What are the five of the biggest new technologies set to transform this decade?
Guest post by Debbie Fletcher
We’re at the dawn of a brand new decade. A new era brings with it the opportunity to assess the technologies that are set to transform the way we live and work. As we enter into the 2020s, many of the innovations that once felt impossible are now coming to life. A large portion of these advancements are also borne of the urgent need to transform the environmental landscape and start to reverse the effects of climate change.
Here we’ve pulled together five of the biggest new technologies set to transform this decade.
#1 | A vehicle revolution
Both electric cars and driverless vehicles are on the brink of transformation. The rise of electric vehicles is absolutely underway, with the Government announcing the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is set to be banned by 2040. The infrastructure to support electric vehicles on our roads is being invested in – especially in big cities such as London, with the capital boasting almost 4,000 charging points.
When it comes to driverless cars, a recent report has highlighted the exciting developments in this industry. The Government has announced that it’s on course to have fully self-driving vehicles on the UK’s roads by 2021 – great news for both the economy, environment and safety. In fact, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders estimates that 47,000 serious collisions can be prevented, along with 3,900 road deaths by 2030 through the proliferation of driverless cars.
#2 | Lab-grown meat alternatives
As with electric vehicle developments, the research into lab-grown meat alternatives is being pushed even further due to the increased focus on emissions and climate change. Producing beef and also animal feed both have a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions, adding to the urgency with which researchers have been looking into meat and fish alternatives. This is set to make huge waves and shift the food industry more than anything previously seen. Expect meat consumption to drop dramatically as a result.
#3 | 5G networks
We’ve spoken of the introduction of driverless cars, but this will only be possible with the advancement of the technological infrastructure needed to cater for this, including 5G networks. 5G won’t only give us fast internet speeds, or be the key for the self-driving car revolution, but it will also enable the advancement of a number of other technologies. It will enhance the experience of virtual reality, increase drone capabilities and could also enable remote/robotic surgery.
#4 | 3D printing
Forbes believes that the technology behind 3D printing is growing quickly, and it’s an industry that should be watched closely for the 2020s. Not only is the printing process set to speed up, but there are also advances in software set to increase the effectiveness of the digital process and increase the number of materials that can be used.
#5 | Advanced plastic recycling
Plastic pollution was the main environmental concern coming out of 2019, causing advanced plastic recycling to rocket to the top of the agenda. China is the country leading the way with advanced plastic recycling and banned all plastic waste imports for recycling. The country has also announced a plan to drastically reduce single-use plastics. Technologies such as pyrolysis and chemical recycling are increasingly being used across the world to cut plastic waste.
These five technologies are set to flourish this decade and transform many traditional processes and evolve them into a new era. During the 2020s we’re set to see changes in things we eat and recycle through to how we travel.
