We’re not sure why, but there’s something especially futuristic about the year 2020. Maybe it’s the perfectly round, symmetrical number… or perhaps it’s all the amazing innovations constantly popping up around us.
Whatever it is, here are 5 signs that the future is (almost) here. Some are perhaps more impactful than others, but our guess is that all of them will be important news topics at some point in 2020. Check ‘em out now – so when they happen, you can say “I knew it!”
1. Medications will get much smarter
Image source: Securelist
In the new year, we expect to see the trend of “smart medicine” continue to grow – and that means more personalization than ever before. So don’t be surprised if a robot or a microchip participates in your care this year – but don’t worry, your doctor isn’t going anywhere.
These days, medicine and technology are merging, with new advancements in AI (more on that later) and robotics leading the charge. In fact, we already have surgical robots assisting surgeons in some of the most advanced procedures, bringing a level of precision that humans simply can’t compete with.
Of course, there’s another aspect to all this – data! Not only are we using technology to improve the care we provide, we’re also getting a better understanding of how to treat ourselves. By pooling all the global medical data we can find, we increase the chances of major breakthroughs. So overall, 2020 is looking pretty healthy!
2. 5G will become the standard
Image source: TechSpot
Sick of 4G? Or maybe you don’t even know what it is?
Regardless, the bottom line is that you can expect your mobile internet speeds to increase this year – assuming the 5G switch takes place.
You may have already enjoyed lightning-fast speeds from a 5G WiFi network, but the network is likely to go mobile among major providers this year.
In case you’re not aware, “5G” simply means “5th Generation”. This new form of internet allows for increased bandwidth, which in turn results in faster speeds. The 5G network has also been optimized to work with new smart tech like drones and driverless cars. Speaking of which…
3. Cars will drive themselves (properly)
Image source: TechRepublic
Driverless cars suddenly became a thing at the beginning of this decade, but they’re still not perfect. Some unlucky accidents (and the news coverage surrounding them) also pushed things back a bit… but we’re pretty confident that 2020 will be the year that a “complete” driverless car hits the market.
Elon Musk’s Tesla is leading the charge in this area, but Google has also been hard at work on their own version. In fact, Google’s sister company, Waymo, recently completed a test in which they transported 6200 passengers over the course of a month.
There are endless benefits to a driverless world – including reduced accidents and increased efficiency. But of course, it will take some time to implement, so don’t worry if you enjoy driving… it’s unlikely to become a thing of the past any time soon.
4. Artificial Intelligence will become a service
Image source: Seats2meet Magazine
AI (or machine learning, as it should really be called) has undoubtedly changed our lives already – even though it’s still a relatively new concept.
The early adopters of AI technology have been businesses, who use advanced applications for things like production and data management. However, AI is becoming easier to implement with each passing year. And that means we’ll start to see more of it… a LOT more of it!
Right now, big companies like Microsoft, Google and Amazon offer AI services to companies who want to implement the powerful technology in their own work. This usually costs a lot of time and engineering power… but analysts suggest that new developments have made it easier, and we’ll start seeing “smart” applications in places we never thought imaginable.
5. Computers will gain 20/20 vision
Image source: Analytics Insight
No, computers aren’t getting eyes – at least in the traditional sense. However, they will learn to “see” much better this year.
You’ve probably already seen some developments in this area. Face recognition is a popular example, as is Google Image Search – and yes, driverless cars!
This useful technology should blossom in the coming year, and that means a whole world of applications. For example, imagine taking a photo of your refrigerator and getting a list of the ingredients in each item. In order to do this, your phone has to be able to “see” the items in the photo, then identify them.
If you told someone in 1920 about this technology (or even 2010), they’d say you were crazy. It just goes to show you should never blind yourself to life’s possibilities!
Those are the major innovations we expect to see more of next year. How about you – what are you hoping for? (Besides flying cars. We all want flying cars…)