1. Block chain
By now, we've all heard that block chain has revolutionized almost every industry imaginable. Banking, politics, healthcare… all could technically benefit from the creation of a decentralized digital ledger that tracks and stores information in multiple locations, making counterfeiting impossible. Identification is provided through complex calculations, making identity theft virtually impossible.
However, one word stands out in the above description: Decentralized. Banks, governments, hospitals… these institutions don't want their power curtailed (unless they can do it on their own terms). As such, we are likely to see some advancements in the block chain space, but it will remain on the fringes of technology, lacking the revolution predicted by its fans.
2. Cryptocurrency
Often mentioned in the same breath as block chain, cryptocurrencies use the principles explained above to facilitate the exchange of goods and services online (again, in a decentralized manner, which is one of their main appeals). Many people believe that cryptocurrencies will be the next big thing when it comes to the future of finance.
It sounds fantastic, but there are two big problems with cryptocurrencies:
• Its main appeal (with the exception of illegal shops) is that it is cool and trendy. It was never intended to sustain the attention it received in 2017, and it will never recover from the unrelenting idiocy of the crypto-bros. The technology works, there just isn't a mass market.
• Second, its value is VERY subjective (unlike gold, not @ me). Cryptocurrencies are always either in pre-bubble or bubble territory. Add to that the decentralized aspect that governments and banks will try to discredit and you can be sure that it will continue to be just a toy that Chad keeps bringing up at parties (there's always a Chad).
More about cryptocurrency here [Investopedia].
3. Affective AI / Affective computing
Artificial intelligence is already everywhere in 2020; it's just not as fun as we thought it would be. If you missed the AI train, it can be described as follows: the increase in storage space (cloud), computing capabilities (chips) and access to massive data sets (e-commerce, social media…) has enabled companies to generate statistical data. models on steroids that can evolve as they are fed new information.
Affective AI would take this process a step further and apply it to emotions. The algorithm can effectively determine your mood based on how you look (by training a deep learning algorithm on facial data), the way you type or the way you speak, and offer a product or service accordingly. Feel happy? How about a Starbucks frappuccino ad to keep the good times going? Feeling down? How about a Starbucks iced coffee ad that turns that frown upside down?
But don't worry, this technology is notoriously unreliable. For now.
More on artificial intelligence here [The Pourquoi Pas] and more on affective computing here [MIT].
4. AI cloud services / Data-as-a-service / AI PaaS
Most great technologies aren't considered revolutionary until they reach the public en masse. This may be one reason why there has been so much disappointment in AI recently. In fact, only large companies have been able to benefit from automating tasks that once required human input, while the little people are forced to continue using comparatively prehistoric algorithms. This can be partly explained by a lack of resources, but mostly it is a data problem.
This may not be true for long. Companies are realizing that leasing an algorithm has the dual benefit of generating additional revenue from existing assets while getting more data from customers to feed the beast. So get ready to see the rise of AI platforms and marketplaces that promise to deliver algorithms that specifically respond to unique customer problems (chatbots and digital assistants are just the beginning). As coders automate and join the gig economy, this movement is likely to expand exponentially. This would allow small companies and even individuals to optimize their daily processes. If this seems detrimental to our collective mental health, follow your instincts.
More on AI as a service here [Towards Data Science].
5. Connected Homes / Smart Homes
The trend of artificial intelligence in our homes is already underway and will only accelerate in the next few years. In fact, we've become accustomed to Google's Nest and Amazon's Alexa being able to adjust the settings of smart objects in our homes to match pre-set parameters.
But these two offerings are just the beginning: as with most things Internet-related, these services benefit from network effects and gain exponentially in value to customers as features are added. An algorithm that can make a cup of coffee while opening the blinds and raising the temperature in the bathroom when it senses someone getting up is far more valuable than the sum of three different algorithms performing these tasks.
More on connected homes here [McKinsey]
6. 5G
Of course, connected objects cannot afford to be as laggy as the original iPhone (shots), they have to transfer huge amounts of data quickly and reliably. This is where 5G comes in.
5G is the logical successor to 4G and achieves much higher speeds thanks to high-frequency radio waves. While this seems simple enough, there are a few terms that need to be understood to fully grasp the difficulty of implementing 5G around the world.
• Millimeter waves: this is a specific part of the radio frequency spectrum between 24 GHz and 100 GHz that has a very short wavelength. Not only is this part of the spectrum almost unused, but it can also transmit data incredibly fast, even though its transmission distance is shorter.
• Microcells, femtocells, picocells: Small towers of cells that act as relays in small areas, such as in large buildings. This infrastructure is necessary - as pointed out above, the transmission distance of 5G is much shorter than that of 4G (and has trouble getting through thick walls).
• Massive MIMO: The ability to transmit and receive much more data from a wider variety of sources.
• Beam-forming: all these movements must be organized and choreographed. Beamforming does just that.
• Full Duplex: the ability to send and receive data simultaneously, on the same wavelength.
This technology will have a huge impact on most industries as it will revolutionize the speed and amount of data transferred as well as the quality of the connection. Among other things, it will connect autonomous vehicles and drones to the Internet, but it will also enable major advances in virtual reality and IoT. So 5G is not a technology we should take lightly.
7. Megaconstellation of satellites / Satellite systems in low orbit
Speaking of the internet… Over the next few years, SpaceX plans to deploy up to 42,000 satellites to create an internet connection anywhere on t
very interesting
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