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Emerging Technology v3

The document discusses emerging technologies including nanotechnology, robotics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. It also discusses mobile working, nanotechnology applications, cognitive science, robotics, biotechnology, and problems caused by new technologies.

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255 views6 pages

Emerging Technology v3

The document discusses emerging technologies including nanotechnology, robotics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. It also discusses mobile working, nanotechnology applications, cognitive science, robotics, biotechnology, and problems caused by new technologies.

Uploaded by

bavie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Emerging Technologies

Emerging technologies are those developments in


technology that are likely to shape the future. Emerging
technologies include nanotechnology, robotics,
biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cognitive science.
These will all be looked at along with other technologies
that do not fall into this list.

Famous quotes from people as to the future of computers

Trying to predict the future of ICT is very difficult and here


are some interesting quotations from people in posts of
responsibility at the start of the development of
computers who got it seriously wrong!

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5


tons”

Popular Mechanics, 1949

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”

Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

“I have travelled the length and breadth of this country


and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that
data processing is a fad and won’t last out the year.”

The editor in charge of business books for publishers


Prentice-Hall 1957

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in


their home”

Ken Olsen, president, chairman and founder of DEC


Mobile working
Many workers now work more flexibly and this includes
working while on the move (on planes, trains) or while
waiting in cafes, bars, airport lounges etc.
The way business is done has changed over the last few
years with more people working from remote locations
using mobile device such as smartphones, laptops and
tablets. Business has changed in the following ways:

 Business can be done anywhere, anytime


 It is much easier to do business internationally –
businesses need to cope with the different time
zones
 Workers have more flexibility and can be more
productive
 Customers expect services to be available 24/7
 There is improved communication between
colleagues, customers and suppliers

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a scientific technology which is still in


its infancy and is set to transform our lives like electricity
or the internal combustion engine. New materials can be
invented where standard sized particles can be reduced
to sizes as small as a nanometre. A nanometre is about
one-hundred-thousandths the thickness of a human hair.
At these sizes materials start to exhibit strange
properties. For example gold melts at room temperature
and carbon is 100 times stronger than steel.

Nanotechnology will have the following uses in ICT:


 Personal computers with the power of today’s
computer centres
 Chips containing films with over 1000 viewing
hours
 Miniaturised data storage systems with capacities
equivalent to a whole libraries stock
 Flexible display technologies and e-paper
 Printable electronic circuits

Did you know?

Inside many computers including the Apple iMac is an


Intel chip containing transistors which are so small that
100 of them would fit in a single human cell.

Cognitive science

Cognitive science is the study of the mind and it concerns


how knowledge is obtained and used. Cognitive science
embraces philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence,
neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology.

By understanding how the mind works scientists can buld


computers which behave in a similar way.
Robotics

Robots have been widely used in manufacturing for years


especially for painting and welding in car factories.
Robots are also used for picking and packing goods in
large warehouses

Robots have been developed for use on farms and these


robots can perform a variety of farm tasks such as
planting, weeding in-between crops, spraying crops and
picking the crops.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is technology based on biology.


Biotechnology seeks to turn aspects of biology such as
genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology
and cell biology into useful forms of ICT or robotics.
Problems and abuses of new technology

The people who create new technologies are often more


influenced by the commercial benefits than to worry about
any social problems that could be caused. Many of these
problems and abuses could not have been envisaged at
the time. For example at the time of the development of
the first computers people did not envisage others
creating viruses.

Here are some recent problems caused by new


technology

 Violent videos being posted on social networking


sites.
 People doing very dangerous things such as a
workman being swung around in a digger or
people running across a motorway.
 Use of encryption techniques allowing terrorists or
criminals to have conversations which can be kept
secret from the police and security forces.
 Illegal sharing of copyright material such as
software, films and music.
 The ease by which people can sell stolen goods
on Internet auction sites.
 Problems with addictions – people may become
addicted to chat rooms, social networking sites,
pornography, gambling, playing of computer
games etc.
 Irresponsible internet sites – promoting terrorism,
drug taking etc.
 Loss in privacy – everywhere you go you are
videoed by CCTV cameras and your internet
access can be monitored.
 Risk of identity theft.
 Encourages a throw-away society – mobile phones
and computers become obsolete after a short
period of time.

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