Science-fiction movies (Wakanda forever!) have helped to shape the kind of technology we should be expecting in real life in the next couple of years.
Some of these futuristic gadgets have actually already gone live in various parts of the world. From self-driving cars to smart shoelaces, let’s explore some of the cool future tech that are already existing now.
Internet of Things
IoT refers to the interconnection of billions of physical devices around the world, each one communicating with the other and sharing data. When we talk of physical devices, we don’t mean phones and laptops, we talking about your shoes, glasses, Gas cooker, Couch, clothes, pills and so on. IoT adds a level of digital intelligence to devices that would be otherwise dumb, enabling them to communicate without a human being involved, and merging the digital and physical worlds.
We’ve seen early implementations of IoT in homes and offices and vehicles. Smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo and Google Home make it easier to play music, set timers, or get information. Home security systems make it easier to monitor what’s going on inside and outside, or to see and talk to visitors. Meanwhile, smart thermostats can help us heat our homes before we arrive back, and smart lightbulbs can make it look like we’re home even when we’re out. These tech are already available for consumers to cop.
Self-Driving Cars
Not too long ago, a self-driving car was spotted in Lagos, queued up in traffic. A dazed crowd gathered round the vehicle and held their heads in amazement. Meanwhile, taxi hailing company – Uber has deployed driverless cars / taxis in several parts of the world. Google and Tesla have also made some giant strides in the area of self-driving cars, along with other automobile companies like Toyota, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and so on.
Human organ Printing
Printing human organs can save human life. This is a dream of not only the doctors, but of people around the world who see their loved ones die of deadly diseases. This is no longer a pipe dream. Thanks to advancements in 3D printing, Scientists have been able to print artificial arteries. The heart, lungs and other organs will soon follow. This amazing discovery will revolutionize medical science.
5G Network
4G network has been around for quite some time and we are getting used to it, but not for long. We will start seeing the first iteration of 5G network this year. In other words, 5G network will be launched in 2018 and is already undergoing testing in some other parts of the world. The new network standard will make a significant difference to the capabilities of mobile devices and wearables. With much greater bandwidth and significantly lower latency and energy requirements, 5G will drive developments in augmented and virtual reality, machine learning applications, and the connected city, creating a market for advanced applications and services.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is gaining good footing in the economy on the present society. Today, only a few major brands accept cryptocurrency as payment. Expedia, for example, allows you to pay on their site with bitcoin. These crypto payment options will only increase in 2018. Microsoft has also started accepting bitcoin payments on their online store. With time, this mode of transferring currency will be improved upon and made to become legal tender and acceptable in a wider range of markets.
