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The future of technology
What will the world look like in the coming years? What challenges will new technologies solve? Let’s separate science facts from science fiction…
AI will be more human and save your life
1. You’ll find it harder to tell you’re talking to a computer
By 2025, AI personal assistants may reply so naturally in conversations and sound so convincingly human that you’ll believe you’re speaking to people; whether you’re typing to a Chatbot or confirming an appointment with someone else’s voice assistant (Amazon Alexa, Google Home). And that’s not all. While mimicking us, artificial intelligence might also have rights in our society.
2. You’ll be diagnosed faster and personalised treatment
While it can't replace your doctor, artificial intelligence may be used to identify and predict disease in collaboration with the healthcare industry. When trialled by Google Health, for example, AI spotted breast cancer in mammograms more accurately than radiologists. Plus, it helps researchers analyse data about the human body to help develop treatments quickly, such as the Covid-19 vaccines. Someday, medicine could be tailored to your genes and lifestyle by artificial intelligence.
Sensing the internet
1. Controlling devices with your thoughts
For a while now, Facebook’s been developing tech so that, in the distant future, you can update your status with your mind (telepathic typing). And they’re not the only company racing to put artificial intelligence in your head. Neuralink by Elon Musk is working on a similar vision of the future but to help people with severe brain injuries (paralysis, Alzheimer’s, dementia).
2. You could touch, smell and taste the internet
Some say your laptop and meeting rooms will be replaced with virtual versions. Office workers may gather in a digital room with teammates in different cities or countries, and you’ll feel physically present – you’ll smell the coffee, taste the biscuits and everything will feel real to the touch.
The future of technology could involve your sense of taste, smell and touch, when AI is used to improve two types of extended reality you’ve tried:
Augmented Reality (AR)
Takes digital images and layers them on the real world around you, a bit like Pokémon Go, but with humans.
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality can transport you to digital worlds using a headset with a built in screen and headphones or surround sound. VR could become tactile and so immersive that gamers, you’d feel when and where your character is hit.
Latest technologies for smartphones
Your most powerful machine could be the one in your pocket…
Look into the 5G future
5G mobile internet is a new, faster wireless network for your phone. Our customers are offered this in more than 100 towns and cities already. Why not see if you can get a 5G plan? Here’s why…
1. You’ll feel like your home broadband is in your pocket
Giving you 176Mbps on average, 5G will be around 4.5 times faster than your 4G. And that’s just the near future. In fact, the speed could increase on your mobile, tablet, smart watches and devices in the coming years.
To get these speeds, check you have coverage and a compatible device, then choose a 5G plan. If you’ve had a 5G device from us since April 2020, you’ll be upgraded to 5G automatically, without having to swap your SIM. Easy.
2. You’ll get connection even at the biggest events
Football stadiums to train stations. Music concerts to conferences. Airports. 5G should allow everyone in a major crowd to call, get online, make livestream videos, all at the same time without potentially clogging the network or widespread impact.
3. You’ll have unimaginable technology
5G is so exciting because it’ll potentially power truly futuristic tech. Think 3D holograms and virtual reality, new ways for you to connect with people. If you have a self-driving car parked on your drive – it needs 5G to tell others on the road your exact speed and position, so you’ll travel safe.
Traffic could run more smoothly in smart cities with 5G in public spaces. And, if you get into trouble, search and rescue drones will reach you and specialist surgeons could operate even if you’re in a hospital several miles away.
Technological change for phones
So that’s your mobile data, but what about the device itself – how different will your phone really be?
Your standard SIM card will likely be replaced by an electronic version called an eSIM. The ‘e’ actually stands for ‘embedded’ because these will be built into every new mobile. There’s both types, right now, in a few iPhones (XS, XS Max, XR), the Google Pixel 3 and 3XL, and more phone manufacturers will switch soon.
