A high technology decade

From Top 10 to Top 5

I'm currently working through some thought processes for what will be the 'game changer' trends and technologies over the next 10 years.  I started out with a list of 10 and I'm now condensing that to just 5.

It's a sorting and prioritising process that is gradually coming together.  I've gathered together an evolving list that I'll share with you now.  Take a look and give me some feedback in the comments for this post.  I really welcome your thoughts.

The next 10 years is an exciting and challenging time.  Here's how I see it in 5 key areas . . . .

Internet evolution

The web grows bigger

• The internet continues to expand at a staggering rate.
• Access to all things online improves as interfaces become far more intuitive and current barriers to access dissolve as clunky devices like keyboards are replaced by gesture, eye movement/scanning, voice biometrics
• Storage capability increases at a phenomenal rate as the need for mobility (always available on all my devices) and greatly increased data needs mean that the ‘cloud’ is the sensible place to keep it all
• Bandwidth expands commensurate with the data needs and the vastly increased number of online users
• Privacy and security, already a major concern, become an absolute necessity due to people’s dependence on the internet for so many services and storage of their most personal details.
• Corporates migrate to the ‘cloud’ as security of data access is beefed up

All things ‘nano’ and their applications 

The future is nano

• Nanotechnology become a huge industry with exploration in all aspects of science
• Big business and state funds invest heavily in research and development
• A big winner in this new world is health and medical science as the ability to manipulate cell structure, genetic material allows cures to major illness and disease and the re-growth of lost/damaged organs/limbs
• Radical materials are developed to address the shortcoming of current deficient materials
• New materials are virtually indestructible, withstand tremendous pressure and temperature difference, are malleable, ductile, flexible – whatever property is needed 
• Materials developed from molecular manipulation (i.e. nano-tech) provide new building materials, textiles, fluids – anything you can imagine
• Nano-developed materials are used in fabricating products from the tangible printing sector – basically you can ‘print’ anything that you need (via the right design blueprint) and you can ensure that it has the right properties (flexible, rigid, indestructible, etc.) by using the right building material.

Global community / social networks

The web has created a global tribe          

• Continuing on from  the infrastructure provided by the expanded internet, the growth of social networks continues unabated
• Virtually everyone who joins the online world becomes involved in one or more of these networks
• Big business utilises these frameworks to mine information
• Due to so much commerce moving online and harnessing these social networks, it becomes almost impossible for individuals to avoid participating
• Individual privacy reduces as you need to open up more aspects of your life to participate
• Security increases due to so much dependence on the net for commerce

Solar power

Energy

• Fossil fuels continue to deplete, become more expensive, ecologically unsustainable and non-competitive against renewable sources
• Big business and state invest in developing renewable energy as a power source
• Economies of scale and R&D mean that solar power becomes a major player across the globe
• Solar power is used domestically as well as for large scale electricity production

Artificial Intelligence

Machines that think like humans are coming

• Robots become more agile and able to negotiate rough terrain
• Application to military uses increases – robotic aircraft become an important weapon
• Manufacturing robots develop to fabricate whole products rather than just components – close alignment here with the tangible printing theme
• R&D projects like IBM’s Blue Brain successfully allow artificial intelligence to be developed to emulate certain key human brain functions
• Robots develop brains that allow them to apply logic and make decisions