A
number of technological innovations that we only saw in comics and
sci-fi novels have come to see reality in the past decade. But if you
wonder whether anything could be done to make the present more
futuristic, this collection is one that you will have to see to believe.
Here are some of the most futuristic products, according to Mashable, that are in development right now, and could be hitting markets as early as this year.
1. The Invisible Car:
Mercedes Benz designed a car that was “invisible” to the environment
(i.e. had zero emissions) and had an astoundingly low impact on the
environment. To promote the concept of its invisibility, the company
actually made the car invisible. Mercedes says the car is good enough to
see the production of its series, but it is expected to only be made
available to markets in 2014, according to Mashable’s report.
2. A Space Elevator:
Japan aims to build an elevator to space; one that will reach out to a
space station 22,000 miles above the earth by the year 2050. The space
elevator will contain living quarters and other tourist attractions on
board, and will travel from the ground spaceport to the space station at
125 kmph, according to the report. The elevator’s passenger car will be
capable of carrying 30 passengers who will reach the space station 8
days later.
3. Driverless Cars: Google received the patent for this technology
last year and is expected to use it in cars in the near future.
Currently, the technology is being tested at Nevada in the US. The car,
on a test, was claimed to be “like cruise control on steroids,” by Tom
Jacobs, chief public information officer at the Nevada Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV).
3. Driverless Cars: Google received the patent for this technology
last year and is expected to use it in cars in the near future.
Currently, the technology is being tested at Nevada in the US. The car,
on a test, was claimed to be “like cruise control on steroids,” by Tom
Jacobs, chief public information officer at the Nevada Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV).
4. Robotic Assistants: Robotic
assistants have helped improve lives, from helping paralyzed patients
walk, to picking up tools and assembling heavy machinery. Now although
the main paradigm behind robotic sciences is that knowledge of how to
program robots is limited to computer scientists and experts in robotic
sciences, but a study by the Georgia Institute of Technology in the
States predicts that every home will have a robotic assistant to help
with everyday tasks, especially since scientists are working on new
learning algorithms for machines that could be based on everyday language.
5. Flying Cars are here:
Flying cars used to be a part of spoofs in sci-fi movies, especially
because of the size of the notion, but Terrafugia, a company aimed at
providing innovative solutions to solve challenges facing personal
aviation. The car will be available at the 2012 New York auto show for
its pre-sale curtain-raiser.
6. Lab-grown meat: Dutch
scientists are looking into the possibility of generating lab-grown
meat that will be cultured from stem-cells of animal-muscle-tissue. They
say it will increase efficiency by 35 percent since the inch-long
strips of meat can mashed together to form a fillet, or a patty. PETA
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) hopes to generate the same
result with chicken by the end of June this year.
7. A Moon Base:
Space agencies are planning to build a permanent base with regard to
the moon by establishing a station on its surface, or launching a
station to orbit it. They hope to further explore life on the moon by
doing so.
8. Mind-reading technology: IBM’s last 5 in 5 prediction revealed the possibility of developing mind-reading technologies,
but the blue giant is working towards the development of a computer
that responds to signals from your brain. The person controlling the
device wears a headset that detects and transmits your thoughts and 7.
sends them to a computer which instructs the machine about what to do.
The computer will also be able to read patterns in your thoughts so the
machine can learn and adapt to your thoughts specifically.
9. Flying Drones:
US President Barack Obama is reported to have already signed
legislation that allows the Federal Aviation Administration to allow US
police agencies to use remotely controlled drones in a few months. The
drones could be especially helpful for surveillance, but drone makers
are also currently researching the use of nonlethal weapons such as tear
gas, and stun guns which could be fired from the aerial drones.
10. Wireless Electricity:
Companies are researching the possibilities to make wireless charging
of cellphones a thing of the present, with wireless electricity. Other
devices, according to Mashable are expected to follow the trend, so one
can expect wireless electricity like Tesla’s demonstration to shock
devices and people watching.
4. Robotic Assistants: Robotic
assistants have helped improve lives, from helping paralyzed patients
walk, to picking up tools and assembling heavy machinery. Now although
the main paradigm behind robotic sciences is that knowledge of how to
program robots is limited to computer scientists and experts in robotic
sciences, but a study by the Georgia Institute of Technology in the
States predicts that every home will have a robotic assistant to help
with everyday tasks, especially since scientists are working on new
learning algorithms for machines that could be based on everyday language.5. Flying Cars are here:
Flying cars used to be a part of spoofs in sci-fi movies, especially
because of the size of the notion, but Terrafugia, a company aimed at
providing innovative solutions to solve challenges facing personal
aviation. The car will be available at the 2012 New York auto show for
its pre-sale curtain-raiser.6. Lab-grown meat: Dutch
scientists are looking into the possibility of generating lab-grown
meat that will be cultured from stem-cells of animal-muscle-tissue. They
say it will increase efficiency by 35 percent since the inch-long
strips of meat can mashed together to form a fillet, or a patty. PETA
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) hopes to generate the same
result with chicken by the end of June this year.7. A Moon Base:
Space agencies are planning to build a permanent base with regard to
the moon by establishing a station on its surface, or launching a
station to orbit it. They hope to further explore life on the moon by
doing so.8. Mind-reading technology: IBM’s last 5 in 5 prediction revealed the possibility of developing mind-reading technologies,
but the blue giant is working towards the development of a computer
that responds to signals from your brain. The person controlling the
device wears a headset that detects and transmits your thoughts and 7.
sends them to a computer which instructs the machine about what to do.
The computer will also be able to read patterns in your thoughts so the
machine can learn and adapt to your thoughts specifically.9. Flying Drones:
US President Barack Obama is reported to have already signed
legislation that allows the Federal Aviation Administration to allow US
police agencies to use remotely controlled drones in a few months. The
drones could be especially helpful for surveillance, but drone makers
are also currently researching the use of nonlethal weapons such as tear
gas, and stun guns which could be fired from the aerial drones.10. Wireless Electricity:
Companies are researching the possibilities to make wireless charging
of cellphones a thing of the present, with wireless electricity. Other
devices, according to Mashable are expected to follow the trend, so one
can expect wireless electricity like Tesla’s demonstration to shock
devices and people watching.