New Hardware to Watch For...
Personal Assistants that listen to you
Amazon Echo is designed around your voice. It's always on—just ask for information, music, news, weather, and more. Echo begins working as soon as it detects the wake word. You can pick Alexa or Amazon as your wake word. Echo is also an expertly tuned speaker that can fill any room with immersive sound. Echo's brain is in the cloud, running on Amazon Web Services so it continually learns and adds more functionality over time. The more you use Echo, the more it adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences. Tapia is a personal assistant robot that can set alarms to wake up up, tell you time, weather, and purchase items for you. The robot can start your coffee machine, call your mom, and track your movement and play your favorite tune you've been humming all day. Tapia is more than a robot, Tapia becomes an important part of your daily life almost making it like a family member.
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Now, We Wear Our Computers!
CES 2015 showcased many new and upcoming technologies. One theme that ran through much of them was technology that we could wear. For those of us old enough to remember the Dick Tracy cartoons in the mid-1900s may recall his two-way wrist TV. He could talk to his crew wirelessly! We're reaching a time where that may no longer be fiction. Smart watches that connect you to the internet, glasses that do the same, running shoes that track your heart rate, distance, and speed, and more are coming out soon.
CES 2015 showcased many new and upcoming technologies. One theme that ran through much of them was technology that we could wear. For those of us old enough to remember the Dick Tracy cartoons in the mid-1900s may recall his two-way wrist TV. He could talk to his crew wirelessly! We're reaching a time where that may no longer be fiction. Smart watches that connect you to the internet, glasses that do the same, running shoes that track your heart rate, distance, and speed, and more are coming out soon.
Who needs a touch screen?
This year, a number of new hardware devices were introduced that sense what the user is doing without having to physically touch any hardware. Leap Motion represents an entirely new way to interact with your computers. It's more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen. For the first time, you can control a computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements.
Tobii software allows handicapped persons to control their computers with their eyes.
This year, a number of new hardware devices were introduced that sense what the user is doing without having to physically touch any hardware. Leap Motion represents an entirely new way to interact with your computers. It's more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen. For the first time, you can control a computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements.
Tobii software allows handicapped persons to control their computers with their eyes.
Our Display Screens Will Change Dramatically!
Over the years we've watched the CRT displays disappear - replaced by LCD and LED screens that are now up to 100+ inches diagonally. But another technology - OLED (organic light emitting diodes) will be eventually replacing those. The advantage of OLED is that the display can be incredibly thin, and yet still be vibrantly beautiful. Currently there are OLED TVs available up to 105 inches. Even larger displays are coming soon.
Over the years we've watched the CRT displays disappear - replaced by LCD and LED screens that are now up to 100+ inches diagonally. But another technology - OLED (organic light emitting diodes) will be eventually replacing those. The advantage of OLED is that the display can be incredibly thin, and yet still be vibrantly beautiful. Currently there are OLED TVs available up to 105 inches. Even larger displays are coming soon.
New Technology and The Human Body
Google is developing contact lenses that constantly monitor blood glucose levels for diabetics via tears. The Bionic Man is testing out two robot arms that will one day be able to replace his limbs that he has lost.
Google is developing contact lenses that constantly monitor blood glucose levels for diabetics via tears. The Bionic Man is testing out two robot arms that will one day be able to replace his limbs that he has lost.
Curvilux The Smart Desk
Curvilux is a smart desk that has the capability of being run from your phone or tablet. You can set sunrise alarms that aren't loud and disturbing in the morning. You can charge devices wirelessly right on the desk. There is a light on and under the desk to help with seeing in the night to get to the bathroom without a stubbed toe. Curvilux has thought of it all. |
Pens that record what you write, and what you hear at the same time.
Record everything you write and hear. Tap anywhere on your notes to replay the audio from that moment in time. Automatically, your recorded notes and audio are wirelessly sent and securely stored in your Evernote® account. Your exclusive Livescribe plan for Evernote includes 500MB of additional upload capacity for smartpen notes and audio. Using Evernote, quickly search and share your lectures, meetings and ideas any time on nearly any device. Simply tap on your notes in Evernote and interactive versions of your pencasts play back within Livescribe Player. |
Robotic Cameraman Can Record Lectures and Presentations
Swivl is a robot that can help you record your classroom lectures and your work presentations. Swivl helps you learn from watching yourself teach or present. This can revolutionize how teachers teach and how employees present in the future. If you can watch yourself and learn from yourself, then you will grow immensely and you will be able to apply that knowledge to future classes or presentations. With a robotic cameraman you don't need someone in the back of your classroom videoing you and it can be quick and easy to see your presentations over and over again.
Swivl is a robot that can help you record your classroom lectures and your work presentations. Swivl helps you learn from watching yourself teach or present. This can revolutionize how teachers teach and how employees present in the future. If you can watch yourself and learn from yourself, then you will grow immensely and you will be able to apply that knowledge to future classes or presentations. With a robotic cameraman you don't need someone in the back of your classroom videoing you and it can be quick and easy to see your presentations over and over again.
Interacting with Projected Images
Interactive whiteboards have been a staple in classrooms for several years now. However, that is changing. Projectors are now being produced that have the same interactivity built right into the projector itself. Hardware that watches what you do also can control the projected images by touch some without even needing a white board.
Interactive whiteboards have been a staple in classrooms for several years now. However, that is changing. Projectors are now being produced that have the same interactivity built right into the projector itself. Hardware that watches what you do also can control the projected images by touch some without even needing a white board.
Are Drones the New Cars?
Ehang has created the first ever drone that can pilot a person around the city. The technology will certainly change the idea of what drones can do. No longer are drones just piloted toys, now they are a possible mode of transportation in the future. Is this where we start to see flying cars that we see so much in futuristic movies? This could be the start of a technological revolution! |
Printing in 3D!
Here's a technology that will certainly make it into the classroom. I have seen prices come down drastically over the past few years. Students will have the opportunity to print actual three dimensional objects with movable parts... Another important advancement will be in the medical field. Using 3D printing technologies, doctors will be able to print a replacement organ from stem cells. A Factory Right on Your Kitchen Table FormBox allows you to create something easily right from your kitchen table. With FormBox you get a factory right in your home. It can create a mold that will help your business flourish, your classroom soar, or just regular household plants grow. A FormBox works hand in hand with 3D Printing and can offer you a production line without a big, far off factory. |
The Latest In Other Technology
Outdoors Technology Updates: Camping technology is also evolving. With the flying tent, the portable rinse kit, heated sleeping bag, solar power box, or the light weight and brighter lantern. There has even been solar powered water bottle, smarter backpacks and so much more being invented every day. Pets Technology Updates: There are many new technologies being incorporated into pet owning and the care of your pet. There are new collars, new pet toys, smart pet camera to keep on eye on a barking dog or a sad dog. The technologies of today are being incorporated into the animal world today to help make caring for your pet more seamless and fun. |
So what will the future look like?
Here's one vision... The following videos show one company's vision of the near future - Corning Glass. I think you'll find these interesting to watch.
Here's one vision... The following videos show one company's vision of the near future - Corning Glass. I think you'll find these interesting to watch.
Page last updated June 11, 2018