With the first month of 2024 at an end, Jenine Wyngaard forcasts some interesting technology trends and advancements to watch for this year.
A sprinkle of AI in everything:
Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November of 2022, AI technology has quickly become a fast-growing element that is touching more areas of our everyday life. With big tech companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft quickly getting onboard the wagon in 2023 the age of AI has truly started to revolutionize our ways of thinking. AI has sparked incredibly creative ideas over the last year and as we move into 2024, we will see the first wave of AI enterprise projects reach levels of maturity that will expose important dimensions of AI not yet understood. AI technology is breaking into finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and dozens of other industries. The prediction is that AI will find its way into more of the applications we use every day, from search engines to office software, design packages and communications tools. And while that thought may cause some fear in the mind for some, I promise AI is not here to start the destruction of the human race or steal jobs. Used properly, it’s like having a super-smart personal assistant on hand, making us more efficient, faster and more productive.
Apple Vision Pro
Later this year, Apple plans to start shipping its new Vision Pro, the company’s first mixed-reality headset. Apple revealed the headset (which it calls a spatial computer) in June of last year at its annual developers’ event, pitching it as a better way to watch films, experience photos, connect with others, and even read and create. Unlike virtual reality, mixed reality overlays digital content onto your real-world surroundings. Cameras and sensors embedded in the headset take what’s going on around you in a room and re-create it on a pair of screens—one for each eye. Then the headset adds in whatever digital content you’ve selected. Our technology history is littered with doomed “face computers”: Google Glass, Microsoft HoloLens, and even Meta’s Quest. Hopefully Apple can change the tide with this breakthrough device.
The first gene-editing treatment
New treatments based on CRISPR have been in the works for years. In the final weeks of 2023, one from Vertex became the first to earn regulatory approval in both the UK and the US for its ability to cure sickle-cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. This green light represents a major scientific achievement and a landmark for the biotech industry. Vertex will take the lead on launching the drug and estimates about 16,000 people with severe cases of sickle cell will be eligible. Because the procedure is so complex, it will be limited to certain health facilities like academic medical centers. Nine health-care facilities are ready to start administering with more facilities being added in the coming weeks. The medical community will be closely watching the advancements of this treatment hoping that it lays down good groundwork for future life-saving gene-editing treatments.
Gyrogear GyroGlove
The Gyrogear GyroGlove is set to be an exciting breakthrough in helping people with disabilities. It’s specially designed for people who have hand tremors, like those with Parkinson’s disease, and uses an advanced gyroscope to keep hands steady. The GyroGlove has been approved as a medical device by both the FDA in the United States and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration. On top of that, it has been certified by different international standards groups, proving its safety and effectiveness. This invention is a big step forward in making daily life easier for people with motor difficulties, showing how technology can really improve lives and make things more accessible.
Hydrogen – The new energy to watch
Hyundai shared an exciting plan to produce 3 million tons of hydrogen for its steel mills by 2030. This ambitious move is part of Hyundai’s goal to be a leader in the growing hydrogen economy. The company has been investing in hydrogen fuel cells for a while, along with its successful launch of electric vehicles (EVs). But, with some challenges in the battery EV market and tough competition, Hyundai is focusing more on hydrogen to stay ahead. The push towards hydrogen could change industries like steel making and maritime shipping. Hyundai is betting big on hydrogen, even though the technology is still developing. This isn’t just a change in what technology they use; it’s a strategic move about the future of the automotive industry and green technology.
Sustainable technology
As countries and corporations continue to work on meeting net-zero commitment the drive for sustainable technology will continue to be pushed forward in 2024. This includes more environmentally-friendly ways of doing things we already do – such as the electric cars, bikes and public transport that will continue to increase in their market share. It also includes solutions to environmental problems, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS involves the capture of CO2 emissions from industrial processes, this is then transported from where it was produced, via ship or in a pipeline, and stored deep underground in geological formations), as well as green and renewable energy technologies. The circular economy will become an increasingly important concept as durability, recyclability and reusability are built directly into products at the design stage. And the tech world will further embrace ideas such as green cloud computing, where infrastructure and services prioritize the reduction of energy consumption and carbon emissions and sustainable apps – software tools designed to help us live in a more eco-friendly manner.
Quantum Computing
There’s been a growing buzz around quantum computing for a while now, and it is predicted that 2024 will mark the year when tangible benefits will finally be seen. Quantum computers are capable of carrying out vast numbers of calculations simultaneously by harnessing weird and wonderful elements of quantum physics, such as quantum entanglement and superposition. (Doesn’t it all just sound like one awesome Marvel movie!) This enables them to operate using quantum bits (qubits) that can exist in multiple states simultaneously, rather than a state of either 1 or 0, like traditional computer bits. Early investors in quantum technology include banks and financial services organisations that hope to be able to enhance the power of AI systems developed in recent years for purposes of fraud detection, risk management and high-frequency trading. Quantum computing doesn’t speed up every job we use computers for, but in 2024, we should start to see benefits as it’s applied across various compute-heavy fields, including drug discovery, genome sequencing, cryptography, meteorology, material science, optimization of complex systems such as traffic flow through large cities, and even the search for extraterrestrial life. These are all fields that hold enormous potential for solving challenges facing us and our planet, we should all be looking forward to what the future will hold.
Whispp
Whispp, a leading company in assistive speech technology, introduced an AI-powered app that’s changing the game for people with speech disorders and voice disabilities. This app modernizes electronic larynx voice boxes, making a big difference in helping people communicate more clearly. What sets this technology apart, is its use of AI to turn voiceless speech into natural, voiced speech instantly. This is a huge step forward compared to traditional voice conversion tools, as it offers a more fluid and natural way for talking. The app isn’t limited to just one language, either. Its design works with many different languages, making it a versatile tool that could help people all around the world.
Whatever 2024 brings, let’s go forward and embrace it with open arms. May the year be good to you!
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