10 Inventions That Will Change The World: The world we live in today would be completely different without the ability to innovate, and these top 10 inventions are just some of the groundbreaking devices that have shaped our culture, technology, and even the way we see the world around us.
From lighting to music to transportation, these are some of the biggest changes we’ve ever seen in history and they keep on coming! What will be next? We’ll just have to wait and see…
1) Self-driving cars
One of Google’s top engineers says that within five years, we’ll be cruising around in self-driving cars. Most agree that autonomous vehicles will save lives—many traffic accidents are caused by human error—and a car that can drive itself means you don’t have to worry about drunken driving. Self-driving cars could also allow older people to live independently for longer, and make it easier for disabled people to get around. This is an invention that could change our lives more than we realize.
A world with self-driving cars may seem like a scary thought, but Google is confident that they can be safe. Their cars have already driven more than 1.5 million miles without an accident and are designed to handle complex driving situations such as heavy traffic, high speeds and inclement weather. But there are still some issues to work out—Google’s cars can’t navigate on dirt roads or deal with severe weather conditions (such as heavy snow), and also still require someone at the wheel in case of an emergency or if a human is needed to take over controls for safety reasons. And then there’s the issue of government legislation—with so many car accidents caused by human error, will lawmakers allow these machines on our roads?
2) Smartphones
It’s no secret that smartphones have changed our lives. We can bank, shop, play games and even stay in touch with friends and family anywhere we are. They make life more convenient for everyone, but it might surprise you to learn just how far technology has come in just a few years. From medical applications to traffic alerts and beyond, tablets continue to push forward in an industry where innovation is king. With new devices being released almost daily, it may be difficult to predict which ones will end up making history as some of our greatest inventions of the 21st century—but there’s a chance that today’s smartphone could very well be tomorrow’s sci-fi thriller!
Tablets are quickly making their way into our daily lives as well. In fact, more than two-thirds of tablet owners use their devices for gaming, banking and social media activity. Some even go so far as to say that tablets have had a bigger impact on society than smartphones, which revolutionized our communication. And it’s likely that these devices will continue to improve with increased screen resolution and faster downloads. As users become increasingly comfortable with using tablets in their everyday life, we can expect to see even greater adoption rates in both business and personal settings—and there’s no telling what other technological innovations will follow!
3) Google Glasses
Google Glasses projects images and other digital data directly into your field of vision. It’s no glasses-free 3D, but it could be a close cousin. Developed by Google X (Google’s mad science department), they are an augmented reality headset that allows wearers to see information through a transparent lens while still being able to engage with their actual surroundings. For example, you might use them to look up reviews on a restaurant right before walking in, or get directions while driving down a street, or even record what you’re seeing for sharing later. With their ability to stream information from apps on your phone and project videos and other media into your vision, they have unlimited potential for expanding how we interact with our world.
With their ability to stream information from apps on your phone and project videos and other media into your vision, they have unlimited potential for expanding how we interact with our world. Imagine streaming a video of a concert you’re at, so that you can share it with friends who weren’t able to come, or even just have a record of it yourself. Or checking if an outfit matches before leaving your house rather than waiting until you get there. These are just some of
4) Virtual Reality Devices
Virtual reality devices enable us to simulate experiences that would otherwise be impossible. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to visit faraway places or communicate with people from different cultures. These devices are revolutionary in their ability to provide experiences beyond our usual means of interaction and they have a lot of practical uses we haven’t even discovered yet. Imagine what will happen when these devices become available at our fingertips! We already have great examples like Google Glass and Oculus Rift on our smartphones and tablets, but there are plenty more waiting for us in product development labs around the world. Here are some notable contenders—and a few names you might not have heard of yet—that will change how we experience everyday life as much as television did in its early days!
One of those devices is Google Cardboard. Although it’s named after a type of box, it’s not actually made of cardboard. Instead, it consists of two lenses that you insert your smartphone into to use and an app that opens up a virtual reality device. Your phone works as both a display and processor for everything that you see through its lenses! This is an excellent example of how far technology has come in less than ten years and what we might expect from similar products in just another decade or so—so much so that Google has already received more than 1 million pre-orders for their new product! Even though there are great examples like Google Glass out there, don’t discount other technologies just yet.
5) E-books
Cheap, convenient, and easily downloadable—all desirable qualities for any self-published author. But e-books have a more significant impact than just making it easier to get your writing into readers’ hands. They’re giving indie authors more control over their careers and widening access to literature for all readers. Here are ten inventions that will change how we read books in the twenty-first century. [Insert pictures of e-readers like Kindle, Nook]
Reading e-books has also become more social. Amazon’s Kindle app, for example, allows users to borrow and lend e-books, so they can read together while discussing on a common forum. And unlike physical books that often need to be repurchased when a reader outgrows them or moves away from where they were purchased, digital content is easy to transport to another location at a moment’s notice—though it does still require an Internet connection! [Insert images of tablets] E-book apps also often provide suggestions based on what you already enjoy reading and additional content (in articles or videos) that appeals to your interests.
