Alya AlNuaimi | Future effects of new technologies

 Alya AlNuaimi says that four technology domains will influence global economic, social, and military changes by 2030, according to the US National Intelligence Council report Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds from 2012. Information technology, automation, manufacturing technology, resource technology, and health technology are some of them.

Information technologies

Before 2030, three IT-focused technology advancements have the potential to alter how we live, do business, and protect ourselves.

1. Governments and businesses will have more opportunities to "know" their constituents thanks to solutions for storing and analyzing enormous amounts of data, particularly "big data." Although the technology is available, some consumers may not agree with the massive data collection. In any case, these solutions are likely to signal an impending economic boom in North America.

2. Utilizing social networking technologies, individual users can create online social networks with other users. As top businesses incorporate social features into everything else a person may do online, they are increasingly becoming a part of their everyday lives online. Alya AlNuaimi says that through social networks, people can communicate across different user groups and geographical boundaries in both helpful and dangerous ways.

3. Smart cities are metropolitan areas that use IT-based solutions to increase economic output and quality of life for residents while reducing resource use and environmental damage.

Automation and manufacturing technologies

An international ecosystem of manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics firms has emerged as manufacturing has become more global during the past two decades. New manufacturing and automation technologies have the potential to alter employment patterns in both the developed and developing worlds.

1. A variety of civic and military applications employ robotics today. There are currently more than 1.2 million industrial robots in use daily, and non-industrial robot applications are growing. Numerous robots are used by the US military on battlefields, in households to vacuum and mow lawns, and in hospitals to patrol hallways and dispense supplies. Alya AlNuaimi says that as their cognitive abilities improve, they may have a significant impact on both the current global supply chain system and traditional job distribution along supply chains.

2. By adding one layer of material at a time, 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) technologies enable a machine to construct an object. Plastic models are already being produced using 3D printing in sectors like consumer products, transportation, and aerospace. By 2030, 3D printing might displace some traditional mass production, especially in situations where short production runs or high-value mass customization are present.

3. The majority of autonomous vehicles used today are in the military and for specialized purposes, including in the mining industry. By 2030, autonomous vehicles may revolutionize military operations, peacekeeping, travel, and prospecting while also posing unique security vulnerabilities that may be challenging to resolve. Google has been testing a driverless automobile at the consumer level for the past few years.

Resource technologies

Technological advancements will be necessary to meet the rising demand for resources brought on by population increases worldwide and economic development in the poor nations of today. By increasing agricultural production through a wide range of technologies, such as precision farming and genetically modified crops for food and fuel, such advancements can have an impact on the relationship between food, water, and energy. According to Alya AlNuaimi through improved oil and gas extraction, alternative energy sources like solar and wind power, and biofuels, new resource technologies can help improve energy availability and water management by improving irrigation efficiency and desalination. The potential impacts of these technologies on the environment, climate, and health will be well recognized by the increasingly educated populace thanks to the widespread use of communication technologies.

Health technologies

The following highlights two categories of health technologies:

1. Through such new enabling technologies as diagnostic and pathogen-detection tools, disease management will become more efficient, more individualized, and less expensive. For instance, molecular diagnostic tools will offer a quick way to check for genetic and pathogenic disorders during operations. Genetic testing, which is easily accessible, will speed up disease diagnosis and assist doctors in determining the best course of action for each patient. Almost certainly, breakthroughs in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques will be paralleled by advancements in regenerative medicine. By 2030, replacement organs like kidneys and livers may exist. The longevity and quality of life of the elderly populations around the world will grow because of this innovative illness management technology.

2. With the use of human enhancement technologies, both civilian and military personnel may be able to work more productively and in previously inaccessible locations. These technologies range from implants and prostheses to powered exoskeletons and brain improvements. The health and quality of life of older populations may be improved by powered exoskeletons that help wearers with basic walking and lifting activities. Moral and ethical issues will certainly arise as human enhancement technologies advance.

Conclusion

Alya AlNuaimi states that according to a report by the US National Intelligence Council, "the shift in the technological center of gravity from west to east, which has already begun, will almost certainly result in the flow of companies, ideas, entrepreneurs, and capital." Will continue as. The developed world leads to growth in developing markets." In my opinion, this change will not happen "absolutely". Although most technological applications will likely occur in the East, particularly in Asia, most of the breakthroughs currently lie in the West. Furthermore, I do not believe the former will become a hotbed of technological innovation.