoT will
consist of almost 50 billion objects by 2020.
British entrepreneur Kevin Ashton first coined the term in 1999
while working at the Auto-ID Labs (originally called Auto-ID centers
- referring to a global network of RFID connected objects).
Typically, IoT is expected to offer advanced
connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond
machine-to-machine communications (M2M) and covers a variety of
protocols, domains, and applications. The interconnection of these
embedded devices (including smart objects), is expected to usher in
automation in nearly all fields, while also enabling advanced
applications like a Smart Grid, and expanding to the areas such as
smart cities.
"Things," in the IoT sense, can refer to a wide variety
of devices such as heart monitoring implants, biochip transponders on
farm animals, electric clams in coastal waters, automobiles with
built-in sensors, or field operation devices that assist firefighters
in search and rescue operations. These devices collect useful data
with the help of various existing technologies and then autonomously
flow the data between other devices. Current market examples include
smart thermostat systems and washer/dryers that use Wi-Fi for remote
monitoring.
Besides the plethora of new application areas for Internet
connected automation to expand into, IoT is also expected to generate
large amounts of data from diverse locations that is aggregated very
quickly, thereby increasing the need to better index, store and
process such data.
Cognitive
Computing:
Cognitive
computing is the simulation of human thought processes in a
computerized model.
Cognitive computing involves self-learning
systems that use data mining
, pattern
recognition and natural language processing
to mimic the way the human brain works. The goal of cognitive
computing is to create automated IT systems
that are capable of solving problems without requiring human
assistance.
Cognitive computing systems use machine
learning
algorithms
.
Such systems continually acquire knowledge from the data fed into
them by mining data for information. The systems refine the way they
look for patterns and as well as the way they process data so they
become capable of anticipating new problems and modeling possible
solutions.
Cognitive computing is used in numerous
artificial intelligence (AI
)
applications, including expert systems
,
natural language programming, neural networks
,
robotics
and virtual reality
.
The term cognitive computing is closely associated with IBM’s
cognitive computer system, Watson
.
Cognitive computing
(CC)
makes a new class of problems computable. It addresses complex
situations that are characterized by ambiguity and uncertainty; in
other words it handles human kinds of problems. In these dynamic,
information-rich, and shifting situations, data tends to change
frequently, and it is often conflicting. The goals of users evolve as
they learn more and redefine their objectives. To respond to the
fluid nature of users’ understanding of their problems, the
cognitive computing system offers a synthesis not just of information
sources but of influences, contexts, and insights. To do this,
systems often need to weigh conflicting evidence and suggest an
answer that is “best” rather than “right”.
Cognitive computing systems make context computable. They identify
and extract context features such as hour, location, task, history or
profile to present an information set that is appropriate for an
individual or for a dependent application engaged in a specific
process at a specific time and place. They provide machine-aided
serendipity by wading through massive collections of diverse
information to find patterns and then apply those patterns to respond
to the needs of the moment.
Cognitive computing systems redefine the nature of the
relationship between people and their increasingly pervasive digital
environment. They may play the role of assistant or coach for the
user, and they may act virtually autonomously in many problem-solving
situations. The boundaries of the processes and domains these systems
will affect are still elastic and emergent. Their output may be
prescriptive, suggestive, instructive, or simply entertaining.
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies:
Advanced manufacturing
technology is defined as computer-controlled or
micro-electronics-based equipment used in the design, manufacture or
handling of a product.
Typical applications include
computer-aided design (CAD), computer- aided engineering (CAE),
flexible machining centres, robots, automated guided vehicles, and
automated storage and retrieval systems. These may be linked by
communications systems (factory local area networks) into integrated
flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) and ultimately into an overall
automated factory or computer-integrated manufacturing system (CIM).
New Energy Sources And
Systems:
There are the variations on the
fossil fuel formulations and then there are the “alternative”
energy sources which either minimize or negate any carbon footprint
and are ecologically more desirable.
The variations on the fossil
fuel formulations include more extensive offshore drilling and
fracking, which is the process of drilling down into the earth before
a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the
gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at
high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the
well. Both drilling and fracking have their share of
pro-environmental opponents, perhaps with valid reason.
Everyday, the world produces
carbon dioxide that is released to the earth’s atmosphere and which
will still be there in one hundred years time.
This increased content of Carbon Dioxide increases the warmth of
our planet and is believed by many to be the main cause of the
so-called “Global Warming Effect”. One answer to global warming
is to replace and retrofit current technologies with alternatives
that have comparable or better performance, but do not emit carbon
dioxide. This is generally referred to as alternate energy.
By 2050, one-third of the world's energy will need to come from
solar, wind, and other renewable resources. Who says this? British
Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell, two of the world's largest oil
companies, do. Climate change, population growth, and fossil fuel
depletion mean that renewables will need to play a bigger role in the
future than they do today.
