What Do The Next Ten Years Of Technology Look Like?

As we start 2021, we are dealing with chip shortages that affect all types of devices from iPhones, automobiles, and video game consoles. I don’t remember something like a microchip affecting so many things! It started to make me think about current/recent technology and about the advancements in the past decade. There have been some HUGE products/services that have reshaped our lives and culture. Let’s look back at some of my favorites, and discuss where the future of technology might be headed!

Can You Imagine Life Without...?

iPad. Instgram & Snapchat. Uber & Lyft. Spotify & Amazon Echo. These products and services have revolutionized how we consume entertainment, show what’s happening in our daily lives, get around, and shop! In the article “2010-2020: A Decade Of Big Tech Changes”, the author calls out some interesting changes that have surrounded our day to day in terms of reliance on social media, rise of smartphone use, and virtual assistants to name a few. I know for myself that life without the iPad for myself or my kids would be hard to imagine! I can watch a show from Netflix or Disney +, order something from Amazon, order groceries through Instacart, or listen to music through Spotify! Four different activities that had to be done separately before, can now be done on one device while sitting on my sofa!

Or let’s think about travelling/commuting. A person had the option of having a significant other/friend or calling a taxi if they needed to go somewhere. With the rise of smartphone usage & Uber/Lyft launching, this created new opportunities not only for the consumer but those seeking employment/extra income. I could work my regular day job, then switch on my Lyft account and start moving people around! Incredible to think about this concept and the ways it has changed how we think about transportation and getting around (not to mention earning potential). In addition, that person who is waiting for their ride might turn up the heat in their apartment through their Nest thermostat while listening to music on…you guessed it…their AirPods (which came out in 2016). In that example there are five huge advancements that were not even possible in 2000 (smartphone, Uber, Spotify, Nest, AirPods)!

Gazing Into My Crystal Ball

I cannot see into the future. However, I think we can make some reasonable guesses on where technology is going in the next 10 years, and what is needed based on our current needs. One that jumps to mind is the advancement for batteries for electric cars. Most of the major auto makers are following the likes of Telsa for the electric vehicle band-wagon. A culprit that is holding back these types of vehicles has historically been the battery capacity. I envision major advancements in this technology allowing for more capacity and shorter charge times. Those two changes would take electric vehicles to the next level.

Another area where technology advancements might be headed is virtual reality (VR). With the recent remote frenzy of work & school, think of the possibilities of real VR. A student that could really interact with their teacher and other students. A meeting where you could show your idea on a whiteboard instead a presentation slide. Or since travel is limited, how about a virtual vacation? Oculus has slowly risen in popularity recently with their VR system & viewer. I believe this is an area that could serve many areas & parts of the population.

One other field that I see really taking off (pun intended!) is the use of drones. Some companies like Amazon and the USPS have briefly started flirting with this type of service but it is still in the infancy stages. Imagine the good that could come of this type of service: delivering medicine or supplies to those are in need to due a weather event or natural disaster. Or by getting orders & packages to customers in areas where road congestion & air quality are concerns? Seeing an increase in this type of technology could reduce fuel consumption & traffic, and get orders to consumers faster by taking more direct paths.

Just The Tip of The Technological Iceberg

I’ve only scratched the surface of where technology might be headed in the next decade. Will the flying cars we have been waiting on for so long finally appear? Or perhaps I’ll get that android-housemaid like the Jetson’s cartoon had. One thing I do know there are always new contributors to this constant evolution, and two pioneers of technology that still are relevant today in Moore’s Law and Dennard Scaling. Both point to technology evolutions, whether that is in microchips or power usage. Almost all of these new advancements will have to deal with microchips & power in some fashion. Thinking back over the past decade about the advancements we have made, I can only think that the speed of which the next round of tech wonderments will come even faster. What tech was really important to you this past decade? Where do you think we are headed? Leave a comment and let’s hear from you!