It's no secret, technology is changing humanity and human society. We don't even know how much technology will come to alter our lives, but we can see that it is happening. We are glued to our phones. We socialize digitally. We date digitally. We find ourselves lost in apps. This is all just the beginning of all the changes that human civilization will incur from the advancements of technology.
Whether you are excited about the coming changes to humanity or are worried about the results of tech, there is simply no stopping it. Progress isn't a straight line, but it is constant. No one is in control of it, not even the tech itself. Whatever you feel about technology, these are the advancements that are changing human civilization.
AI & Machine Learning
There is no questioning the insane impact that artificial intelligence will come to have on human society. The technology is still new, and it is making huge waves. Artificial intelligence is the ability for computers to teach themselves, and they do that through machine learning.
Machine learning programming takes humans out of the picture as soon as the computer takes control. There is no limit to the amount of impact that AI and machine learning will have on human civilization. It can do things humans can do much faster, with much more accuracy, precision, and speed. Whether it's design, analysis, or innovation, AI far surpasses humanity.
Drones
Whether they're in your backyard or in the Middle East, drones are a force in the modern world. They provide unprecedented ability to survey and stealthily act in many situations. Drones were first controlled by humans, but now-like everything else-they are being automated. Drones can fly themselves. They can perform complex maneuvers.
Drone companies like Lucid Drone Technologies are dedicated to making drones a tool humanity can use for multiple purposes. They employ drones that wash our office buildings and provide security measures. Drone will be employed to watch over neighborhoods and to find criminals. They are here to stay. Their purposes vary, but there is no question that drone technology has already forever altered human society.
Robotics
Drones at this level are, in a sense, flying robots. Robotics is a field of technology that has long since been dreamt of. Phillip K. Dick and other science fiction writers envisioned a world where robots walked amongst us. That isn't far off. Although the way that robots are used today is quite different from the way Dick imagined.
Mostly, robots are used remotely like drones to perform complex and dangerous tasks. Remotely controlled robots are tasked for tasks high up in the air, in hazardous waste, and amongst dangerous chemicals. Furthermore, robotics is used to enhance human capabilities.
With robotic enhancements, humans can increase their strength, endurance, and mobility. Robotic gloves protect the hands from fire, cold, chemicals, and sharp objects. Robotic limbs help the immobile move. Robotic suits make it possible for humans to move in ways they couldn't without them. People can run further, lift more, and last longer with a robotic enhancement suit.
Robotics is just in the beginning stages of changing humanity and all that comes with it. Soon, robots with an AI inside of them will walk the Earth, helping humans and bringing up some alarming questions about the existence of civilization and our purpose here on the planet.
Automation
From the floors of warehouses to drones to robots, automobiles, and much more, there are so many ways that automation is changing human life and society. The most notable impact of automation is that self-check-out lines and automated robotic arms are replacing people at work, but this is just the start of the automation revolution. Automobile companies like Tesla are combining image capture tech, GPS, and automation to make self-driving vehicles. Tesla calls this "autopilot" but that's a euphemism by just about anyone's standards.
Automation is being employed in so many situations. Algorithms are automated to continue perfecting their tasks. Robots are automated to move. Drones are automated to fly and survey. Whatever the job that needs to be done, automation is being used in all kinds of ways to make life easier, more sustainable, and more convenient for humans. Automation is just one form of technology that will come to change human life in all kinds of ways.
Extended Reality
Extended reality (XR) is the umbrella that includes augmented (AR), virtual (VR), and mixed (MR) reality technologies. They are all advancing human society in their own ways. For example, AR is enabling medical advancements like remote surgeries with the power of 5G internet. With high-speed internet and augmented reality programs, a surgeon can perform precise surgical procedures without being in the room. This goes for all kinds of different medical procedures.
VR is pushing humanity into the digital realm. You can make art, attend concerts and shows, and even buy property in the realm of VR. VR makes life feel like a video game, and that's what it's mostly used for. It is a part of technology still in its beginning stages, but there are many ways that technology will push VR forward. Soon, we will be able to live in the virtual world.
Mixed reality goes even further than AR. Mixed reality allows you to imagine how the tangible world can change. It enables you to envision a world that doesn't exist yet. It takes the reality of the physical world and puts it into a space where you can augment it. Whether you are excited by the advancements in technology or not, extended reality will come to change society in several ways.
There is no stopping the coming changes of society. Whether you are afraid of the difference that technology will make to civilization or you're welcoming it, there is one that is for sure. You can't stop the progress. You can't impede tech advancements. However, it is important to watch these developments carefully. It's vital to do all that we can to make the future bright. It will surely be interesting.
Ryan Beitler is a writer and journalist who covers technology.
