What technologies will have a strong impact in the coming years
Which of today's technologies will shape the world of tomorrow? Although the question may be simple, to give an answer, it is necessary to analyze a lot of data to try to understand what technological innovations They will have a radical impact on the world economy, the environment or the social order.
A new report backed by the World Economic Forum reveals some of the groundbreaking Emerging technologies that can positively disrupt the existing order, be attractive to investors and researchers and make it possible to be scalable in the next five years while respecting sustainability.
1.- Bioplastics to improve the circular economy
Less than 15% of the world's plastic is recycled, with the rest incinerated, abandoned or sent to landfills. Biodegradable plastic offered a solution, but it lacked the strength against conventional materials.
The idea of using cellulose or lignin from plant residues is revolutionizing biodegradable plastic, increasing the resistance of the material without using crops that are intended for human consumption.
The concept of circular economy and therefore the environment will be improved (Plastic packaging represents 17% of waste in Spain). It is also interesting to see a stronger and more ecological concrete thanks to carrots.
2. Social robots
Today's robots can recognize voices, faces and emotions, interpret speech patterns and gestures, and even make eye contact, not to mention that you have a clean house with them.
These new "friends" and assistants are becoming a part of everyday life and are increasingly being used to care for the elderly, educate children, and perform all sorts of tasks in between.
To get an idea of the numbers on the graph, the global number of domestic robots entering the home will rise to 31 million between 2016 and 2022 according to the International Federation of Robotics. Impress!
3.- The metalens
The manufacture of lenses for cell phones, computers and other electronic devices has exceeded the capabilities of traditional glass cutting and bending techniques.
Advances in physics have led to miniaturized and lighter alternatives to current lenses, called metalens or flat lenses). They are tiny, thin and flat, which could replace the bulky glass lenses in any microscope, cameras, screens, phones, etc.
the metalenses reduce weight, bulk and produce lenses thinner than a sheet of paper
4.- Stopping messy proteins
Diseases such as prostate cancer, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's have associated proteins with a characteristic in common, that of having disordered regions, apparently without a rigid three-dimensional structure.
Now scientists have found a way for a treatment to kick in and slow down disease, offering new possibilities to patients.
5.- DNA-based data storage
Our data storage systems use a lot of energy and cannot keep up with the huge amounts of data that we produce. In less than a century they are expected to reach their capacity.
But, groundbreaking research is using DNA-based data storage as an energy-efficient alternative to computer hard drives, with enormous capacity: One estimate suggests that all of the world's data for a year could be stored in a DNA cube of just one square meter.
The article that refers to the video about the discovery made by Microsoft can be seen from HERE.
6.- Smarter and more sustainable fertilizers
Recent improvements in fertilizers have focused on their ability to slowly release nutrients when needed. However, they still contain ammonia, urea, and potash which are harmful to the environment.
The new fertilizers use more ecological nitrogen sources and microorganisms that improve absorption by plants.
7.- Collaborative telepresence
Imagine a video conference where you not only feel like you are in the same room as the other attendees, but you can also feel the contact.
A mix of Augmented and Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, 5G networks and advanced sensors, will provide that entrepreneurs from different places can physically exchange handshakes or doctors can work remotely with patients, as if they were in the same room.
Although it seems crazy, according to the report … «the collaborative telepresence it is still emerging, but all the pieces are in place for it to become a reality in the short term, three to five years.
As a note, you can check out the article on how artificial intelligence will change the way we see architecture.
8.- Tracking technology for food
Around 600 million people consume contaminated food each year and it is essential to locate the source of the outbreak immediately.
What used to take days or even weeks to track can now be tracked in minutes, using blockchain technology to monitor every step of a food product's progress through the supply chain.
The are multiple possibilities. For example, the OpenSC Project (the new company developed by WWF and BCG Digital) wants you to know not only what you eat but how it got to your plate to guarantee sustainable and legal food.
Meanwhile, sensors on packages can indicate when foods are about to expire, reducing the need to waste entire batches once the expiration date is reached.
9.- Safer nuclear reactors
Although nuclear power does not emit carbon dioxide, reactors run the risk of fuel rods overheating and, when mixed with water, produce hydrogen, which can explode. (The best known nuclear fuel is uranium because it is the most used in nuclear fission reactors)
New fuels are emerging that are much less likely to overheat, and if they do, they will produce little or no hydrogen. These new configurations can replace existing fuel rods with few modifications.
10.- Large-scale storage of renewable energy
The storage of electricity generated by renewable energies when there is no sun or wind has been a barrier that has made its acceptance difficult.
Lithium-ion batteries will dominate storage technology in the next decade, and continued advances should result in batteries that can store up to eight hours of power - long enough for the power generated by the sun to meet peak demand. of the night.
If you liked this article, share it!
