IBM formally unveiled the sixth annual “IBM 5 in 5″ (#ibm5in5) – a list of innovations that have the potential to change the way people work, live and interact during the next five years:
1. People power will come to life
Advances in renewable energy technology will allow individuals to collect this kinetic energy, which now goes to waste, and use it to help power our homes, offices and cities.
Imagine attaching small devices to the spokes on your bicycle wheels that recharge batteries as you pedal along. You will have the satisfaction of not only getting to where you want to go, but at the same time powering some of the lights in your home.
Instepnanopower is the company that has been formed to commercialize this technology
Energy harvesting from MEMS devices will also power various sensors.
2. Biometric sensors will be used instead of passwords
3. Mind reading no longer science fiction
Scientists in the field of bioinformatics have designed headsets with advanced sensors to read electrical brain activity that can recognize facial expressions, excitement and concentration levels, and thoughts of a person without them physically taking any actions.
Within 5 years, we will begin to see early applications of this technology in the gaming and entertainment industry. Furthermore, doctors could use the technology to test brain patterns, possibly even assist in rehabilitation from strokes and to help in understanding brain disorders, such as autism.
4. The Digital divide will cease to exist
There are 7 billion people inhabiting the world today. In five years there will be 5.6 billion mobile devices sold – which means 80% of the current global population would each have a mobile device.
As it becomes cheaper to own a mobile phone, people without a lot of spending power will be able to do much more than they can today.
NBF – This is a powerful trend that is already well underway. It is a pretty slam dunk and safe prediction. However, another trend that is well underway is the emergence of the global middle class. This is where China, India, South East asia, South America and parts of Africa are getting wealthier.
The global middle class will be about 3 billion people at the end of 2016
In 2010, 1.8 billion people in the world are middle class, or 28 percent of the global population. About half of these people live in developed economies, with another fifth found in Brazil, Russia, India, and China – the so-called emerging BRIC economies. Less than 2 percent of the world’s population is rich by our definition; a significant majority, 70 percent, is poor. 2022 marks the first year more people in the world are middle class than poor.
This Brookings Institute analysis from 2010 uses the World Bank 2005 PPP figures which probably understate China’s PPP GDP by 27% versus updated Penn World Tables 7.0 numbers and India’s by 13%. Correcting the PPP GDP figures would mean more people in China and India are middle class already and more will become middle class earlier.
5. Junk mail will become priority mail.
In five years, unsolicited advertisements may feel so personalized and relevant it may seem spam is dead. At the same time, spam filters will be so precise you’ll never be bothered by unwanted sales pitches again.
Nextbigfuture list of Innovations Impacting by Dec 2016
Robotics
iRobot (maker of the Roomba) has a new robot, called Ava. iRobot made it compatible with applications written for Apple’s iOS operating system and Google’s Android platform. “To truly accelerate the robot industry, we need more people developing for it,” said iRobot Chief Executive Colin Angle in an interview. “Now, if you can develop for Android or iOS, you’re a roboticist.”
It uses a smartphone or a tablet as its head. Amazon’s Kindle Fire is $199. There is an Indian tablet for $35.
Low cost by very powerful tablets and robots and a lot of useful apps looks like a winning combination. I have predicted that it could come together with one billion robots by 2020. By Dec, 2016 I will say that there will be 50 million robots.
Hyperbroadband
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and broadband can have a direct and measurable impact on GDP and that a number of studies have indicated that ‘true’ broadband (that is, symmetrical bandwidth in excess of 100 Mb/s) can increase GDP by up to 5%. Other studies indicate a return ten times greater than the investment in broadband.
By Dec, 2016 there will be a lot of LTE rollout and more fiber to the home rollout.
Supersmartphones, exoskeletons and wearable systems
Smartphones should have 100 times the processing by 2015. (Nvidia roadmap)
In the 2020s, we should have petaflop mobile systems.
Space
Spacex will be greatly reducing costs.
Falcon Heavy’s should be flying regularly by Dec, 2016.
The reusable rocket work may have gotten to flying back a first stage by Dec, 2016.
Solar electric sails can provide radical new capabilities
There is interesting potential for fusion powered space propulsion far earlier than many expect.
There are several ways fusion powered space propulsion could come about. IEC fusion, high frequency pulsed laser, magnetized target fusion, dense plasma focus.
Energy Revolution – Mass produced fission, fusion, and maybe cold fusion
China is well underway with their first pebble bed reactors. The first one will be done by about 2015.
There is the highly controversial possibility of Rossi-Focardi Energy catalyzer.
Brillouin Energy is another cold fusion contender
There are other possible cold fusion contenders who have a chance of succeeding by Dec 2016.
EMC2 Fusion, Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, General Fusion and/or tri-alpha energy could develop a first full scale prototype commercial system by Dec, 2016.
China could have a prototype molten salt thorium reactor by Dec, 2016.
Universal vaccinations will have advanced and greatly reduced deaths in developing countries.
Economic progress in India and parts of Africa will have reduced the number of sooty cookers which will reduce deaths and health problems from indoor air pollution.
There will be advances towards more clean water availability.
Some other innovations that will be making headlines but which will take time to fully implement
* Early cancer detection
* Boosting immune systems against cancer and other diseases
* Regeneration and tissue engineering
* Gene therapy
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.