Week 1 Post - Hailey Ihlow - Group D

Topics: Sensors, AI, Future

Self-powered sensors – self-powered living – Sensors for wearable technology and sensors for data analysis; those are some key topics I am pulling from the tag. There is a need for energy generation that does not rely on fossil fuel, but there are other benefits to this as well. The sensors are used for energy usage and generation depending on the use. For example, there is a watch that runs on the heat of the user; this takes away the need for charging every few days. While the charge is not a lot for a high-powered smartwatch, it does have potential as technology advances. The current tech is bulky but has gotten smaller as the technology advances. As sensors in this regard get better and smaller applications will expand to other daily used items such as headphones. I use my headphones about 70% of my day. With devices that are powered by the world around them, what will that mean when AI systems are installed and implemented into the same devices. [1]

Will, we let them “…control over our computers, toasters, cars.” A lot of companies are using cloud-like systems to save data, but those are not AI like for now. Before I delve further into the AI realm, a constant paranoia is that Siri or other phone applications are listening to our conversations. This “listening” is how companies such as Google and Amazon make their products edgier, by knowing the clients (us) as we use their products. With the system knowing what we search, ready, like, etc. the product can learn and use this for future use to potentially help the user. In another setting AI is a large part of the self-driving car. While there is still a lot to be designed with this technology the capabilities are at the fingertips of these large companies. I think this technology will be hard to implement since there are some sacrifices to be made with the self-driving car. Not only giving up the actual driving but the companies that run these will have control over everything around transportation. How long it takes to get there if you take the high way or local streets. Self-driving cars can be comparable to the phone listening to our conversations. The car will know where you usually go and need to go when taking away choices we have as of now. [2]

As tech advances so do we. Advancement while is usually a good thing it may have its problems. Considering “what tech will look like in 2039” article one of the first topics discussed is biology hacking. Biology hacking, while having amazing perks speaks to some cons as well. This article touches on the medical advancements and helpfulness that this technology can bring us. The article even mentions AI, and how that tech can help determine things within our codes to help our health. As with most tech and advancements setting principles and rules helps not only the tech but us from being vulnerable to our creation and other creations.  [3]

There is a lot in the future that is near and far regarding how technology will change and how it will change us. While technology is something humans rely on eventually the line of what is and is not technology may fade away.

References:

 [1] Stein, Scott. (2019, January,4). Here comes the thermoelectric future: We tried out the next generation of self-powered sensors. https://www.cnet.com/news/thermoelectric-future-we-tried-out-the-next-generation-of-self-powered-sensors/.

[2] Miller, Paul. (2018, May,7). What is edge computing? https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/5/7/17327584/edge-computing-cloud-google-microsoft-apple-amazon.

[3] Marvin, Rob. (2019, January,3). What tech will look lie in 2039? https://www.pcmag.com/news/365676/what-tech-will-look-like-in-2039

Responses:

1.       Tyler Madden, you have really good information in here from a perspective I have not read much on before. I think with knowledge being more and more accessible to the users this topic will be higher and higher on the list of issues discussed. As professor Mitchel said, we are living in a world that is changing very fast around us, and I think topics that you bring up in here are important to keep in mind as we move forward

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2.       Harvin Bhandal, I read some of the same articles you did. There was a lot of interesting information in there regarding the future of these devices. In regards to the workforces that won't get affected by AI. Is there a timeline on that because while yet, executives might be safer than nurses, but I think that there are applications for doctors and nurses within the AI field. From a human perspective “bedside table” might disappear but that is gone in some cases anyways overall good selection of thoughts.

3.       Blas Andres Rodriguez, you have made some points. The construction field is going to get affected by technology. I see that when I am at work and in classes as professors that still work in the field talk about the changes they see. I use Revit at work, and I collaborate with architects and clients about how fire protection networks will go through a building. While it's not a hard task to design the logistics of installation and correct space for the network is the issue. So BIM/Revit is helpful in the long run. In the past CAD was implemented, and there was a higher chance in crashes. Now being able to see the network go through the building the designers from both sides can adjust as needed.