How Will Technology Change Our Lives Over The Next 20 Years?

Think back to 2002, and you will see how much has changed thanks to technological advances. The main impact has been via the internet and mobile technology, which has changed how we function in business and our personal lives.

What about the next 20 years? It is hard to predict changes so far into the future, but fortunately, some people specialise in doing precisely this kind of thing.

Ian Pearson is a futurologist who analyses trends and statistics to form evidence-based predictions. He has made some key forecasts suggesting how technology will change our lives in the next 20 years.

Over the last ten years, we have already seen how reliance on devices has become integrated into our daily lives. This trend is likely to continue with more aspects of our lives becoming reliant on Smart technology.

More homes will have their heating, lighting and other equipment connected to a home hub to be controlled and reset. This aspect of robotics is very likely to grow as the need for energy saving for climate change becomes more urgent.

It is not hard to see that as generation Z become homeowners themselves, they will drive the inclusion of Smart technology in their homes – such as Google Home and smart meters etc.

Ian Pearson suggests that robotics may be the next stage where robotic devices work around the home. It could happen as early as 2030 and would see a revolution in the same way as vacuum cleaners, and washing machines changed housework back in the 1950s. This technology could be closer than you think, with Samsung exhibiting their concept for a robot which would help around the house and complete basic chores. Please see below the video that they showed at CES 2022.

The growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will absolutely continue to impact industry and personal devices as it forms the foundation of computer learning. AI allows computers to learn from data to make optimal decisions in a short amount of time compared to humans.

We already see AI operating in our smart devices, cars, healthcare systems – such as Viz.AI which is a diagnostics AI built to detect diseases as early as possible, and even in popular apps like Siri – so future development will see it used more effectively across other sectors. We will see AI help with breakthroughs in cancer research and cutting edge innovations across different industries as ever more complex algorithms are put in place. This growth within the industry has led to a rise in the number of contractor roles within AI,  with the number of AI job roles increasing by more than 160% since July 2020.

Is there anyone who doesn’t use a Smartphone now? In fact, in  March 2020, 87% of people in the UK were smartphone owners. 

There has also been enormous growth in other personal devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. It is a possibility that the next stage of this development will be the implantation of chips to do the same kind of processes.

Elon Musk is one of the leaders in this field, and he has been exploring more radical uses of microchips. He is currently testing chips implanted in the brain to conquer paralysis, and he is also interested in working with mental health conditions and autism.

The problem with microchip implants is that there is a lot of suspicion. The wider public was overwhelmingly hostile in an experiment where a Wisconsin company used implants for easy security.

There will likely be a more positive response for medical implants, especially if it creates a cure for patients with paralysis. Still, opposing views may halt the growth of implants designed purely for convenience.

In 2021 Honda was the first manufacturer to produce a legally approved driverless car at a Level 3, which means the driver can take their eyes off the road. In Tokyo, Toyota promoted a Level 4 car where drivers could also take their minds off the road.

The primary growth of this technology seems to be in the taxi industry, with Uber pursuing a new program that is soon to roll out in Santa Monica in the US. We are already seeing an expansion of driver free delivery robots in places like Milton Keynes in the UK.

The issue with driverless technology, also known as autonomous vehicles (AVs), is public opinion about safety. Statistics are yet to reassure the 75% of people who would not feel safe in a driverless car.

With the industry promoting driverless cars that will make the roads safer, the current $54 billion investment in AVs will likely mean that they will take over. Predictions indicate that there will be over 33 million AVs on the road worldwide by 2040.

The advantage for many is that it could reduce the necessity for people to own their cars, which will significantly impact climate change. Even in the next decade, there will be considerable growth in self-driving vehicles as taxis, improving accessibility and cost.

Renewable energy is an area that is urgently under investigation. The world is committed to using renewable energy sources to combat the destruction of the environment.

Fortunately, technology has helped discover alternative energy sources such as ITER, nuclear fusion, solar and shale gas. Bill Gates is one of the people behind the acceleration of miracle energy solutions.

With fuel prices rocketing worldwide and the urgency of changing to renewable sources, investment in this area will surely continue. By 2050 there is a need to stop producing any more greenhouse gases.

Breakthrough Energy is calling for an unprecedented technological transformation that will create the innovation required to allow everyone access to clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy.

Virtual reality is not a new thing. Second Life by Linden Labs created a virtual world with avatars back in 2003. There were up to 3 million users in its heyday, although that figure has dropped below 1 million more recently.

Creating a metaverse is a product favoured by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The drive towards VR has created a race with tech giants Google, Apple and Microsoft to produce affordable headsets for mass production.

The growth of virtual reality has led to a large increase in the number of job roles within the industry, with Statista claiming that over 23 million jobs will be enhanced by VR by 2030.

The vast investment in this area is almost sure to change the way we interact, certainly in gaming and leisure, but if Meta has its way, also in business.

Over the last 20 years, technological advances have been driven by information, communication and creating a global community. The following 20 years will probably be determined by climate change and the need to develop more energy efficiency and access to clean energy.

Other areas of technology like space tourism will only be available to the very wealthiest in society, so they are unlikely to experience the growth seen in other areas. Investment drives new technology, so the next 20 years will see governments investing in climate change while the tech giants will continue to promote technology that makes life more convenient.

If you are looking for help recruiting qualified and experienced IT and Technology staff, contact us at Lucid Support.

Written by Lucid Support

Lucid is an award winning, well established, reliable and trusted IT Employment Services and IT Project Delivery provider throughout the UK. To keep up to date on all things technology and recruitment trends, follow us on LinkedIn or head over to our website: www.lucid-support.com.