By Wicher Visser (ERNI Switzerland)
Recent advances in technology have brought us a world filled with smart cars, energy-efficient grids, connected machines, and remote healthcare solutions. These advancements are driving the fourth industrial revolution, encompassing breakthroughs in hardware, energy, user interfaces, AI and cybersecurity.
Faster and more efficient hardware
We are on the brink of a technological revolution, seeing amazing breakthroughs in chip printing, 3D printing and artificial intelligence. These advancements have led to devices with enhanced battery life, faster processing speeds, larger storage capacities and better connectivity. This era opens up endless possibilities, allowing us to achieve incredible feats with a simple Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
However, as device capabilities increase, there is a challenge in balancing this with energy efficiency. Exploring innovative technologies for energy harvesting and management is essential for sustainability and improved device efficiency. This proactive approach not only addresses current challenges but also sets the stage for a future where technology aligns with our environmental goals. Off-the-shelf IoT solutions cloud computing platforms and engineering tools are becoming mature enough to be easily integrated with smart devices. Edge computing distributes workloads across remote data centres and local nodes, reducing latency and data transfer costs while complying with data regulations.
Numerous solutions are available on the market to support IoT use cases, catering to both large and small devices. Use and reuse allows economies of scale, which is a significant motivator for manufacturers to add smart devices to their product portfolios.
Increasing possibilities for user interaction
As user experience (UX) advances, we are moving beyond standard monitors and haptic feedback. Immersive reality technologies enable users to experience the world differently through mixed or augmented reality. Complex solutions like embedded Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) offer new opportunities in disease treatment and human enhancement. Using this technology, smart devices can collect brain signals to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s or introduce novel functionalities to the brain itself, like improving memory or integrating augmented reality into our eyes.
Opportunities and challenges with AI advancements
In today’s dynamic landscape, software and hardware solutions are accelerating practices in machine learning. Machine learning models automate tasks, enhance capabilities, and support decision making. New techniques enable edge devices to train themselves on newly gathered data continuously and efficiently. LLMs, such as GPT-4, have rapidly become accessible to users. Their usefulness and adoption will skyrocket with the expansion of domain-specific LLMs, for example for the medical domain.
However, with automation comes new challenges, such as distinguishing between human and artificial intelligence entities. Navigating this landscape requires both technological expertise and ethical considerations.
Digital trust and cybersecurity
As security and privacy concerns grow, robust safeguards are essential for devices operating beyond their owners’ control. Technology and cybersecurity intersect to ensure data and digital services are secure. Quantum computing offers exciting possibilities for cryptography, despite current limitations.
In conclusion, as we embrace these next-generation technologies, it is crucial to address challenges while harnessing their transformative potential for a more connected and sustainable future.