“Machines Take Over the World” is a popular topic in the world of science fiction. In reality, however, tech is as effective as the people who design it, control it, and then use it. In everything from Big Data to AI and digital platforms, technology is being utilized by humans, by humans, in amazing ways across all industries and sectors.
Take a look at how the medical profession uses large data as well as artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the way we treat patients. Through the mining of huge amounts of health data and using AI to analyze the results, doctors can determine the most effective treatment options that their patients require. Nearly every major tech firm, such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and many more, is currently working with large health systems to combine the data, analyze it, and share it in the hopes of offering better solutions at less cost to a larger number of patients.
In addition, doctors can monitor patients remotely via IoMT, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). An internet-connected network of medical gadgets, IoMT, creates efficiencies for healthcare professionals and provides more coverage, resulting in less risk for patients. The demand for IoMT devices is growing so quickly that Deloitte recently predicted that the marketplace for IoMT devices to reach $158 billion within the coming two years. Technology is most effective when it is used in a way to bring people together, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
Connectivity is a crucial aspect of educational technological advancement (edtech). Academia has played the dual roles of developer in the early adoption of a variety of technologies, including virtual reality and distance learning. Today, the digitalization of classrooms has resulted in an abundance of data educators can use to design programs and customize learning plans.
With technology, teachers can decide on the most efficient methods to engage their students. This is why, according to the tech company Promethean’s 2018/19 State of Technology in Education Report (via Education Technology), 94% of teachers believe that technology increases the engagement of students, and 60percent of school administrators consider technology to be a key aspect of their plans.
In the retail sector, the use of robotics and automated systems is helping to speed up production, distribution, and fulfillment. However, news of these advances often triggers fear of losing jobs. However, even though certain tasks are now automated, the majority of jobs are far from vanishing in the event that they occur. McKinsey recently stated that “only about 5% of all [retail industry] jobs can be fully automated with current technology.” Instead, the move to automation has given workers new and more efficient jobs, including studying the supply chain and directing inventory. It is likely that roles will change, but the number of jobs is likely to rise when new technologies become available.
For the sector of public administration, smart cities are implementing innovative solutions, typically through public-private partnerships, to build better environments to be a part of, whether it’s to work, live, or play. All over the world, municipal officials utilize technology to enhance everyday life, such as managing traffic and managing utilities for public use, to make governments more efficient.
Planners for cities, in turn, utilize data collection and advanced analytics to plan for the future. With the right management and resources, the benefits of smart city development are getting more apparent, with some forecasting the market for smart cities in the world to surpass $2.5 trillion in 2025.
The common theme that is evident in each of these stories is that, across all sectors and industries, the digital revolution currently taking place includes both technology and human capabilities. While it is not replacing human beings and is still a long way off from gaining control, technology is rapidly becoming a ubiquitous human companion, which is allowing us to design an era of unprecedented possibilities.
In the coming posts, I’ll explore a closer analysis of the technology humans are using to change every industry (healthcare, finance, retail, education, manufacturing, cities, along transportation).