6) Drones
There’s no more waiting for your favourite tunes to download on a clunky old iPod or fighting with wires (not to mention cleaning them) when you want to listen to your music. Wireless speakers allow you to be untethered from your smartphone or laptop and move around freely while enjoying tunes. And they’re not just great for parties—these gadgets are great tools for entertaining in general, as people can bring their devices into different rooms without hassle. Wireless speakers are also super easy to use—just plug them in and start jamming out! No cords, no fuss! They’re convenient, affordable, and certainly a must-have if you love listening to music on the go.
Wireless speakers are a must-have for anyone who loves music and wants to take their favourite tunes with them no matter where they go. Whether you’re jamming out in your bedroom or hosting a party on your patio, wireless speakers can make listening to music much more convenient. And if you love listening to music while doing work or chores around your house, these gadgets are a lifesaver! They’re also great for using outdoors, since there are no wires connecting you to your smartphone or laptop.
7) Wireless speakers (e.g., Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth earbuds)
Why own an MP3 player when you can just play your music wirelessly from your mobile device? Most smartphones and tablets have built-in Bluetooth capabilities, which makes it easy to stream music from anywhere in or around your home. If you’re an audiophile, there are also plenty of great options for wireless speakers that produce excellent sound quality—even if they don’t necessarily include Bluetooth. These are particularly useful for getting a real surround sound experience. And if you want to go old school with your speaker setup, some companies make wireless adapters for hi-fi systems too.
One of our favorite types of wireless speakers is Bluetooth enabled speakers. Not only do they have a long range (up to 66 feet), but they’re also super easy to use—just pair your device with it and you’re ready to go. If you have multiple devices that you want to connect, no problem! Most Bluetooth speakers let you pair up to eight devices at once. Plus, if your device doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth capabilities, some companies even make adapters for wired devices as well as MP3 players and other music players.
8) Electronic Tickets/Ticketless Transportation
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) rely on computers and special equipment to transport people from one point to another. One of these systems, a type of transportation called e-ticketing, is already in place in most major cities throughout North America and Europe. Essentially, e-ticketing allows riders to travel between two points without having to present a physical ticket. Instead, riders use a mobile phone or another electronic device to scan their ticket at electronic kiosks before boarding public transit. This system helps eliminate delays and can even increase passenger safety because it eliminates human error—no more searching for lost tickets! It also allows for dynamic pricing so that tickets are cheaper when demand is low but more expensive when demand is high.
As electronic tickets become more and more common, there is hope that they will one day lead to ticketless transportation. Imagine not having to stand in line at a station or kiosk before boarding a train or bus. With intelligent transportation systems already in place, it’s entirely possible that your phone may be your ticket in decades to come. Intelligent transportation systems can even help make public transit safer.
9) Electric vehicles
Electric vehicles (EVs) or electric power-driven vehicles (EPPDVs) are a subset of electric vehicles that includes all road-going motorized vehicles whose prime mover is an electric motor, whether assisted by additional sources of power or not. However, local laws may include other low-emission mobile sources such as natural gas, hydrogen, propane and ethanol burning turbine engines as ‘electric’. Plug-in hybrids using multiple sources are also included under this definition. EVs have many different applications for powering mobility needs.
Electric vehicles have a long history dating back to early experiments in the mid-19th century. The first modern electric car was built by English inventor Thomas Parker in 1884 and reached a speed of 24.38 mph (39.76 km/h). In 1891, electricity-powered cars achieved an average speed of 20 miles per hour (32.19 km/h) at Ormond Beach, Florida and over 100 miles per charge at Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Large numbers of experimental cars were produced in Britain, France and the United States until widespread use of fossil fuels brought about fewer economic reasons for their development.
10) Internet of Things (IoT)
Much has been made of our interconnected and ‘smart’ future, but there’s a good chance we’ll already be living in it by 2017. According to Deloitte, half of all internet users will have purchased something using a connected device; that’s up from less than 5% today. By then, eMarketer estimates that more than 150 million people worldwide will be shopping online on their smartphones at least once per month (over 50 million already do). Forrester Research forecasts global IoT spending to grow from $900 billion in 2016 to $1.7 trillion by 2020—meaning it’ll account for over 20% of all commerce spending.
According to Gartner, there will be 6.4 billion connected things in use by 2017 (up 30% from 2016). IHS predicts IoT spending to increase from $655.8 billion in 2016 to $1.7 trillion by 2020, with about half of that going toward smart homes and consumer electronics; manufacturing and transportation; smart cities, utilities and buildings; healthcare; and advertising, media & entertainment.
Market researcher IDC predicts that by 2020, IoT will create 2.3 million jobs and add $606 billion to U.S. GDP. Cisco projects that in five years, there will be 50 billion connected devices (up from about 15 billion today). By then, they’ll account for $1 trillion of IT spending—about 25% of all IT infrastructure spending globally—according to Gartner.
