A fabulous future: flying cars, human robots, voice-controlled houses, their own virtual assistants, food “from the air” and human organs printed on the printer. We talk about the most incredible technologies that have already come to life. How often in childhood did you read books and frequently heard the phrase outgoing from writing services, such as “do my paper for money”, by the essay writer or anything like that, watch movies or cartoons about the future and think that humanity will never invent a flying skate, a foldable smartphone, or a robot that would be completely human? I don’t know about you, but I have had this often enough.
The most interesting and most incredible technologies
- Artificial intelligence
Probably everyone watched the movie “Iron Man” produced by Marvel. The first part came out in 2008 and then even more of the planet it seemed unimaginable to have a voice in the phone that can answer your commands, find the right information, or suggest where you can have coffee with friends in an unfamiliar city. But, here’s a miracle, in 2011 Siri appears on the iPhone. Now we are no longer surprised by the possibility of Jarvis to serve Tony Stark, to analyze his systems, and so on.
Nowadays, there are so many virtual assistants available to mankind that it is almost impossible to remember everyone: Siri, Alice, Alexa, Cortana, and others. Nevertheless, few people ask the next team for Siri to think about where and how artificial intelligence knows, understands, and finds what we ask. Few people know that to develop this (seemingly) small function, it took more than 40 years of research by scientists from 7 of the best technical universities in the United States. Few people suggest that in 1637, Rene Descartes in his work “The Discourse on Method” first put forward the theory that every animal on earth can be a mechanism that can think. Then this mechanical theory seemed incredible and completely stupid, but today, with the help of our iPhone and voice, we can book a table in a restaurant located on another mainland in a few seconds. Your Siri, and any other artificial intelligence, is a real work of art that can analyze data in a split second in various languages and produce the result you need. And now, to imagine how far we have stepped into the future, let’s recall the movie “Home Alone 4”, where baby Kevin gets into a voice-controlled house. Since 2002, only 18 years have passed. It took humanity only 18 years to turn technology from a film into a routine that was completely ordinary for everyone and accessible to everyone.
- Flexible displays
The technology of folding devices is found in many modern films about the future. Why? They are comfortable to wear, they are small, can perform many functions at the same time and generally look incredible. Yes, of course, we can’t be surprised with flip phones. I am sure everyone managed to try them in their lives. Nevertheless, how much you start to be surprised when you watch the next Westworld series and understand: here it is, this folding tablet, it looks so much like the Galaxy Fold!
A few years ago it was difficult to imagine several cameras on the smartphone, and now we can freely fold the Motorola Razr, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and Galaxy Fold display in half.
The first folding display concepts appeared back in 1974. Then, Xerox created the unique Gyricon paper, which consisted of black and white spheres placed on a silicone sheet. When the pressure of the printer influenced one of these areas, the result was a picture. This paper could be rewritten up to a thousand times. Unfortunately, then the ideas of Xerox were too unrealistic and expensive, so flexible displays “covered” in 2005. They started talking about flexible displays again after 5 years. Now, this has already happened at Samsung. In 2010, the company provided the first of the bendable displays, and in 2019 the first Galaxy Fold entered the market. Of course, Samsung was not alone in designing and developing flexible displays. We cannot ignore the Royole company, which develops entire flexible surveys, and at CES 2020 introduced a tree of its flexible displays.
- Smart lenses with integrated display
At first, I thought of writing about wearable devices, such as an Apple Watch, AirPods, or augmented reality glasses. But, now, after all, one cannot surprise anyone with such seemingly ordinary things that were previously completely unattainable. Another thing is the lenses that give personal supervision. Yes, this is far from being a fiction from Superman comics. Although this technology is just being introduced into life, nevertheless, it already exists and is actively practiced in humans. Startup Mojo Vision offers unique ultra-thin lenses that have a built-in display that can show you the weather, measure objects, and more. Now, little is known about the startup, but I’m sure that very soon everyone will be able to afford such technology.
- Human robots
It seemed that robots would always remain robots. Then we saw the films “Terminator”, “Iron Man”, “Alita” and it started. No, you will not surprise us with robotic vacuum cleaners, interactive toys for children made of iron and fabric, which can replace teachers, even such things as robots from Boston Dynamics seem simply mundane. Now it’s amazing – these are androids that fully copy the human mind and body, which can independently think. No one noticed that now there is at least one “living robot” Sofia, capable of thinking and looking like a real person. Gynoid or “female robot” was once another invention of science fiction writers of the late 20th century. I remember the film “The Matrix: Reloaded” (2003) and the charming Persephone, as well as the film “Andromeda” (2000) and the character of Andromeda (Rommy). In those years, the creation of a Sofia-like gynoid seemed just a joke, a fiction that only a madman could do. However, 15 years passed, and before we appeared a half-dead, thinking female robot who visited Ukraine in 2018.
In addition, Samsung Neon at CES 2020 showed prototypes of artificial people that cannot be distinguished from real ones at all.
With such advancement of world progress, plots with the capture of the world by cyborgs become more and more real, but more hope, of course, for peaceful cohabitation.
- UFO near you
Flying saucers have always seemed completely transcendent. All these films about how aliens fly in their completely smooth flying machines to capture the world, how they glow in the dark, develop a speed equal to the speed of light – all this was just “fairy tales”. But look at the Northrop B-2 Spirit bomber, invented back in the late 20th century – why don’t you get a U.S. 3.1 billion UFO?
