With technology constantly proving, The Harbinger chose to review some of the most influential new pieces of technology. From boosting creativity to increasing national security, this tech is about to become a part of everyday life.
Despite skepticism, 3D printing is no longer a thing of science fiction. Not only do these printers print a huge range of plastic objects, different printers can print food and even bioprint organs and tissue. Within the past year, 3D printers have become more and more available and affordable to the public.
Not only have they reduced from the size of fridges to microwaves, the prices have drastically reduced in the past five years. A 3D printer company, Makerbot, has developed a wide variety of printers to fit consumers’ needs since they were founded in 2009. Makerbot’s Replicator Mini starts at $1,375 and their Replicator Z18 is $6,499. What you can create is only limited to the size of your printer and amount of polymer material you have.
The printed product is first designed in a virtual 3D computer program. If you purchase a digitizer, you can scan any object (fitting size requirements) and put it in the computer program. The program then sends your design to the printer.
Special 3D printers have been used to print different organs using the patient’s own cells, which means they don’t have to be on an organ donor waiting list. Amputees can have custom designed and fitted prosthetics which can be resized and reprinted.
Two men, equipped with just a Makerbot Replicator 2, formed Robohand, which is a company that provides custom prosthetics that move along with the body’s muscles. The creators, after taking all the right measurements, design and print personalized parts for each amputee, which are assembled together to make the perfect fit. Robohand has made over 200 arms, legs and fingers to various amputees who have reached out to them.
Robohand is just one example of what the general public will be able to do once they get ahold of 3D printers. The rapid spread of ideas will be catalyzed through 100 percent free websites like Thingiverse.com. Thingiverse allows people to share and download 3D designs into one’s own 3D software program.
With 3D printers becoming more user friendly, websites like Thingiverse spreading 3D designs and the steadily decreasing prices of the printers themselves, 3D printers are likely to become more common in businesses and households.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, otherwise known as drones or UAVs, have been used more and more in the past decade. The military has been using plane like drones for surveillance and as weapons, but major companies and even the general public have recently been contemplating about what drones could do for them.
Companies that solely make recreational drones, like DJI Innovations, are currently selling various types of drones. These drones aren’t the plane-looking drones seen on the news, they’re mostly “quadcopters”, which look like a helicopter with four propellers. These $100-$500 microwave-sized drones can have GPS systems and can be equipped with GoPros. Video recording from an unmanned aircraft is appealing to videographers because of their ability to film from many aerial angles. Cameramen for the Sochi Olympics used video drones to record snowboarding events.
Some companies, like Amazon, see great potential in drones. Recently, Amazon has revealed a soon-to-come service, Prime-Air, that allows ultra-fast shipping via drones that are sent out from nearby Amazon warehouses. Not only do they expect it to be a time convenience to the customer, but could save Amazon money. After all, you don’t have to pay a robot.
Yet, there is a reason Amazon has only revealed and not began its drone delivery system. Not only are they still working on improving their delivery drone prototypes, they’re waiting on the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to create rules and regulations for unmanned aircraft.
Within the next few years, the FAA will have created extensive legal regulations on drones, for reasons, such as the challenges pilots will run in to as a result of not actually being on the plane. The FAA, with its Unmanned Aircraft Systems road map will address current and future policies of drones.
The process should become more efficient as UAS experience is gained and data analysis proves safety cases more quickly. It states,“The process should become more efficient as UAS experience is gained and data analysis proves safety cases more quickly.”
Not only will this bring drones to the public’s attention, but will also allow companies to progress faster and further, knowing their limits on what they can do with drones.
As of right now, the widely-recognized concept technology by Google, “Glass”, is not easily found. These eyeglass computers, mainly voice-controlled, are one of Google’s most recent projects. The prototype looks like frameless glasses and has a small glass square and camera on one side.
When Glass hits the public market, expected sometime in the next year, they could spur new ways people use and interact with technology. The public could go from being glued to their iPhone screens to having a computer in front of them as often as they wear the glasses.
When the first smartphones were released, like the first Apple iPhone in 2007, had a maximum of 16GB storage and only could connect to wifi. In 7 years, the iPhone 5S was released with 64GB and can run on 4G internet. This goes to show that though some may be skeptical of the first generations of Google Glass, if the public is interested enough in them, they will improve.
Google Glass is being advertised as being fun, and having unique uses. Not only will the camera be readily available at all times, always-active voice commands will allow for simple interaction with its applications. Glass will offer programs like voice calling, navigation and access to most of Google searching.
While some critics see Google Glass as too much of an intrusion into a person’s life, it’s almost inevitable that wearable technology will become a standard in the future.
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