Top 5 Emerging Technologies That Will Blow Your Mind

Shounak Dharap:

Last year saw the introduction of new geek tools such as Google’s Android phones, the release of the long-awaited Windows 7, and consumers saw a boom in the amount of eco-friendly products on the market. Of course, this pales in the face of what technological marvels 2010 will bring. For the geek inside you, here they are: the top 5 emerging technologies of 2010.

1. 3D Media

As proven by Avatar, 3D is one of the big emerging trends in technology this year. This was a trend in television that no one saw coming, even as recent as a few years ago – when 3D was synonymous with novelty animation and red/green cardboard glasses. However, the first generation 3D TV’s are set to ship on early spring, accompanied by glasses. But these glasses are different than what consumers are expecting; they are sleek, they are sheik, and they look damn cool. While 3D televisions are fully capable of showing normal programming, there is no point in getting one without any 3D shows to watch. That is why ESPN and Discovery Networks have announced new channels which will be broadcast fully in 3D. Do you remember when football started broadcasting in HD? Do you remember when the Discovery documentary “Planet Earth” was released in HD? Do you remember the shocking realization that you would never be able to go back to standard definition after your eyes had experienced the rich visual world of hi-definition? Well folks, it’s about to happen again…

2. 4G Networks

Our cell phones currently utilize the 3G cellular system, which is the 3rd generation of cellular network technology. 3G networks have a speed of about 14.0 megabit per second on the downlink, and 5.8 megabits per second on the uplink. However, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T have announced plans to begin the creation of a 4G network. It may just seem like another upgrade to the ever-upgrading field of cellular technology, but 4G networks will revolutionize media and communication, as we know it. A 4G network is meant to as ultra-broadband speeds – upwards of 1 gigabit per second. When fully implemented, hi-definition streaming, phone calls, and normal internet use would all be facilitated by the 4G network. With the popularization of inductive charging technology (see below), wires will become obsolete within a few years!

3. Wireless Charging

Media and communication is moving towards being completely wireless, so it is only fitting that power goes wireless too. Wi-Fi charging is still too inefficient, but inductive technology, on the other hand, is both efficient and cheap. In fact, you can buy an inductive charging mat for about the price of a keg. The Powermat is compatible with phones, music players, handheld game consoles, cameras, and other handheld devices. All you do us put the device on the charging mat and watch the magic happen.

4. USB 3.0

USB interfaces have made it possible for us to connect computing devices for the purpose of information sharing since 1998. In 1998, USB 1.0 was released, which allowed for transfer speeds of up to 12 megabits per second. Flash forward to 2000 – USB 2.0 allows for speeds up to 480 megabits per second and also introduced a battery charging capability that has become the norm for most of our peripheral devices. This year, USB is getting an upgrade with the release of USB 3.0, which will have speeds of up to 4.8 gigabits per second. As we have seen, the last decade marked a rather rapidly changing digital world, and with introduction of higher definition media as well as faster methods to transfer them, USB 3.0 is no exception.

5. Robotic Evolution

The field of smart robotics, while a boon to science fiction writers everywhere, has still been composed of little more than failed attempts at imitating life. However, according to an experiment conducted by Swiss scientists, robots could be able to develop adaptive abilities to hunt prey, cooperate, and even help one another. In the experiment, a neural network that mutated randomly, just like DNA, controlled the robots. The robots with better maneuvering capabilities were chosen to “breed” a new generation. The neural networks of two successful robots were paired and passed on to the next generation. Within 100 generations, the robots were able to successfully pass through a maze without bumping into anything. Another experiment involved the robots pushing round discs along a wall to get points. The robots were observed cooperating in order to push larger discs to earn points for the group. Furthermore, biological altruism was observed when robots would sacrifice getting points for themselves in order to get points for the entire group. What this means for the field of robotics is both awe-inspiring, and quite frankly, more than a little frightening. But until the robots rise up, I would advise you to sit back and watch some 3D NFL streaming on the 4G network into your fully wireless 3D television while uploading the footage onto your computer using USB 3.0.Top