- Virtual reality
Previously, watching the holograms of the next gathering of a secret organization or Jedi Council in Star Wars was simply unimaginable. Well, where can you imagine it, see a man in flesh and blood, right in front of you, touch him, talk, and after that he just disappeared, as if nothing had happened? Before the advent of technology, philosophers believed that virtual reality is a state that does not exist, but it can occur when a person enters a commune or in a dream. Virtual reality has come a long way, from the origin of the theory in the 1960s to the creation of a working concept, the invention of a helmet and special sensors, which now allow you to freely roam video games or play bowling on your TV. Virtual reality first appeared in 1977 as an image of a map of Aspen. Then a virtual walk around the city, where you can choose the season between summer and winter, seemed simply unbelievable. 43 years have passed before that time so that now you can “try on” a sofa before buying or upload a mask with an effect on Instagram. However, virtual reality has opened these doors for us. Now we can visit the virtual space, interact with the virtual world, and even communicate there with other people. By the way, in 2019 Spotify became available in Magic Leap World, and users were allowed to place their favorite albums literally on the walls of their home using virtual reality.
In addition, with the help of virtual reality, time travel becomes much more real. For example, you don’t need to invent a special machine to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Jurassic period. All you need for this now is a special program and a virtual reality helmet.
- Drones and androids in the service of man
You won’t surprise anyone with drones now. They are used for military purposes, for shooting beautiful videos, and now for delivery. You can’t say exactly when the drones appeared. Austria first used them in 1849 to bombard Venice. Then, similar technologies were used during the Second World War. In order for drones to become accessible to ordinary residents, it took almost no less time than the invention of artificial intelligence, because for a long time the army did not allow civilians to use these technologies. However, in 2010, drones began to gain popularity and we were able to get amazing bird’s-eye videos of nature and cities, and also consider the possibility of using drones for peaceful purposes. I’m sure it’s hard (and now too) to imagine that your package, say, from China is delivered by a special drone that flies hundreds of kilometers to your door. I want to surprise you – everything goes to this. In America, some hospitals have already been equipped with such drone stations for transmission of analyzes. So there is no doubt that very soon a drone with a parcel will knock on our door.
Speaking of service to man. If you are not surprised by drones and delivery, you might like the news that waiters robots are already serving people in some Chinese restaurants.
Also this year, an experiment was conducted in China to create a hospital, whose staff consisted entirely of robots controlled by artificial intelligence. What is not an episode from the next episode of Doctor Who?
- Flying car
For the first time I saw something like this in Luke Besson’s The Fifth Element. I am sure everyone remembers the red-haired Lila performed by Mila Jovovich and the amazing technologies that were presented in the film. Flying taxis? Cars capable of autopilot control were too much for a person born in the 20th century. However, now we have both. We have been moving for a long time to make this finally a reality. Hundreds of stories about future films have affected world progress and, in the end, the flying Pioneer PAL-V Liberty has appeared on the market. A vehicle capable of climbing 4 km in height and reaching speeds in the air of up to 321 km / h.
- 3D printing
After watching the series Black Mirror and the film Oblivion, it seems that humanity has not yet gone that far. Nevertheless, after you open the news and read about another attempt of artificial intelligence to find a cure for a new virus or print houses, transplantation of artificial organs and catch yourself thinking: “Here it is – the future!” The first 3D printer appeared in 1983. Then this technology was not particularly interesting, because it seemed too futuristic. Who needs a printer to print houses if they can just be built? People did not attach importance to the new technology, but there were dreamers such as Charles Hull, who founded his company and received a patent for it. Until 2009, 3D printers were not as common as they are today. Mainly due to their cost and overall dimensions. Nevertheless, with the development of technology, now we have many variations, which include massive 3D-printing machines for building houses, and small 3D-pens for children. Now a few people will be surprised with 3D printing. With this technology, people have learned to literally print everything: clothes, phone accessories, interior items, even the houses themselves and human organs. Yes, for this technology to be accessible to everyone, it takes a little more time, but advanced countries are already using 3D printers in hospitals or construction, although before it seemed completely unbelievable.
- Environmental friendliness as a trend of the future
Not quite a technology, but rather a general trend that deserves a separate paragraph in this TOP. Environmental friendliness has become the meaning of our life, an opportunity to correct what has already been done before us. Today, the fashion for environmental friendliness, which, incidentally, used to seem unrealistic too, is starting to take over the world. People are fighting for the salvation of nature, spreading the idea of introducing environmental materials into new areas of life, refuse to consume animals for food, and invent a new one, in order to save the environment. For humanity, which has got used to living in a stone jungle, it cannot live a day without an iPhone or the Internet – this is amazing progress. I just admire the enthusiasm of people who cherish and want to save our planet, build something new in it, but at the same time preserve the green shell that gives us life. Caring for the environment, along with progress, has reached a whole new level. Penthouse Roof Garden? Why not! 3D-printed meat? You are welcome! Keyboard, car, iPhone case made of natural wood or MacBook cover made of stone – that’s at least three pieces!
Could you believe that someone would make a car body from wood or build an interior cafe from industrial cardboard waste? I think no. Now it seems completely mundane. I am sure that very soon humanity will invent even more incredible things. At least, I really look forward to cities with the ability to move around, like in the movie “The Chronicles of Predatory Cities” or a plantation somewhere in the northern corner of Mars to fly there for the summer vacation. And what do you expect from the future?