The five predictions about technologies in five years by IBM: Part 2
In our last post we have covered two predictions about the future technologies and here are another three:
We will investigate the secrets of the universe with the help of “macroscopes”
Satellite technologies help us to revise all secret places all around the world; Google Earth is a great example, but this service is just the first step in satellite technology development. “Macroscope” system works the same as a microscope, but vice versa. In IBM they say that macrosystem will bring together “all complex data about the Earth” offering us a chance to explore this information from another angle. This technology will not only expand the possibilities of gathering information with the help of satellites, but also provide us with more “smart” sensors, weather stations, and will also allow us to find the optimal ways of information processing.
A macroscope system could be useful in our everyday life. All types of devices, even lighting systems and refrigerators, could be explored with such macroscope systems. We could use them everywhere—starting from climate change problem to question of food distribution on the planet; from remotely managed lamps to smart gadgets that will remember your favorite food and order it while you are driving home from work; or find the necessary information for you on Wikipedia. In a world where more and more devices, homes, and cities become connected in one network infrastructure, just imagine the potential in such progressive technology that could gather all of the world information and direct it to specific tasks.
The revolution in medicine with “lab on chip”
According to IBM’s predictions, the development of computer technologies will put medicine on the pedestal of fields that will gain the biggest profit from this progress. Just imagine that you can make an accurate medical diagnosis by yourself at home or predict the coming of disease earlier than it will happen.
IBM experts say that “Lab on chip” (same as micro total analysis systems) are going to be our nano technological robots-detectives. They will monitor the traces of future illnesses in our organisms and will let us know immediately when it is time to visit a physician. In a certain sense, it will be a fully functional biochemical laboratory palm-size. Diagnostics in the early stages of such diseases as cancer or hypertension is what matters when we are talking about successful treatment. That is why scientists are trying to simplify analyzing methods of our excretory systems’ products, such as blood, urine, sweat, and tears. By 2022, our sleep monitoring system and fitness trackers will collect data in cloud AI servers, where it will be processed efficiently and fast. After this, the information will return to us as detailed advice on improving our health. An automatic notification at any signs of an approaching illness will inform your physician along this process.
Pollution of the environment will be defined much faster
In five years we could get more precise and timely predictions concerning environmental pollution with help of smart equipment and systems of AI analysis. Smart sensors placed in the ground or installed on flying drones, will be able to detect emissions and pollution in real time without the need of prior analysis of samples in laboratories.
One of the reasons for global warming is the rise of methane in the atmosphere that is visible to the naked eye. Smart-sensors, placed in the line of gas pipes, near warehousing facilities, and natural sources of such emissions will detect and report instantly about the increase of methane concentration in the atmosphere.
“For now, we determine such leaks within a few weeks, but with this technology it will take a few minutes! This will reduce leakage and help people to avoid potential catastrophic consequences,” IBM reports.
Of course, we know that the prediction of the future is not always a noble business, and it is a complicated task. But world scientists are already working on all of the technologies described in this article. So the question of when we will actually get them in everyday life is only a matter of time.