We are living in an age where technology is evolving faster than ever before. Year in year out, it seems like there’s always something new that we need to learn because of the significant role it plays in our lives. For instance, in the early 2000s, only tech enthusiasts had smartphones; the rest of us were using standard mobile phones with buttons. A decade later, smartphones became mainstream, and right now, nearly 50% of the world’s population owns a smartphone.

We use smartphones for work to edit documents or even videos and audio files, and the devices also come in handy when we want to blow off steam, for instance, on an online gaming site. Depending on the type of game you like, you could play online casino games at Vulkan Casino right from the browser of your smartphone or download a native application if available.

Well, if we look at the current technology trends, starting from the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data and analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G to cloud-based computing, there are limitless ways that technology will transform the future. By now, we’ve all witnessed the excitement that surrounds self-driven cars, which are currently undergoing the final phases of testing before being rolled out into the market.

Heck, electric cars are no longer a subject of cautious curiosity because practically all automakers have started mass-producing them, with some of them vowing to shelve combustion engines in their cars within the next decade. But back in 2003, when Elon Musk was just starting Tesla, no one believed that electric cars could be faster, more exciting to drive, and better in many ways than petrol cars.

Let’s take a look at some of the leading emerging technology trends that will redefine the future of the world, probably as radically as smartphones and electric cars have:

1. Autonomous Things (AuT)

Autonomous things, also referred to as the Internet of autonomous things, is one of the most incredible technologies that are poised to usher the world into a new and electrifying future. Boosted by disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and the cloud, AuT is what will help us achieve full autonomy in processes and systems. AuT primarily uses AI to carry out complicated errands that were formerly done by human beings, thus allowing for maximized efficiency and zero mistakes that could be caused by human error. Parts of AuT worth mentioning include the likes of robots, drones, driverless cars, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

2. Gesture-Based Computing

Right now, most of us depend on input devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, microphone, and game controllers, among other devices to interact with technology. Gesture-based computing, on the other hand, leverages more advanced interfaces where the human body gets to interact with digital resources directly without having to use these input devices. In the last few years, there’s been lots of buzz surrounding the invention of gesture-based computing. This is an up-and-coming interface that has a lot more applications than just shaking and angling a gadget as most people assume. When it gets to the desired level of maturity, the keyboard and mouse will no longer be the primary devices that users will need for communicating with a computer.

One of the most lucrative areas where this can be applied is in education technology, and besides, in modern-day markets, gesture-based computing technology is getting bigger and will soon allow for efficient marketing communications between brands and customers.

3. Aerospace Tourism

Thanks to the speedy innovations in technology, aerospace tourism is now becoming a reality. At the moment, several tech firms are racing to design suborbital tourist vehicles that can take passengers on a space tour. These include the likes of SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Atlantic, among others.

However, space exploration for human beings is still in its early stages, and the boundless opportunities that it has will be developed for generations to come. Better yet, while the preferred form of transportation for outer space right now is a space shuttle, some researchers are thinking out of the box and experimenting with the idea of space elevators.

4. Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. It is an incredible technology that is already proving to be an efficient approach to how acute illnesses are dealt with. Nanomedicine is a genius way of drug administration because it can significantly improve the time frame that a given drug stays active in the human body. As we speak, medicine in the human body normally gets absorbed pretty fast, and in the process, the presence of the medicinal effects also disappears quickly, leading to wastage before treatment, depending on the condition. With nanomedicine, this problem can be eliminated.

Of late, the innovations in molecular and cellular biology, proteomics, genetics, bioengineering, and material science have played a huge role in the advancement of nanomedicine. At this point, medicinal technologists are also already working on different medicinal devices and equipment that utilize nanotechnology in enhancing effectiveness, safety, and customization. Some of the chronic conditions that will greatly benefit from nanomedicine include:

✔ Ovarian cancer
✔ Kaposi’s sarcoma
✔ Multiple myeloma

5. Nanobots

Nanobots, also called nanorobotics, are a promising technology field developing robots or machines that carry out a very special function and are ~50–100 nanometer wide. Nanorobotics has made significant strides; it is no longer a sci-fi term. In the medical industry, for instance, this type of technology will not only be crucial in medicinal diagnosis but also drug delivery. Mind you, analysts in the medical industry project that by 2030, nanobot applications will be a reality within the human body. With such robots, the treatment of diseases like cancer, which happens to be amongst the leading causes of death worldwide, can be treated efficiently since they will move around the body autonomously and spot a malignant cell.

Of all these future technologies, which one are you looking forward to the most? And if you think about it, what will the next century look like if the next two or three decades are already showing this much potential?