With an eSIM, you won’t need a work phone and a personal phone in the future, as you can have two different numbers on the same device. In fact, you could join more than one mobile network and switch between them on your eSIM. If you’re abroad, avoid roaming charges with a local mobile number. If you’re struggling for signal, move over to the network with the best coverage. All without faffing with companies or SIM cards.
Want more? Well, your battery will last longer because it can be bigger, your eSIM will give it room to grow by taking up less space than your current one.
Self-healing smartphone screens would be a dream come true for the clumsy. Apple has a patent for this technology, so if your iPhone gets scratched or falls out your pocket, the dents and damage will fix automatically, perhaps using light, heat or electric current.
Samsung is currently developing a battery that could fully charge your smartphone in as little as 12 minutes, compared to the hour that fast charging would usually take. Ideal if you can only spare a quick 5 minutes here and there to juice it up. And for some future phones, just being in the same room as your charger (around 4 metres away) will be enough to get a power boost – your TV, laptop and other gadgets could have a wireless phone charger inside.
When they’re topped up, new batteries could power your smartphone for five days in a single charge. And you can forget fiddling with your settings to put your mobile on battery saver mode, in future they’ll be savvy enough to spare as much power as they can. Mobiles will pay attention to how you’re using them and adapt their performance to suit what you really need.
Future of wearable tech
Perhaps you’ve strapped on a Fitbit or smart watch. Maybe you’ve posted Snapchats using smart glasses or rubbed in suncream because your swimming costume said you’d burn. That’s wearable tech, today. Here’s what it could be soon…
1. Powered by you
Don’t sweat about your low battery. A fraction of a millilitre of your sweat could power your wearable tech in future. If you put on special cloth created by engineers at the University of Glasgow, your body’s natural electrolytes will power the futuristic battery. Getting a move on while wearing a band around your wrist, made by researchers at the University of Colorado, could one day keep your fitness tracker or heart-rate monitor ticking – powered by the energy of your movements while exercising, that this clever tech turns into electricity.
2. Better for your body
Wearable tech will get more accurate at detecting illness. And it’s already pretty good. Wearing KYMIRA’s new smart t-shirt could save your life from heart attacks or undiagnosed heart conditions, such as arrythmia or irregular heartbeats. Smart rings detected symptoms of Covid-19. As well as extending life, advances will dramatically improve it with intelligent prosthetics to help you regain the sense of touch and hearing-aid jewellery.
Meanwhile, wearable tech will feel less techie and more comfortable on your body, all day long. Think freshwater pearl earrings that double as earphones to listen to music, take calls or finish your outfit. Hidden inside jewellery and accessories, your gadgets will feel more ‘you’ – a fashion statement.
3. Master your smart home
Imagine walking in from the rain. Your heating clicks on, knowing your you’ll want to dry off, and your coffee machine pours a steaming hot chocolate to warm your cockles – in your favourite mug. That’s the future. Your wearable technology will connect to your smart home and all the devices you have, more seamlessly.
Your home will know what you need
Your smart gadgets will get to know you and your habits, and home will feel, well, even more homely. You shower, the perfect temperature for the weather, whether you’re just out of bed or in from the gym. Lights, out at your usual bedtime. Speakers, nailing the song choices before meetings or deadlines in your calendar.
Imagine having your home kept spotless, your meals prepared and cooked for you by AI robots with cameras and sensors. Your fridge, always fully stocked because it orders your food shop online when it notices you’re running low or out of groceries and it might tell you to eat something more nutritious.
Elsewhere in your living room, your ultra-thin HD TV could roll up when you’ve stopped watching and your furniture could change on command. Ori Living, a robotic-furniture company, and IKEA are creating space-saving pieces. Your bed could get out of the way when you need a desk or your wardrobe could hide on command.
Sensors throughout your home will scan you to detect illnesses. In your bathroom, smart mirrors could warn you about vitamin deficiencies, smart toothbrushes could tell your dentist about cavities or plaque build-up, and smart toilet could catch signs of bowl cancer in the early stages. That’s the aim.