Modern society has become so technologically-driven that it’s hard not to spend a day without using any form of tech from smartphones to mining satellites, and from 3D printers to hybrid cars. Our portable gadgets have become an extension of ourselves, making us dependent on technology to conduct our daily lives. With the rate of advancement in development, how will technology influence our future? Will we grow to rely on robots to do most of our work for us? Let’s take a closer look and find out!
Smart houses
We have all sorts of so-called smart appliances in the market, and soon technology will make our houses run itself. Intel anthropologist Genevieve Bell put it this way: “people inhabit homes, technology powers houses.” Bell advocates that technology creators design for experience, not just efficiency, drawing and learning from the rich heritage of what home means for people.
Household appliances and devices will be “smart” not only because they help get chores done, but because they embody what it means to be home. For instance, tech giant Philips has come up with a wooden Breakfast Tray that provides users with a secure surface for a leisurely meal in bed. The tray has a soft base for comfort and magnetic metal contacts so that cups and plates stay put. The metal contacts are cool to the touch but are able to provide power that keeps bread and coffee warm, and cereals and iced tea cool. Rather than alienating us from the demands of household chores, technology will instead enhance our home experience, making chores enjoyable while letting us spend more quality time with family.
Learning and collaboration
Technology will pave the way for more collaborative efforts in various aspects of society, especially business and education. The traditional structure of the educational system will change to accommodate the shift from teacher-centered instruction to learner-centered initiative. The teacher will assume the role of a guide or learning facilitator instead of just a content provider, and learners will have limitless resources at their fingertips. Teachers will be crucial in helping students develop a more emotional, ‘real-life’ connection with the learning material, making learners achieve their full potential and a better understanding of the world around them.
The classroom of the future will not be made up of walls, but of vast networks across countries, enabling students to communicate and learn with peers from around the world. The online environment will blur the lines between formal and informal education. The accessibility of learning materials would make it easy for everyone to get an education no matter where they are.
Collaboration will also take center stage in the corporate environment, allowing teams from all over the planet to work together using an online platform. Collaborative tools will be indispensable, making it easy for team members to schedule meetings, post questions, track progress, and work together in virtual offices.
Technology as a fact of life
Some people are afraid of new technology, thinking that it will corrupt children, turn people into robots, or alienate us from one another. However, it can be seen that technology, in fact, brings people closer together. Even robots are being infused with tech that make them more human and able to understand our feelings and desires. In the future, technology will blend in with how we live, and become a fact of life, like food. Technology, after all, is meaningless until it touches people’s lives, making us appreciate what it means to be human.
Photograph by Chris Isherwood