Technological advancements have consistently developed in unexpected ways; once strange to see (for example, touchscreen phones, virtual assistants [also known as ‘smart’ assistants], and autonomous vehicles) have now quickly been integrated into modern daily life. The next generation of technological advancements could potentially seem even more bizarre than current developments.
Scientists, engineers, and ‘futurologists’ (individuals who study future trends) are creating new inventions that will challenge the concept of being human, as they will blend biological entities with machines and nature (i.e. robots constructed from biological material or devices that monitor and record the dream state).
Some of these inventions may appear to be characteristic of science fiction; however, many of them challenge our moral codes regarding ethics and privacy. Over each decade to come, technological advancements will change how we operate and visualize our day-to-day existence.
The following items represent some of the most unusual technological advancements being developed at this time, and provide us insight into what a potentially surreal future may look like.
Edible Robots
Robots That Can Be Eaten
While robots are currently made of metal, plastic and electronics, there are researchers exploring the possibility of robots that are created to be ingested after accomplishing their objective. By utilizing food-safe materials (i.e. gelatin, rice paper, etc.) to construct edible robots, and through the use of carbon-based products to construct edible electronics (also referred to as ‘edible electronics’), researchers are experimenting with concepts that challenge the traditional definition of a robot.
Another possible use for edible robots is in environmental remediation, where they can be utilized to clean up fragile habitats without generating residual pollution or hazardous waste. After completing their missions, these robots could be ingested by animals or microorganisms to decompose safely and completely.
Though this idea seems outlandish, the concept represents an innovative approach to two growing issues: precision of medical treatment and the sustainability of our ecosystems.
Recording Dreams for Posterity
Saving the Stories of Our Minds at Night
For millennia, dreams have confounded the minds of researchers and the general public alike. Recently, several researchers have begun exploring technologies that could help scientists record or recreate images from the dream state.
Combine current advancements in brain imaging with advanced artificial intelligence systems and researchers have begun interpreting signal patterns generated during sleep. Initial studies have already yielded success in approximating what people visualize in their waking lives by analyzing their brain wave patterns.
If these technologies continue to advance, they could ultimately allow for recreating dream imagery from the images themselves. Just think about being able to get out of bed and have your entire dream from last night available to be experienced as video!
The use of dream recording technology may have relevance for a variety of professional fields other than curiosity. For instance, psychologists might benefit from understanding trauma, dreaming, or nightmares through the use of dream recording technology. Similarly, artists may gain new sources of inspiration for their work from recorded dreams.
However, ethical issues surrounding the technology, such as privacy and consent, are also very serious. Since dreams are both highly personal and, in some cases, distressing in nature, it will be essential to consider how to protect private information and obtain proper consent for the use of dream recordings.
Living Buildings
Architecture That Breathes and Expands
Conventional buildings are inanimate entities comprised primarily of steel, glass, and concrete; however, the next generation of buildings may well behave more like living organisms.
Many scientists are investigating the potential creation of so-called “living materials” into the process of construction, which would incorporate the presence and use of different classes of bacteria, fungi, or algae in building elements. These living materials could ultimately serve multiple purposes, including repairing cracks that form in buildings, removing carbon dioxide from the environment, or producing energy through biological processes.
Self-healing concrete has already been developed experimentally and contains bacteria that when activated by cracks producing minerals that fill the cracks.
Several scientists are experimenting with another form of building material called mycelium, which can be grown from a network of fungi. These materials are lightweight, biodegradable, and have high strength-to-weight ratios.
Eventually, the living building concept will involve structures that adapt to their environmental conditions, naturally regulate their internal temperatures, and minimize the overall impact on the environment.
Holographic Telepresence
3D Projection meetings
Video conferencing is currently a commonplace method of communication, and soon may evolve into the use of full-sized holographic projections.
Holographic telepresence systems can be used to create a virtual 3D representation or model (hologram) of an individual, who would appear in a remote location, thus allowing all attendees either remote or present, to communicate as though they are physically together. Rather than viewing someone via a flat screen, they will be viewed in their entirety as a 3D projection.
There are several companies who are testing prototype holographic telepresence systems, where projections are created using projection-based cameras equipped with new and emerging depth-sensing technologies.
A few examples of how holographic meeting technology could be utilized include enabling teachers to interconnect within one classroom, but located in multiple locations, or families who are separated by distance can have more meaningful interactions, enhancing interpersonal relationships.
Though the idea of holographic communication may seem far-fetched, some current technological advancements in 3D imaging / display technology would support the fact that holographic communication is becoming a reality in the near future.
Digital Taste Transmission
The Internet may help us to send and receive digital flavor.
We often send digital photographs, music, or video via the Internet today, but researchers are currently investigating whether it might be possible to also transmit taste digitally.
A new kind of device called an electronic tongue could possibly be able to analyze the chemical make-up of food, convert that information into a digital signal, then send that digital signal to another device that would stimulate your tongue’s taste buds.
Using the technology, it would be theoretically possible for someone to taste something from thousands of miles away without ever having eaten it physically.
