The Future Draws Near

Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Sudden shifts in technology and needs result in rapid advancements for the world as we know it. Plato wrote in the 5th century, “Our need will be the real creator.” Today, we phrase his words as necessity is the mother of invention. What are the needs of today? We certainly know that workforce availability is plaguing our businesses. Massive cyberattacks and hacked systems make news, seemingly every day, while many more go unspoken of or unnoticed. Human error accounts for more than half of those data security breaches. Healthcare is truly in the infancy of what is possible. Does a person need to be in a room to feel their presence? These struggles and the technologies that can influence them are no longer simply a concept. Real world solutions are on the cusp of taking us to a galaxy far, far away, light years ahead of what we may have even thought possible. Where do we even begin? Let’s start with boots on the ground. Robotics have been in the workplace for many years as a result of systems, dependent on workers, needing to achieve the next level of efficiency. As recent global disruptions have changed the face of commerce and dedication of employees, we will see robotics enter the workforce at a faster pace. A rise of robotics from customer support, sales, manufacturing, retail, and distribution will change the face of nearly every aspect of life. The pharmaceutical industry is looking to robots to ensure that scrutinous calculations and regulations are met exactly in a timely manner. Distributors are looking to automate their delivery processes to get products to consumers quickly. Manufacturers

A drone applies nutrients to fields of young tree sapplings. Drones have vastly improved industries and military capabilities in a very short amount of time.

Robotics in the workplace may happen quicker than most may think. Highly specialized machines can improve safety, security, and build other nanomachines at microscopic levels.

Will you ever see a powder-based fireworks show again? Sonic booms echoing through the night as sparks shower the skies above us may start to carry the same nostalgic effect that an ice cream truck song stirs as it whispers in the wind, guiding our senses as we try to discover where the music is coming from. Drones, full of sensors and automation, will take to the skies to provide artistic moments for budding couples or young families. Cities throughout the United States have switched over to automated animations of patriotism for safety or environmental caution. Unmanned aircraft elevate society to new heights. Sure, there is the obvious meaning of new heights. Drones have revolutionized real estate. Auto manufacturers are taking notice of the principles that will revolutionize transportation, making the 164,000 miles of national highways and thousands of miles of secondary roads obsolete. How many homes could fill those spaces? How many trees could be planted? Will these aircraft vehicles even need to transport us if virtual reality or internet spaces can transcend the furthest of distances instantly?

What are the possibilities of virtual reality for students or businesses? With remote work gaining popularity, you could easily imagine that entire classrooms or an office staff learning and working in a virtual space. That space could change according user or team needs. Students could construct new architecture and test the engineering against the harshest of conditions in a controlled environment. Visual learners can convert methods that cause struggles to safe learning zones that impact the student deeper. Virtual reality can do amazing things for people with disabilities. There is therapy and training available for physical limitations that can easily convince the mind that much more is possible than the body may have thought. They may not be able to walk but they can fly virtually. Imagine how that must feel. Envision the inspiration that could come from a user reaching new limits. Interviews can be practiced to expand job markets for someone with cognitive disabilities.

How will we see virtual reality transcend business? We are already seeing this with platforms like Zoom or Teams. Users are changing backdrops to feel comfortable in

the space and that tells you a lot of information right away. Where does this person feel best? Are they flocked with palm trees and sand or do powerful mountains rise from their shoulders that keep disappearing when they move around? The next logical step would create virtual workspaces. It would be much easier to do your work if you felt that you could dig your toes in the sand. Creativity would gain a whole new construct. Just imagining a desk floating on a lake, a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the trees around your “office”. Fish swim with brilliant colors as you search for serenity within your work. I can feel my body reacting to that moment just thinking of what an office could look like a year from now. Perhaps tomorrow, I will work from some tropical island paradise. Virtual reality will open the door to a whole new way of living, thinking, and working.

With technology having the ability to completely change perception, how do we know where we are and when we are there? Wearables ground our current life on many levels. Their ability to collect data will make our lives faster and enhance healthcare. We may even see many of them become implants. Could you combine the tiny camera of a cell phone to restore vision when integrated with cochlear implant technology? Implantable cell phones are expected to hit the commercial market within just a few years. There is a slippery slope with what this technology can do. The sale of data for advertising or other non-descript uses has many people concerned about privacy, and for good reason. Technology companies are quick to point out potential security risks with the Internet of Things (IoT), again for very good reason. The privacy of data is going to see booming industry around it as we get more connected. Please, check out the technology businesses that are in our Chamber membership to see how they can help you stay secure amidst a world of change.

As we think of the changes that healthcare can see through the use of wearable, three-dimensional printing has to come up in the conversation. Broken bone, scan it and print it. Skin graft, here is a perfectly crafted piece

of artificial skin that does not borrow from other areas of the body. New materials, many to imitate organic surfaces, will be born out of the capabilities of what we can do. Lives will be saved and transplants will be able to create matches instead of waiting and hoping.

Quite possibly, the most intriguing areas of technology is Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning. We are already living in a world of machine learning, but the levels that it can reach is where the intrigue comes in. Could artificial intelligence evolve beyond our control? Yes, absolutely! Can AI improve your business? Yes, again. You will see artificial intelligence creep in to your board room as the demand for accuracy and efficiency rises. Artificial intelligence may actually be a perfect business model as machines do not engage in emotions that allow human employees to make mistakes or lower productivity. Machines are strictly in place to meet goals. This will also provide new levels of security and encryption for your systems. Much like cypher codes that date back centuries, machine learning secures data through evolving encryption. Threat detection and mitigation steps can happen faster than the blink of an eye.

We have been forging ahead for centuries. Some of our