How Emerging Technologies Will Affect Us

Introduction

Technology is constantly changing our lives, offering new solutions, opportunities, challenges, risks, etc. In a fast-paced world, it is important to keep up with the latest trends, innovations, discoveries, etc. that can shape our future. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published a report on the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2023, highlighting the technologies that are expected to have a positive impact on society within the next three to five years. The report provides a qualitative assessment of each technology’s potential impact on people, planet, prosperity, industry, equity, etc. In this article, we will explore some of these emerging technologies in more detail, discussing their benefits, challenges, examples, etc.

Wearable Plant Sensors

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors for food security, livelihoods, economy, etc. However, it also faces many challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, pests and diseases, soil degradation, etc. To address these challenges, farmers need to monitor and manage their crops more efficiently and effectively. One way to do that is by using wearable plant sensors, which are devices that can be attached to plants or embedded in their tissues to measure various parameters, such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, nutrient levels, stress levels, etc.

Wearable plant sensors can provide real-time and accurate data on plant health and performance, enabling farmers to optimize irrigation, fertilization, pest control, harvesting, etc. This can improve crop yield and quality, reduce water and chemical use, enhance environmental sustainability, etc. Wearable plant sensors can also enable precision agriculture, which is a farming approach that uses data-driven technologies to tailor crop management to specific conditions and needs.

However, wearable plant sensors also face some challenges, such as high costs, limited durability, compatibility issues, ethical concerns, etc. To overcome these challenges, the agricultural sector needs to invest in research and innovation, lower the barriers to adoption, ensure data security and privacy, address ethical and social implications, etc. Some examples of current and future applications and innovations related to wearable plant sensors are:

• The PlantEye is a 3D multispectral camera that can scan plants and measure their growth rate, biomass production, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, etc.
• The FloraPulse is a microchip that can be inserted into plant stems or trunks to measure their water potential and stress levels.
• The PhytlSigns is a wearable device that can be attached to plant leaves or stems to measure their electrical signals and interpret their emotions and needs.
• The Plant Tattoo Sensors are nanoscale devices that can be printed on plant leaves or stems to measure their temperature and moisture levels.
• The Cyborg Botany is a project that explores the possibility of integrating electronic components into living plants to create hybrid organisms that can sense and communicate.

Generative AI Models

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most powerful and influential technologies of our time. It can perform various tasks that require human intelligence or beyond. One of the most advanced forms of AI is generative AI models, which are algorithms that can create new data or content based on existing data or content. For example, generative AI models can generate images from text descriptions, text from images, music from lyrics, videos from audio, etc.

Generative AI models can provide many benefits for creativity and innovation. They can enhance human creativity by providing inspiration, feedback, collaboration, etc. They can also automate or augment some creative tasks by producing high-quality, diverse, and original outputs. They can also enable new forms of expression, communication, and interaction by creating immersive, realistic, and personalized experiences.

However, generative AI models also face some challenges, such as ethical issues, legal issues, social issues, technical issues, etc. To overcome these challenges, the creative sector needs to establish ethical principles, legal frameworks, social norms, technical standards, etc. Some examples of current and future uses and outcomes of generative AI models are:

• The GPT-3 is a deep learning model that can generate natural language texts on various topics, domains, styles, etc., based on a given prompt or context.
• The DALL-E is a generative vision model that can create images from text descriptions, such as “an armchair in the shape of an avocado” or “a snail made of a harp”.
• The Jukebox is a neural network that can generate music in different genres, styles, moods, etc., based on a given lyric or artist.
• The Deepfake is a technique that can manipulate or synthesize audiovisual content, such as faces, voices, gestures, etc., to create realistic or altered videos.
• The StyleGAN is a generative adversarial network that can create photorealistic images of faces, animals, landscapes, etc., that do not exist in reality.

Biodegradable Plastics

Plastic is one of the most widely used and versatile materials in the world. It can be found in various products, such as packaging, clothing, electronics, furniture, etc. However, plastic also poses a serious threat to the environment and human health, as it is often non-biodegradable, meaning that it does not decompose naturally and persists for a long time. Plastic waste can accumulate in landfills, oceans, rivers, etc., causing pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, wildlife harm, etc. According to some estimates, there are about 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste in the world, and only 9% of it has been recycled.

One way to address this problem is by using biodegradable plastics, which are plastics that can be broken down by microorganisms into harmless substances, such as water, carbon dioxide, biomass, etc. Biodegradable plastics can reduce the amount and impact of plastic waste on the environment and human health. Biodegradable plastics can be made from renewable sources, such as starch, cellulose, algae, etc., or from synthetic polymers that have been modified to be biodegradable.

