Real Life Sci-Fi - The World of Futuristic Technology
As a logistics and solution provider, at SCL we’re keeping our finger on the pulse of changing technological trends in the industry sectors that we serve, seeing how and where we can consistently provide our customers with the products they need to to get the job done. As technology changes and new innovations become the norm, tried and true practices we’ve all depended on for decades may one day be rendered obsolete. When that day comes, we’ll be here, continuing our commitment to deliver what the market demands. Â
Case in Point - Cell Phones
Technology and market demands can change quickly. Remember the first mobile phone on the market way back in 1983 - the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x? Cumbersome and prohibitively expensive, the cell phone didn’t become available as a mainstream technological resource until the mid to late 90’s with Nokia’s line of products, and at that time cell phones had just two purposes - making and receiving calls. But then came the touch screen in the early 2000’s, and the camera phone and then music capabilities, but it wasn’t until Apple debuted the 1st iPhone in 2007 that an operating system was included, connecting us to the web and a myriad of apps. In an  iMore.com article written by Rene Ritchie, “The original iPhone ended up selling over 6 million units in its first year on four carriers in four countries. Now it sells hundreds of millions a year on almost every carrier in almost every country.” Ten years after the introduction of the iphone, mobile technology has eclipsed our wildest imaginings and according to Zachary Davies Boren's 2014 article in the Independent, “For the first time ever there are more gadgets in the world than there are people. The number of active mobile devices and human beings crossed over somewhere around the 7.19 billion mark."
What is Futuristic Technology and What are "Futuristics"
Futuristic is defined as “Technology, a concept, etc, advanced so far beyond that which is current as to appear to be from the future.” Wikipedia states that “Future studies, or futurology, is the science, art and practice of postulating possible futures,” and as a logistics and solutions provider, we are here to deliver the products necessary for a constantly evolving market that takes a long-ball view of the role of futuristic technology.
Futuristic Technology Trends Currently Changing our World
3-D Printing – Otherwise known as additive manufacturing, 3-D printing allows for the production of three-dimensional products made from a wide array of materials, all originating from a digital file. Through what is known as an “additive process,” 3-D printing creates objects by adding or depositing successive layers of materials such as plastic, nylon, resin, metals or ceramic. 3-D printers have been used to create some astonishing things, including prosthetic limbs, pre-fabricated homes, bicycles and the medical field is currently experimenting with “bioprinters” that would have the capability to fabricate liver tissue.
Holograms – You most likely remember Princess Leia’s holographic message to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, and since then, holograms have become big business, estimated to grow to $5.5 billion by 2020. Holograms are three-dimensional images formed by the interference of light beams being projected and diffracted from a light source or laser, and the rapidly growing futuristic industry now contributes to military mapping, counterfeit prevention in the minting of money, the creation of credit cards, identification cards, CAT scans and large-scale projections within the entertainment industry.
Robotics – It seems as though today there is a robot for nearly every imaginable application and the booming field of robotics touches nearly every facet of modern life. Whether they’re being used for invasive surgical procedures, precision military operations, space and deep sea exploration or cleaning up the Fukishima nuclear power plant in Tokyo, Japan, robots are in many ways outpacing and outsmarting their human counterparts.
Drones – Otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones are aircraft that fly without the aid of an onboard pilot and are instead operated by a ground-based controller. Originally created for military missions deemed “too dull, dirty or dangerous” for human beings, drones have expanded beyond their original military applications to become a growing consumer product as well as factoring heavily in commercial and scientific industries. They are now used widely within the entertainment industry, aerial photography, for surveillance of dangerous areas, and there may come a time when drones will even be used for delivering parcels and mail.
Nanotechnology – Nanotechnology touches nearly every industry segment, from construction to space exploration and simple, everyday commodities like stain resistant carpet. It is the manipulation of matter and functional systems at the atomic, molecular and supramolecular level, and it’s changing everything. In theory, nanotechnology is designing systems and components from the bottom up, using atomic and subatomic components. Now being developed for cancer screening, nano-absorption possibilities for the removal of toxins in water, microparticulate enhanced sunscreen and thousands of other applications, nanotechnology is a highly practical, futuristic wonder.
Human Enhancement – Associated with the concept of human engineering, human enhancement is the introduction of technology to create workarounds and solutions to enhance physical and/or mental limitations in regards to the human body. Such enhancement creates bionic humans, utilizing technological innovations to expand an individual’s capabilities and physical features. Such modern enhancements include retinal implants that give people super vision and gene therapies such as the development of EPO – a naturally occurring compound that stimulates bone marrow to generate more red blood cells and the performance enhancing drug that cost Lance Armstrong his 7 Tour de France titles.
Contact an SCL Consultant Today
In a wide range of industrial sectors, SCL is committed to being the number one logistics and solutions provider for the products that protect and optimize the machines that keep our country moving. We pride ourselves on remaining at the forefront of industry trends and technological innovations, and as the market continues to evolve toward futuristic technology, we are committed to providing extensive product and industry knowledge and total performance satisfaction for our customers. For information on how we can assist your organization in choosing optimal products at a competitive price, contact an SCL consultant today.