Seven Emerging Technologies You Should Know About

Seven Emerging Technologies You Should Know About

Cognitive Computing Aids Decision-Making

Cognitive computing systems learn and interact with people to enhance what they and machines do independently. They improve human experts’ ability to make better decisions with the help of big data.

Too Little Data, Not Too Much

Contrary to what many people think, we have too little data, not too much, according to the report. “More data gives us better context to understand what’s important,” notes the report, which says that data-centric systems are needed to process and make sense of massive amounts of data. In the future, for example, IBM’s Watson computer may bring computation to data instead of bringing data to the computation engine.

Miniaturization of Machines and Interfaces

Unlike IT, multi-, micro- and nano-scale devices will not be shrunken versions of previous ones, so the challenges to building them and their interfaces are different and will create opportunities for small companies. Graphene researchers, for example, are creating flexible electronics that can be inserted into the brain or painted on skin.

Data to Improve Manufacturing Efficiency

Thousands of sensors in factories will measure temperature, humidity, air pressure and other relevant factors. Machine’s operational data, for instance, will alert workers so that they can prevent machine malfunctions and adjust work processes.

Additive Manufacturing With 3D printers

Additive manufacturing is making complex products more affordable. Examples include parts for jet engines, hearing aids and dental implants. But parts must be designed differently and “brilliant” factories must be built, offering challenges to engineers trained in subtractive manufacturing.

Robots Working Alongside Humans

Baxter, the robot made by Rethink Robotics, works safely next to humans in factories. Its arms have seven joints, each hand has a camera and accelerometer, and the robot interfaces with a factory equipment’s programmable logic controls. “Workers like the robot because it takes over the unappealing jobs,” says inventor Rodney Brooks.

Open Source Robots

Loosely defined tasks require highly complex software too challenging for one lab or company to develop alone. The Open Source Robotics Foundation is developing a Robot Operating System to facilitate collaborative authoring of robotics software with flexible middleware and a library of common robotics tasks.

Biotech: Genes Affecting Life Span

Biotechnology researchers have discovered a gene called DAF-2 that codes for a hormone receptor that controls aging in worms. The gene resembles human hormone receptors for insulin and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) and may control the rate of aging.

Indoor GPS Helps Consumers

People spend 80% of their time indoors, but GPS can’t penetrate most buildings. Electronic mapmaker Micello builds indoor maps of shopping malls, stores, hospitals, garages, business campuses, movie theaters and more, enabling customers to reserve seats at AMC movie theaters or quickly find new deals at Wal-Mart.

Introducing Location-Based Services

This fall, consumer electronics firm CSR will unveil a location platform for handsets that will report a location to within a few meters. Likewise, an app could enable asthma sufferers to pinpoint locations where they’ve had to use their inhalers.

More Years for Moore’s Law

With materials and new micro- and nano-scale structures, Moore’s Law may applicable for 20 to 30 more years. For instance, the first carbon nanotube computer was demonstrated in 2013 and is expected to transform the industry. And researchers have made progress in harnessing Germanium, an element that resembles silicon, and are overcoming its stumbling block, which is light emission.