Session 9: If you can imagine it, you can make it happen!

After having covered technology based on specific topics, we let our thoughts go wild with this week's topic of future and emerging technologies.

EMERGING AND FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

For successful companies that fall under the category of 'rising star', the mindset that prevails is that of 'why not?'. They do not limit their imagination, but instead let's it run wild, and they sometimes surprise themselves with the kind of things they are able to come up with. Some ideas may seem impossible at first, but these far-fetching ideas could very well build a foundation for emerging future technologies. With continuous advancements in technology, no new idea should be ruled out because no one knows what the future holds for us. 

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

- Albert Einstein

From the quote by Einstein above, we can see that it is the imagination that we have that will help to propel the world forward, and if we merely work on what we know, there will be little progress. We were showed a video in class, about the possibility of silicon being replaced by plastic. This new and emerging plastic technology could hold a great future as it is lighter, cheaper and more flexible. In fact, an idea that challenges existing boundaries is having plastic micro chips in contact lenses that is able to beam the Internet right in front of you. Cool, huh?

There are several drivers for the development of these new and emerging technologies. Firstly, it could be a response to market demand, where consumers are longing for the development of certain technologies. However, the more common situation with new and emerging technologies is when supply creates the demand. For example, technological creations such as the walkman and iPhone were things people never realised they need until they had it. Previously, life went on fine. Yet, when these technologies emerged, they became so integrated into society that it is almost unheard of to not own or be related to these things.

With the emerging iPhone technologies, augmented reality is likely to come into existent. This technology will transcend whatever we currently have, and bring technology to a whole new level. However some concerns of this include invasion of privacy and misuse of this technology. As fascinating as it may sound, I believe certain law and guidelines should be put in place, in order to ensure proper use of this technology.

Lesson Rating: 9/10

The idea of new and emerging technologies have always intrigued me because it is always interesting to have a glimpse into what the future holds. I thoroughly enjoyed the different kinds of new technologies discussed throughout the session.