There is hardly a walk of life in which modern technology hasn’t made an impact during the past couple of decades. From personal smartphones to improved lighting at sporting venues, technology has become an integral part of various industries. It is fascinating to read more about how game-changing technology is reshaping our lives today and treading the path to the future.
Everything’s online nowadays
Connecting devices remotely means that factories are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). Such networking enables automation and remote control of various machines and processes. The share manual labor has in the manufacturing industry has been dropping steadily, as factories become more autonomous and “smart.” Essentially, IoT allows cross-industry systems to connect and monitor processes independently.
The age of information
Interconnectedness results in the more efficient collection and storage of data that can be shared by a click of a mouse. “Big data” is the byword of the corporate world, as information is measured and analyzed with the end-goal of increasing efficiency and productivity.
Faster shipping
IoT is also useful when it comes to shipping products to customers. For example, the shipping industry uses software that analyses data, and calculates the fastest route to a given customer, maximizing the potential of tactical positioning of distribution centers.
This allows manufacturers and retailers to offer same-day shipping options and deliver (pun intended) on the promise. Just a decade ago, such swiftness was unimaginable for the average consumer.
Productivity and the manufacturing industry
The age-old trend of increasing productivity went into hyper-drive with the advent of modern production technologies. From hardware upgrades to innovative software solutions, modern factories are able to produce more in less time.
Just look at the storage industry, where robots on wheels are able to trace packages inside huge warehouses and distribute them through conveyor belts (like in Amazon’s fulfillment centers) to trucks waiting outside. In addition, automation decreases the risk of error and injury, helping to down operation costs and increase workplace safety.
Lighting up the world
As electricity was making its way into pour streets just a century ago, it was common that the day ended with nightfall. However, modern lighting solutions made it possible to stay up all night long, and several cities, such a New York followed suit.
As a result, the global trade never stops, as industrial LED flood lights for dock light up harbors on all continents, enabling huge freighters to dock 24/7. In cities, mass transportation systems run around the clock, transporting millions in lit-up cities.
Consumers want smart products
The modern revolution in technology hasn’t changed the industry but consumer expectations as well. After being offered ever smarter tech solutions for years, consumers now expect smart products and they will not accept anything less.
Whether they’re buying a car or a guitar, consumers want these products to connect to IoT and be responsive. Even garments are becoming smarter as clothes manufacturers are implementing smart technology into designing running apparel, for example.
Going green
Speaking of consumers’ expectations, the global trend of using recycled materials in the manufacturing industry was fueled by novel technologies. It is now possible to recycle several types of plastic and turn it into clothes.
Further on, 3D printers have become widely available, so it’s possible to “print” an entire house. The resin these printers use is often sourced from recycled plastic salvaged from the ocean.
Finally, drivers no longer have to pollute the environment with diesel or gasoline-powered vehicles, as electric cars are the future.
The future of communication
The recent buzz surrounding 5G is not without a good reason. This advanced technology will alter the way humans communicate with each other and more importantly, the way machines interact. We are not referring to a scene straight out of the Terminator movie franchise but rather easier and more affordable communication channels.
From streaming TV shows and music to automated industrial processes, 5G paves the way to autonomous driving and smart cities. Once transport, infrastructure, and logistics start operating as one, we can truly say that our urban settlements have entered a new era.
Medicine centered around the patient’s needs
If you have recently visited a hospital, then you have notices all the new gizmos and apparatus that weren’t here just half a decade ago, healthcare is at the forefront of technological innovation with novel apps and improved tools for treating patients.
Ironically, patients don’t get to see many of these technologies, as they are used internally by doctors. From e-records that contain a patient’s history of the disease to com apps connecting doctors from the same facility and those across the world, patients can rest assured that they are receiving the best possible treatment.
Improved match-day experience
If you’re a sports fan, then you have noticed how the match-day experience for you and your father/mother has dramatically changed. They had a soda and a pretzel stand, while modern sporting arenas are equipped with automated turnstiles, LED scoreboards, and virtual photo booths, like the one at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Texas.
The general populace is under the impression that technology is all about enhancing their personal experience of the world. However, modern technology’s outreach is far wider, encompassing procedures and processes across industries. From healthcare, across the shipping industry, all the way to IT sectors, game-changing technology is writing novel pages of the story of humankind.