However, biodegradable plastics also face some challenges, such as high costs, low performance, limited availability, confusing labels, etc. To overcome these challenges, the plastic industry needs to invest in research and development, improve the quality and functionality of biodegradable plastics, increase the supply and demand of biodegradable plastics, create clear and consistent standards and certifications for biodegradable plastics, etc. Some examples of current and future developments and solutions related to biodegradable plastics are:

• The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment is an initiative that aims to create a circular economy for plastic, where plastic is designed to be reused, recycled, or composted, rather than thrown away.
• The BioCellection is a company that has developed a technology that can convert plastic waste into valuable chemicals that can be used to make biodegradable plastics or other products.
• The Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of biodegradable plastics that are produced by bacteria from organic waste or carbon dioxide. They can be used for various applications, such as packaging, medical devices, textiles, etc.
• The PDK is a type of synthetic plastic that can be infinitely recycled or degraded by breaking its chemical bonds with an acid. It can be used for various purposes, such as electronics, adhesives, coatings, etc.
• The MarinaTex is a biodegradable plastic film that is made from fish waste and algae. It can be used as an alternative to single-use plastic films, such as bags, wraps, etc.

Digital Medicine

Medicine is one of the most vital and impactful sectors for human health and well-being. It can prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure various diseases and disorders. However, medicine also faces many challenges, such as accessibility, affordability, quality, safety, efficiency, etc. One way to address these challenges is by using digital medicine, which is a field that uses digital technologies to improve health care delivery and outcomes. Digital medicine can include various aspects, such as telemedicine, mobile health, electronic health records, wearable devices, smart pills, etc.

Digital medicine can provide many benefits for health care and well-being. It can increase the access and availability of health care services, especially for remote and underserved areas. It can also reduce the costs and improve the quality of health care services, by enabling more accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment, real-time monitoring, etc. It can also enhance the safety and efficiency of health care services, by reducing errors, delays, waste, etc. It can also empower patients and providers to take more control and responsibility over their health and well-being.

However, digital medicine also faces some challenges, such as technical issues, regulatory issues, ethical issues, social issues, etc. To overcome these challenges, the health care sector needs to invest in research and innovation, ensure the interoperability and compatibility of digital systems and devices, protect the data security and privacy of patients and providers, address the ethical and social implications of digital medicine, etc. Some examples of current and future products and services related to digital medicine are:

• The Babylon Health is a platform that provides access to various digital health services, such as online consultations, symptom checkers, health assessments, prescriptions, referrals, etc.
• The Proteus Digital Health is a company that has developed a smart pill that can monitor medication adherence and physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, etc.
• The AliveCor is a device that can measure electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the fingertips or chest, and detect abnormal heart rhythms or conditions.
• The Omada Health is a program that uses digital tools and coaching to help people prevent or manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc.
• The Mindstrong Health is an app that uses smartphone data and artificial intelligence to measure mental health and provide support and therapy.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored some of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2023, as identified by the World Economic Forum and Frontiers Science News. We have discussed their benefits, challenges, examples, etc., and how they will affect us in various aspects. These emerging technologies have the potential to create positive impact on society, economy, environment, etc., but they also pose some risks and uncertainties that need to be addressed. Therefore, we need to be aware of these emerging technologies and their implications, and engage in informed and responsible actions to ensure their safe and ethical development and deployment.

FAQs

Q: What are the sources of information for this article? A: The main source of information for this article is the report on the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2023 by the World Economic Forum and Frontiers Science News. Other sources of information are cited at the bottom of the article.

Q: How are the top 10 emerging technologies selected? A: The top 10 emerging technologies are selected by a panel of experts from academia, industry, government, etc., based on a set of criteria, such as novelty, potential impact, scalability, feasibility, etc.

Q: How can I learn more about these emerging technologies? A: You can learn more about these emerging technologies by reading the report or visiting the websites of the organizations or projects mentioned in the article.

Q: How can I get involved in these emerging technologies? A: You can get involved in these emerging technologies by participating in various activities or initiatives related to them. For example, you can join online communities or forums that discuss these technologies; you can enroll in online courses or programs that teach these technologies; you can support or donate to organizations or projects that develop or deploy these technologies; you can volunteer or work for organizations or projects that use or promote these technologies; etc.

Q: What are some of the challenges or risks of these emerging technologies? A: Some of the challenges or risks of these emerging technologies are technical difficulties, high costs, safety issues, ethical issues, social issues, etc. These challenges or risks may vary depending on the specific technology and its application. Therefore, it is important to assess and address these challenges or risks before adopting or using these technologies.

Thank you for reading this article.

Note: In line with my passion to use technology to help humans’s efficiency and creativity, this article has been written with the support of BingAI & Bing Image Creator..

References:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/06/emerging-technologies-innovation-2023/

https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Top_10_Emerging_Technologies_of_2023.pdf

https://ceoreviewmagazine.com/technology/top-emerging-technologies-2023/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/5-technology-trends-to-watch-in-2023/

https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/4-emerging-technologies-you-need-to-know-about