The Future

“Imangination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, whicle imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

- Albert Einstein

Nowadays, changes are the only certain thing. So what should we expect in the future? What will our imagination take us to? These are questions which were discussed in class today.

Why the world keeps changing and developing new technology? There are many drivers motivate future technology. First, since people always want to make lives easier and more convenient, people want more advanced and interactive technologies. For example, When there are needs in the market, companies will try to take the opportunity to develop new products. Second, there is also technology driver that lead to new development and possibilties. Iphone and Ipad are good examples for technology driver. People only need a mobile phone to keep contact with others when they go out. Customers did not expect or think about something like Iphone before since they do not really have need for a new kind of mobile phone. But when Iphone was introduced due to advanced technology developed by Apple, people started trying Iphone and eventually, Iphone becomes indispensable for many people. Iphone creates its own market and becomes the most popular mobile phone in the world. Although technology drivers need much investment and time to be developed, they actually create many possibilities. When a new technology is developed without market driver, people will look at it in many perspectives and can come up with more possibilities to apply the techonology. That being said, whatever the driver is, the most important thing for future technology development is people’s desire and determination to turn imagination into reality. People must dare to imagine, but more important, dare to act, to innovate new things.

Some new emerging technologies

Nanotechnologies:

Make new products possible. Arrange carbon in new ways to create sth new. One example of nanotechnology which I research for the group project is nanopatch. It is a new way of vaccine delivery. Nanopatch is a needle-free, pain-free method of vaccine delivery. The Nanopatch comprises arrays of densely packed projections with a defined geometry and distribution designed to physically target vaccines directly to thousands of epidermal and dermal antigen presenting cells. These miniaturized arrays are two orders of magnitude smaller than standard needles and are also much smaller than current microneedle arrays.

Using needles to deliver vaccines is popular worldwide. While this method is efficient and does not bring about problems in cites, it is really not an effective way to distribute vaccines to countryside and remote areas. The application of nanopatch will make transportation easier. Because the Nanopatch requires neither a trained practitioner to administer it nor refrigeration, it has enormous potential cheaply deliver vaccines. Moreover, nanopatch-delivered vaccines do not need refrigeration like traditional vaccines. Therefore, in the time of wars or pandemics, vaccines will be more accessible to remote areas since the cost of transportation is lower and vaccines are easily stored.

Augmented reality:

This technology is also mentioned in a presentation today. The future for this technology is promising since it creates interactive and real life situations. First, augmented reality is already used in computer games to create more interesting and real environment for players. Second, this technology is also applied in mobile phone application. By using augmented reality, GPS and camera, smart phones can identify where you are and then give directions or provide information about restaurants, shops around. This application will grow significantly in the future because of its convenience and effective interactions with users. Third, augmented reality can be applied interactive teaching and learning. Since the technology enables students to see events vividly as real life, they will have better learning experience.

Issues for further discussion:

-          Would advanced technology will make people too dependent on internet and equipment?

-          Is there any limitation of possibilities that humans can attain?

Personal rating:

I rate today lession 9 out of 10 because class is interesting and give me a lot of information about future technology development.