Alternative energy refers to energy sources that have no undesired
consequences such for example fossil fuels or nuclear energy.
Alternative energy sources are renewable and are thought to be "free"
energy sources. They all have lower carbon emissions, compared to
conventional energy sources. These include Biomass Energy, Wind
Energy, Solar Energy, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Energy
sources. Combined with the use of recycling, the use of clean
alternative energies such as the home use of solar power systems will
help ensure Humankind's survival into the 21st century and beyond.
Bioengineering:
Bioengineering
is the application of the life sciences, physical sciences,
mathematics and engineering principles to define and solve problems
in biology, medicine, health care and other fields.
Bioengineering is a relatively new discipline that combines many
aspects of traditional engineering fields such as chemical,
electrical and mechanical engineering. Examples of bioengineering
include:
artificial hips, knees and other
joints
ultrasound, MRI and other medical
imaging techniques
- using engineered organisms for chemical and pharmaceutical
manufacturing
This vast field of integrating or developing mechanical,
electrical or design skills to either perform work on, or to become
integrated with physiology, also subsumes aspects of stem cell
research, the Human Genome Project, cloning and biometrics. These are
all terms worth being familiar with, as they will become more and
more prominent in the practice of medicine and life sciences in
general, and due to the high likelihood of an increasing number of
very large companies (conglomerates) who will be investing increasing
sums into the research and development of biomedical engineering.
Man-Machine Hybrids [Does
Anyone Remember “Robocop”?]:
Yes, indeed... remotely man-operated drones may be considered a
crude example of man-machine hybrids (more likely they are
man-machine partnerships), but Futurist and scientist Ray Kurzweil
has a fascinating view of what true-man-machine hybrids are and will
be, and what their potential might be.
Human brains will be boosted
with artificial intelligence at some point after the year 2030, one
of the foremost thinkers on Artificial Intelligence has said.
The brain will connect to online Artificial Intelligence to become
a “hybrid of biological and non-biological thinking”, Ray
Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google, suggested.
Tiny “nanobots” made from DNA strands would connect our brains
to the internet, allowing us to augment our own intelligence with
artificial intelligence, he said.
Professor Stephen Hawking,
noted physicist, mathematician, cosmologist and Futurist has
expressed fear that Artificial Intelligence might eventually be the
undoing of our species and lead to our ultimate demise as a species.
This subject has considerable
overlap with biomechanical and biomedical engineering, except that in
these last two fields of endeavor, the physical body is integrated
with robotic or artificial parts or enhancements, without a change in
the basic operation of the Human mind. In Kurzweil's view of the
future, the mind will be an amalgam of native Human (organic) thought
and neurological capabilities with computer intelligence, storage,
pattern recognition and enhanced learning and retention capabilities.
The take-away from all of the
foregoing information is not necessarily that each of the areas
identified will be one of the “Next Big Things” within the coming
three to five-year period; but it is a safe bet to assume (and we all
know what happens when we count too much on assumptions) that each of
the identified areas will be where C-Suite executives, in their
capacities as decision makers, will be investing money and time.
Carrying this a step further, The Global Futurist and Global Edge
International Consulting Associates, Inc. would see that these
anticipated expenditures of money, time and focus are actually
leading indicators of the growth and dominance in business and
society of these technologies. Being a bit conservative, one might
think that these technologies will come to market dominance during
the next five to seven-year period, allowing for this “lead
indicator effect”.
As always, thank you for
reading me.
NOTE: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED BY THE READER AS BEING LEGAL, FINANCIAL, TAX, ACCOUNTING, ECONOMIC OR INVESTMENT ADVICE. NO OFFERING OF SECURITIES OR OTHER INVESTMENT INTERESTS OF ANY TYPE IN ANY ENTITY IS MADE HEREBY, NOR IS A SOLICITATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF SECURITIES OR OTHER INVESTMENT INTERESTS OF ANY TYPE IN ANY ENTITY MADE HEREBY. THIS ARTICLE IS INTENDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND REPRESENTS THE VIEW OF THE AUTHOR ONLY.
THIS ARTICLE IS COPYRIGHT 2015 BY DOUGLAS E. CASTLE, WITH ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY REPRODUCTION, TRANSMITTAL OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ARTICLE, EITHER IN WHOLE OR PART, IS UNAUTHORIZED AND MAY BE UNLAWFUL, UNLESS FULL ATTRIBUTION IS GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR AND ALL LINKS IN THE ARTICLE REMAIN INCLUDED AND “LIVE.”
Tags, Labels, Keywords, Categories And Search Terms For This Article:
cloud, mobile, IoT, cognitive, computing, 3D printing, energy, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, The Global Futurist, man-machine hybrids, Douglas E. Castle, GEIconsulting
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