Technology is the fastest-developing sector in the world, with developments appearing all the time and much more frequently than ever before in human history. Keeping up with all of them can be quite challenging, especially if you’re not connected to technology on a daily basis as a result of your job, and there are also some who find it exhausting to keep up with all the latest trends. However, knowing what the trends are and what role they’re supposed to fulfill in society is crucial for your well-being, especially given the fact that technology is set to change the ways in which people work as well. Some jobs will most likely become obsolete over the next decade, and others will take their place as automation continues to develop and requires different proficiencies from its workers.

From the rise of artificial intelligence to the blockchain that supports the trading of BTC futures but could also be used to power supply chains and make business procedures more transparent, there genuinely seems to be no limit to the tech developments that can be expected to change the world over the next few decades.

Low-Code and No-Code

AI is currently believed to be one of the major disruptors in the industry, but hyper-focusing on it often means that other areas are ignored. The shift toward low-code and even no-code platforms is one of these trends. The former refers to an environment used to create application software via a graphical user interface as opposed to writing code. In some cases, though, a certain level of coding is not only possible but required. Low-coded systems can produce applications that are entirely operational. Their development is typically a high abstraction level and can decrease the amount of time needed, meaning that business applications can be delivered at a faster rate.

No-code platforms are created through graphic user interfaces and configuration instead of computer programming, with the purpose being the same as in the case of the low-code systems: to expedite the development of applications. However, as the name suggests, no-code doesn’t involve ant kind of code writing, something that is typically achieved by offering pre-built templates that deal with app building.

Energy grids

The effects of global warming and climate change are becoming easier for everyone to see every year, as extreme weather events such as drought and wildfires wreak havoc on many regions from all across the world, leading to biodiversity loss and increasing food vulnerability among millions of people. One of the effects of global warming that isn’t sufficiently discussed is the role it plays in power outages. According to Climate Central, approximately 80% of the outages reported in the United States between 200 and 2023 were due to weather.

Extreme heat was responsible for 3% of the weather-related blackouts since heat waves mean that there’s increased demand for cooling, which overloads the systems. The danger is that people can be exposed to dangerous temperatures as a result, which can lead to or exacerbate potentially life-threatening health conditions. One of the ways in which humanity plans to prepare for this extreme weather in the future is via the implementation of self-healing energy grids.

Using software, the productivity and efficiency of the system is improved. The grids would become able to detect the issues on their own, reroute electricity, and manage outages in as little as a few milliseconds. This doesn’t only improve reliability but can also help with some of the effects of climate change as well.

Living manufacturing systems

The concept of living manufacturing refers to a field of expertise that mixes standard manufacturing procedures with living organisms in order to create materials, products, and even larger systems. The inherent abilities of living beings, like growth, are integrated in this manner, with the aim being to come up with new functionality for the products. Bio-inspired manufacturing looks at biological systems such as bones in order to come up with materials that are both sturdy and lightweight. ELMs, or engineered living materials, incorporate bacteria or fungi into their fundamental structure so that they are able to adapt to their environment.

There’s also the living composites, materials where the biological components are mingled with standard ones, a process that can improve the mechanical properties of the items. Additive manufacturing involves the use of 3D printing techniques and the use of biomimicry (the emulation of nature-based models and elements) is becoming increasingly commonplace in architecture. On top of being revolutionary from a technological and biological standpoint, this technology can also lead to the creation of more sustainable material options, something that benefits business owners and customers alike.

Circular economy

Another trend driven by the increasing need for sustainability is that of the circular economy, a system that would fundamentally change the ways in which resources are obtained, made into products, and transformed into waste, often before the end of their actual lifespan. A large number of goods get thrown away every day, and the impact on the environment is undeniable. Implementing a circular economy means that resources wouldn’t be depleted at the same rate, and waste would cease to be the massive issue that it is today.

Sharing, repairing, refurbishing, recycling, and leasing would become more common than buying and throwing away things, tackling climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss all at once. The idea of buying less is one of the main pillars of sustainability that is unfortunately not adopted widely enough to make a difference at the moment. The circular economy would allow natural systems to regenerate, but what about businesses? The emerging trend in this area refers to corporate tech based on the circular economy.

Businesses will provide their employees with the technology they need by supporting refurbished solutions that are of the same quality but lower in cost.

Technology continues to evolve, and it is essential to keep up with the changes. While many are concerned about the disruptive effects of these developments, it is essential to remember that they’re not going anywhere and that it is much more realistic to learn about them instead of pretending that they’ll have no impact on you.