Another year gone and another year full of amazing advancements in the world of engineering and technology. 2014 has seen the rise of Internet of Things, 3D printing and many more besides. It seems that companies are not only looking at developing new technologies, but also how they can innovate with current technologies to advance projects, combining technology in order to find solutions to problems both old and new.
This begs the question: What will we see as the major tech of 2015?
Well for one, I would love to see how Google get on with their self driving car . The fact that they are continuing to develop the car, even after the strict changes in motoring law, shows they are serious about taking this further in 2015. But recent announcements around Toyota patents might pave the way for further development of both hydrogen fueled and electric cars. However, while the notion of having an i-Robot style car to taxi me to and from work is a pleasing one, it is not a solution to a worldwide dilemma.
One of the things that I think we will see in 2015 is further advancements in robotics. There has been some insane results and advancements in terms of prosthetic limbs, including smart skin that can ‘feel’ temperature and moisture as well as the first double robotic arm replacement where the patient had an adequate enough level of motor skills to place items on a bookshelf. These are groundbreaking developments and the sort of thing, I feel, that technology should be doing. Sure everyone loves Quadcopters and they are proving useful in areas such as the police force and filming movies, but to give someone their arms back? Now that’s solving a real life issue.
I also think that we will see continue to see a debate on how to protect our data and information continue in 2015. With more Internet of Things devices coming to the consumer market, everyone in the industry is talking about how to keep data and devices secure. I’ll go out on a limb and say we will certainly see an initial solution to start solving this problem in 2015. What that is, though, your guess is as good as mine.
Wearables everywhere and on everyone. Samsung, Apple and Google have all had a crack at mainstream wearable devices, predominantly the smart watch and glass respectively. There have been some pretty cool devices that have also slipped under the mainstream radar though. The smart belt that adjusts automatically depending on how much you have eaten and the corset that becomes transparent as you use more and more data. Indeed even community member Barbara Eldredge has taken the site by storm with her Christmas Hat blogs proving that wearables do not need to solve a problem: they can purely be for the enjoyment of the person wearing them and even fit into the world of fashion.2015 could very well be the year of the wearables with jewelry and onesies also coming into the mix.
Internet of Things will continue to develop and grow, but more specifically sensors will be the biggest development in this area. Samsung have recently announced at CES 2015 that they are working on a sensor that can identify over twenty different smells. Yes, smells.
The more that inventors look to connect devices in 2015, improvements on sensors will be required. I think this is a really interesting concept as not only will it lead to more technology being developed, it will also undoubtedly lead to older technology being revived as a part of the Internet of Things revolution with sensors being added and developed to enhance it.
So what technology do you think will come out on top in 2015 and what technology are you most excited to see developed in 2015?
Interested in learning more? Check out the following blogs by Cabe Atwell:
Meet the New and Improved Mind-Controlled DARPA Robot Arm
Prosthetic Limbs May allow users to Sense Touch, Temperature and More
Activity Tracker Saves your Volleyball Jumping Stats and More
High-tech, Low-cost Satellite Kit has NASA Holding Workshops
Dutch Designer develops suit that becomes WiFi Hotspot
Park Benches Just Got Cooler: This one can Recharge your Cell Phone
A Wacky DARPA jetpack allows soldiers to run a four minute mile
Google self-driving car, without brake pedals or a steering wheel
