Technological Innovations of 2017

February 1st, 2017

2016 brought us virtual assistants, ambient interfaces, blockchain, the introduction of self-driving cars, improvements in robotics and virtual reality, to name a few - all of which alter the way we live our day-to-day lives. Throughout 2017, a vast collection of technological innovations and advancements will also influence people’s lifestyles and wellbeing as well as society as a whole, and the economy. That being said, not all of today’s innovations in technology will break through to become the norm and not all of them reach all parts of the world. Today, we look at five different technological innovations that are set to hit some markets this year.

The Nintendo Switch has gamers excited about the new handheld console. Nintendo has designed a 6.2" portable tablet devices that comes equipped with two controllers called Joy Cons. These unique controllers can be inserted to the sides of the Nintendo Switch making handheld gameplay possible. A distinct feature of the Switch is the ability to play games on a TV using the Nintendo Switch Dock. The battery life is expected to be from 2-6 hours, while handheld. The console will be released March 3rd for $300.

Robotics company PowerVision has created an innovative waterproof product which those in the fishing industry have been waiting for. The PowerRay is a drone that conquers the water: it allows you to visualize the fishing experience with a 4K UHD video camera. The drone blends in by mimicking fishes underwater movements. The drone and camera are both controlled by a mobile app, which also collects additional information to help you find fish. It is equipped with tools to help locate fish, including a integrated fish lure light and bait drop. This revolutionary fishing experience announced pre-orders for the drone will be available February 27th.

Image Source: Norbert Aepli, Switzerland Creative Commons 3.0

The era of driverless cars is approaching faster than we think! This year, companies such as Tesla, Uber, and BMW will test their autonomous vehicles on the road. They say that driverless cars can reduce the amount of fatal accidents annually as well as reduce greenhouse emissions and ease congestions on city streets. All major automobile companies plan to develop their cars to be autonomous. This year's CES 2017 displayed a variety of designs and concepts of driverless vehicles. Nissan announced it is working with NASA to develop their Seamless Autonomous Mobility (SAM) technology to compete with affordable autonomous vehicles. Researchers at the IEEE report by the year 2040, 75% of vehicles will be autonomous.

The implications of 3D printing technology are endless. It has already changed the traditional methods of manufacturing products for a variety of industries including aerospace, medicine, merchandise, food, and automobile. 3-D Printing will change the way people design and produce products in the near future. This year, Polaroid announced their new 3D printer at the CES 2017. Their 3D printers are capable of producing small items, artwork, and jewellery. Today, doctors are using technologies such as bio-printing to recreate body parts for humans. What is unique about the process is that it prints tissues into cells. The material used for this process is called Bioink and it is made from biodegradable gel and human cells. This innovation in regenerative medicine may give patients greater satisfaction with the final outcome of many surgeries, in addition to speedier recoveries for those on transplant waiting lists, for example.

DEKA Arm System plans on revolutionizing the prosthetics industry with the introduction of the LUKE arm. It is the first prosthesis to simultaneously allow movements of the arm and wrist. After eight years of testing and developing, the FDA approved the arm in May of 2016. The product has tremendous functionality, capable of picking up small items such as grapes. The arm is also capable of manipulating larger objects, including a coffee mug and household tools. The Luke arm is designed to have a similar size and weight of a human arm. This significantly advanced technology can impact many amputees by providing them technology with functionality that makes everyday tasks that much easier.

It is then evident that 2017 will bring forth many much-anticipated products, all of which are expected to both set trends and change lives. Which launch are you looking forward to most?