Potential applications of this technology could include remote dining experiences, culinary education and medical treatments for those who have lost their ability to taste food. Chefs might also be able to share what they determine is a digital recipe with other chefs so they could produce the same flavor that they themselves created.
While the innovation is still in an early phase, the notion of transmitting taste over the Internet has the potential to help redefine how people relate to one another through the use of sensory experiences as part of digital communications.
Memory Modification
Changing What We Remember
Another of the more controversial technologies currently being researched is the ability to erase or modify an individual’s recollection of past events.
There is ample evidence from studies of the human brain that memories aren’t “fixed” in the same way that video recordings are, but rather they are evolving representations that are created, remembered and then modified any time they are recalled. Each time the same memory is recalled, it temporarily becomes a relatively “malleable” memory until it is once again “encoded” for long-term storage. This presents a unique opportunity for scientists to “erase” negative emotions associated with individual memories.
Currently, researchers using a variety of experimental therapies are investigating if their methods can successfully decrease the intensity of certain types of emotional responses to traumatic events in individuals with post traumatic stress syndrome or generalized anxiety disorder.
Advanced ways of changing memory will likely allow for the targeted alteration of particular memories as time goes on.
This development could have a profound impact on mental well-being. But it raises ethical issues. Memory is an integral part of who we are. Memories shape our identities, how we learn, and how we build relationships with others. Therefore, changing our memories will also have a major impact on how we view ourselves and our lives.
As we develop tools that permeate our ability to manipulate memory, it leads us to question where the line between the treatment of a psychological disorder and changing a life history resides.
Robotic Insect
Small Robots that Imitate Nature
Insects created artificially in miniature form have emerged as another form of unusual technology.
These small machines have wings that permit them to exist in an environment that would not allow larger machines. Researchers are working on using these insects for the following purposes: to help pollinate crops; to monitor ecosystems; and to assist in search and rescue during catastrophes.
Many designs are similar to either bees or dragonflies, in that they utilize wings displaying incredible speed to keep themselves aloft. Other designs crawl through debris in search of people trapped under debris created by an earthquake.
Because of the incredible small size of robotic insects, they will be able to complete tasks that would have otherwise been impossible. Farmers, for example, could use large amounts of robotic pollinators if natural honeybee populations continue to decline.
There are also legitimate concerns about the potential for the misuse of technology, such as for purposes of surveillance. Therefore, as development of robotic insect technology continues, it is critical that lawmakers establish regulations and oversight procedure for development.
Atmospheric Water Extractors
Extracting Drinking Water From Air
One of the greatest difficulties around the world is the availability of clean drinking water. This problem is especially prevalent in areas that experience little rainfall. To solve this challenge, an interesting, yet unusual, technology is being developed to extract drinking water directly from the air using atmospheric water extractors.
An atmospheric water extractor will filter out moisture in the air, condensing the water vapor into liquid form. Even in arid climates, there is still a small amount of moisture available in the air.
Some atmoshperic water extractors are made using a special material that can absorb moisture under coller temperatures at night, then release the moisture as water when it warms during the day. Others employ a cooling unit to cool the air below dew point, creating condensation of the water vapor.
In the next generation of atmospheric water extractors, distributed water sources for domestic and emergency purposes could be provided in remote areas or crisis response areas.
Although it may seem unlikely that we could drink the moisture from the air, it shows that with the help of innovative engineering, we can convert natural resources that were previously thought to be unattainable into usable resources.
Brain-to-brain communication
The Direct Exchange of Thought
One of the more unique technologies being developed today is the ability for two people to share thoughts directly between their brains.
Researchers have developed devices that allow a person’s brain to control a device through a brain-computer interface. Scientists are also interested in the possibility of sending one person’s brain signal to another person’s brain.
In the far-off future, there may be some sort of more sophisticated system that would allow people to exchange sensations, feelings or even just simple thoughts with each other directly.
This potential form of technology could change how people collaborate, learn and treat patients with communication impairment.
However, it also raises significant ethical dilemmas regarding our mental privacy. If we are able to transmit our thoughts through a variety of electronic means, then the challenge of keeping the boundaries of our mental landscapes and consciousness safe is paramount.
Innovation in the Strange Future
What might sound like a potentially odd invention to some people, may already be in some stage of exploration in many laboratories around the world today. History has shown us that what often begins as ‘strange’ or ‘odd’ has eventually become ‘normal’.
For instance, when both electricity, airplanes, and the internet were first developed, many were met with doubt about their development; however, today we ALL use them as necessary in our lives.
Thus, the newer technologies that are being developed today may very likely experience the same transition of becoming ‘normal’. Edible robots, dream capturing, living building designs, and brain-to-brain communication may seem strange, but they demonstrate creativity and ambition that has fueled innovation among human beings.
What is particularly interesting about these developments is their ability to combine disciplines and methodologies (i.e. biology, AI/robotics, neuroscience, and environmental science) into entirely different forms of technology that can significantly alter the way people interact both with the environment and with each other.
