The New Techno-Fusion: The Merging Of Technologies Impacting Our Future
Source: COGNITIVE WORLD on FORBES
The process of systems integration (SI) functionally links together infrastructure, computing systems, and applications. SI can allow for economies of scale, streamlined manufacturing, and better efficiency and innovation through combined research and development.
New to the systems integration toolbox are the emergence of transformative technologies and, especially, the growing capability to integrate functions due to exponential advances in computing, data analytics, and material science. These new capabilities are already having a significant impact on creating our future destinies.
The systems integration process has served us well and will continue to do so. But it needs augmenting. We are on the cusp of scientific discovery that often combines the physical with the digital—the Techno-Fusion or merging of technologies. Like Techno-Fusion in music, Techno-Fusion in technologies is really a trend that experiments and transcends traditional ways of integration. Among many, there are five grouping areas that I consider good examples to highlight the changing paradigm. They are: Smart Cities and the Internet of Things (IoT); Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Quantum and Super Computing, and Robotics; Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality Technologies (VR); Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences Technologies; and Advanced Imaging Science.
Smart Cities and the Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart Cities are laboratories for applied innovation and are the future poster child for techno-fusion. The Smart City converged ecosystem integrates systems of transportation (including autonomous vehicles), energy, water resources, waste collections, smart-building technologies, and security technologies and services. This infrastructure combines the physical and digital, hardware and software that enables situational awareness, and integrated operational actions to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from crime, terrorism, and natural disasters. It also signifies the betterment of public services, conduct of commerce, and meeting the expanding logistical health, financial, transportation, communication requirements, and sustainability for those who choose to live in an urban setting. Frost & Sullivan estimates the combined global market potential of these Smart City segments to be $1.5 trillion ($20 billion on sensors alone by 2050, according to Navigant Technology.)
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the general idea of things that are readable, recognizable, locatable, addressable, and/or controllable via the Internet. This incorporates physical objects communicating with each other including machine to machine, and machine to people. According to Gartner there will be nearly 26 billion networked devices on the Internet of Things by 2020.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Quantum and Super Computing, and Robotics
The era of hybrid technology integration is here. Industry is already developing technology to distribute artificial intelligence software to millions of graphics and computer processors around the world. AI, machine learning, and natural language processing done through advanced computing can be used to solve a variety of challenges. AI can analyze, interpret, diagnose, and solve problems from vast amounts of unstructured data — without being specifically programmed. Robotics is also becoming more ingrained in the deployment of AI. Smart robotics and eventually intelligent cyborg/robo-humans will have major implications for governing, commerce, sustainability, health, and even how we fight wars in the future.
The Google DeepMind mission statement states that they are on a scientific mission to push the boundaries of AI, developing programs that can learn to solve any complex problem without needing to be taught how. The neural interaction of AI and ML with quantum computing and super-computing power will enable unprecedented data-mining, catalyze innovation, and provide perhaps the largest technological leap in human history.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality Technologies (VR)
The Techno-Fusion of the physical and virtual world has arrived. We can intertwine the physical and digital world by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, and sometimes even smell. Google Glass and Oculus Rift are already good examples of these emerging technologies that have applications in a variety of fields including architecture, entertainment, and health. We can experience AR and VR ourselves by visiting Disney World or Universal Studios where sense, sound, and vision provide surreal entertainment and create new realities.
Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences Technologies
Perhaps the most profound area of Techno-Fusion will be in the areas of health, medicine, and life sciences. Recently, a research team from Columbia University tested the convergence of neural networks. They combined brain implants, artificial intelligence, and a speech synthesizer to translate brain activity into recognizable robotic words. The implications of this neuromorphic technology are mind-boggling, including allowing paralyzed people the ability to communicate and the potential to read human thoughts via cognitive imaging.
Healthcare will be impacted in many other ways, including the implantation and linkage between human and devices such as bionic eyes, kidneys, hearts, and even exoskeletons. Advanced pliable materials such as plastics, ceramics, metals, and graphene are leading to breakthroughs in prosthetics for medicine and wearable sensors. Wearables will provide for real-time biomarker tracking and monitoring. Life expectancy will be extended as human cells will interface with nanotech repair of physical trauma and for fighting diseases. There are futurists who think that eventually all of our biological functions will be replaced by bionic machines.
Advanced Imaging Science
Advanced imaging science, combined with skilled engineering, has led to incredible optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities in document scanners and in cameras. New algorithms interact with a library of form recognition protocols to form the integration of contextual logic databases for automated validation. Molecular scanners that will really transform optical recognition are now in the research and development stages.
This Techno-Fusion convergence of physical and digital technologies and applications crosses many verticals and permeates almost every aspect of our lives. In addition to the aforementioned topics, this includes agriculture, construction, education, manufacturing, commerce, and security. What is clear is that we are now entering a new era of techno-fusion-emerging connected technologies that blend engineering, algorithms, the physical and culture that are stepping stones to a new renaissance.
We will always have our challenges no matter how promising technological solutions. What is evident is that science and technology will pave our futures and how we steer it and orchestrate all the inter-connections will in itself be transforming.
Chuck Brooks is a globally recognized thought leader and evangelist for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies. He is also Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University’s Applied Intelligence Program and graduate Cybersecurity Programs where he teaches courses on risk management, homeland security, emerging tech, and cybersecurity. LinkedIn named Chuck as one of “The Top 5 Tech People to Follow on LinkedIn” out of their 550 million members.
Chuck was named by Thompson Reuters as a “Top 50 Global Influencer in Risk, Compliance,” and by IFSEC as the “#2 Global Cybersecurity Influencer” in 2018. In both 2017 and 2016, he was named “Cybersecurity Marketer of the Year by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. He is also a Cybersecurity Expert for “The Network” at the Washington Post, Visiting Editor at Homeland Security Today, and a Contributor to FORBES.
Chuck is on the MIT Technology Review Advisory Global Panel, a member of The AFCEA Cybersecurity Committee, and as member of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Working Group. Chuck was also appointed as a Technology Partner Advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He’s served as the Chairman of CompTIA’s New and Emerging Technology Committee, and as the lead Judge for the 2014,15,16, and 17 Government Security News Homeland Security News Awards evaluating top security technologies. In government, Chuck has received two senior Presidential appointments. Under President George W. Bush Chuck was appointed to The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the first Legislative Director of The Science & Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. He also was appointed as Special Assistant to the Director of Voice of America under President Reagan. He served as a top Advisor to the late Senator Arlen Specter on Capitol Hill covering security and technology issues on Capitol Hill.
In media, Chuck is the featured Homeland Security contributor for Federal Times, featured cybersecurity contributor for High Performance Counsel on cybersecurity, and an advisor and contributor to Cognitive World, a leading publication on artificial intelligence. He has also appeared in Forbes and Huffington Post and has published more than 150 articles and blogs on cybersecurity, homeland security and technology issues. He has 45,000 followers on LinkedIn and runs a dozen LI groups, including the two largest in homeland security. In academia, Chuck is Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University teaching a course in homeland security risk management.