The million dollar question, I wish I knew the answer to this one. The Internet has revolutionized the world in a way that only a handful of creations and collaborations has. What will be the products, ideas or services that will have an impact on the future and will change our lives? Ive mentioned a few possibilities in this post. These are all promising, but my pick for what it will be? Decision Engineering, better decisions with the help of Big Data. I invite you to share your bold ideas. Arent we all supposed to have flying cars like the Jetsons by now?
Connected Cars
Outside of sustainability, the connected, self-driving, clever car was one of the hottest products at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015. We may not all have self-driving cars in the next few years, but increasingly well have cars connected to our cloud, with gesture-controlled touch screens that can make restaurant reservations. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) forecasts that automotive electronics will reach $14 billion in revenue in 2015.
Below please find five possibilities for the Next Big Thing in 2015 and beyond.
Smart Driving – Autonomous Car Technology
Research finds that the social benefits of autonomous vehiclesincluding decreased crashes, increased mobility, and increases in fuel economywill outweigh the likely disadvantages. This is an area where things are zooming along faster than many experts expected and we need to think through now what it might mean to society. Points to consider with Autonomous Vehicles:
- Keep on Going: Futurists envision autonomous vehicles picking up passengers, dropping them at destinations, and then getting dispatched to transport other riders all day long
- Safety and Economy: A decrease in the frequency of crashes could allow for lighter vehiclesover time increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions
- New Passengers: Advanced technologies may offer those who can’t drivesuch as the elderly, young, blind, or disablednewfound mobility.
- Sensors and Cameras: These systems help autonomous vehicles make sense of the surrounding worldthe traffic, infrastructure, road regulation, and objects or obstacles ahead, behind, and around
Smart Health and Fitness Products
The future of your running is getting some help from the latest technology. Here are the hottest health and fitness trends that create the most buzz in the market.
- Wearable Tech – Whether its on your wrist, integrated into your clothing, or placed within your shoe as you walk or run, specialized sensors, monitors, and trackers are able to record your activity levels and physiology. Here are some ways theyre doing it:
- On Your Wrist – Using sophisticated optical and pressure sensors, GPS, and accelerometers, the next generation of wristbands can provide nearly continuous and complete body management
- On Your Body – Adaptive smart fabrics can now measure vital signs, movement, and core body temperature
- In Your Shoe – When it comes to your running technique, there are now sensors for your feet that tell you if your form is falling apart and whether you should adjust your pace, gait, or cadence to prevent injury
- Big Data
Now that you can collect all this data, what should you actually do with it? There are companies that are turning this information into knowledge and knowhow - Faster Recovery
There are small, portable electronic muscle stimulators that easily fit into a backpack that could be your cure to help speed recovery, condition, and relieve pain and soreness
Agility Everywhere The Internet of Things
This year’s overarching theme is the convergence of gadgets, sensors, and wireless networks into the Internet of Things (or the Internet of Everything). In short, it’s about packing consumer gadgets with sensors, connecting these devices to the Internet, and analyzing the data they generate. Falling costs of key technologies, including a mix of low-cost sensors, digital cameras, 3D printers, drones, and wireless network protocols, are coming together to enable information-sharing on an epic scale, something not feasible a few years ago.
Predicted by Gartner to reach 26 billion devices by 2020 (up from 900 million five years ago), businesses increasingly need to develop a strategic approach to what, how and where the Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to unlock lucrative value streams and generate new business.
Manufacturing 3D Printing and Robotics
Intelligent robots are going to play a major role in manufacturing. Robots are becoming increasingly ever present on manufacturing production lines and even more are coming out to work closely with human employees. While this technological development brings huge advantages to the manufacturing sector as a whole, it also raises fresh health and safety questions:
- Carry out comprehensive risk assessments – Before employees begin working alongside robots its critical to scope out any potential hazards
- Brush up on your regulation knowledge – Know the rules and current legislation surrounding health and safety, robotics and system integration
- Use simulation software to test robotic concepts – As well as flagging potential new-build issues, software can model all of the variable robotic movements, obstacles and potential collision scenarios, in a 3D virtual world
- Know your system and introduce safeguards – Seek expert guidance when building a safety related control system (SRCS) early in the design phase
- Ensure employees receive regular training – And have access to the necessary protective tools and equipment
- Consider software-enabled technology – Using software to monitor safety is an efficient way to ensure man and machine work in harmony
- Create adaptive zones – It is now possible to program, enable and disable the zone that a robot can or cannot enter, depending on the task in-hand
- Define maximum robot speed – Often, accidents occur when machines are moving at fast speeds
- Compliance with machine safety standards – It should go without saying but its critical all machines are maintained to current safety standards
- Stay on top of your safety requirements – In todays fast-paced manufacturing environments, robotic work cells and plant layouts evolve quickly
My Pick Decision Engineering with the Help of Big Data
Big Data is currently at the peak of the hype cycle. A lot is being talked, written, researched and reported around it. Estimates are that nearly 4 million new jobs will be created globally in 2015, within big data & related fields. The increasing volume of information captured by corporations, digital & social media and the Internet of Things is fueling growth in this industry exponentially.
A shift needs to be made from Big Data technology, infrastructure setting up to enabling managers engineer better decisions through data. This shift is defined as Decision Engineering – the way to take power out of data and use it to make better engineered business decisions is the next big thing in 2015.
What is your Next Big Thing?
Every leader is looking for the next big thing in their business. Whats keeping you awake at night? Share your bold ideas in the comments.
