9 Trends Need To Know to See the Future
With the introduction of new businesses and technology, the strange can become normal and the normal can become strange. Who knew that ‘getting into a strangers car’ would be commonplace and ‘buying the whole album’ would be uncommon. Here are a list of nine uncommon activities that our team at ALEX believe will be common in the future.
1. Automated Driving
Google, Apple, BMW, Tesla, and many others are designing and building autonomous vehicles — self driving cars. Even with the most recent ‘Tesla autopilot issue,’ companies are quickly supporting autopilot developments and deeming them safer than human drivers. The day cars drive themselves is approaching faster than we think.
2. Not Eating Meat
With about 5% of the U.S. population going vegetarian, not eating meat is a steadily increasing trend. Culturally eating “meat” (or something that looks and tastes like it) will be a difficult habit to break, but with startups like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods developing comparable substitutes that are hard to distinguish from the real thing, it’s definitely possible that the future of food will be all veggies. Except for people from the South; they love their BBQ.
3. “Going” to Work Virtually
Technologies like Microsoft’s Hololens and Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) have taken the stage, providing great platforms for meetings. You can also dive into VR with your smartphone using Google Cardboard and Facebook 360. It is only a matter of time until virtual meeting rooms are common place, and traveling to work will be as simple as putting on your VR headset. More on VR.
4. The New Smoking
Smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes has been a decreasing trend in the U.S. Usage has shrunk from over 40% in the 1960s to under 20% today. Even with growing acceptance of marijuana, alternatives like vaping and e-cigarettes are on the rise. It is only a matter of time before safer and more enjoyable alternatives lead to traditional tobacco cigarettes being taboo (or at least a throwback).
5. The end of Student Loans
While the cost of college continues to outpace inflation, the number of students actually enrolling in college is decreasing. With the rise of online alternatives, as well as modular in-person course alternatives to full-time programs, going into debt for learning won’t be necessary. For example, learners can use ALEX to compare and contrast in-person classes, online courses, and blended courses. Learners will also be able to take courses one at a time, making their higher education experience more affordable.
6. Cures to Cancer, Blindness, and AIDs
Editing your genome is coming to the masses. With companies like Crispr, people will be able to add, remove, and edit their gene sequence. These sequences even protect against “reversed mutations that cause blindness, stopped cancer cells from multiplying, and make cells impervious to the virus that causes AIDS”.
7. Leather/Fur without the animals
We use leather for everything from jackets to wallets, but with startups like Modern Meadow we will no longer have to turn to animals for our materials. Lab grown meat and leather alternatives are being developed that will allow us to have “sustainable leather”.
8. Elimination of ‘Brick’ Phones
Walking around looking downward at your phone is unfortunately the norm today, but in the future, we will be looking up again. With companies developing less intrusive glasses with projection technology, placing phones on your wrist, and even contact lenses (and here), brick phones will be the old news.
9. Fusion of human and machine
Biohacking, modifying the human body with technology, is growing as a micro-trend. External technologies are being developed to work in tandem with humans. Boston Dynamics robotic exoskeleton represents a high grade application to enhance human performance in the field. Also, The Crated is experimenting with integrating circuitry into textile to enable manufacturers to create ‘smart clothing’. As technology advances, the lines between human and machine will continue to blur.
