Technology has changed everything – from the way we communicate to how we entertain ourselves and what we do with our money. Join us in this blog post as we look back over three ways technology has changed, well, everything.
Last week’s Facebook outage drew attention to just how much billions of people rely on the service to stay in touch. Meanwhile, owners of electric cars were likely blissfully unaffected by the recent fuel shortages in the UK. And for the last 18 months, businesses have been able to pivot quickly to adapt to a new way of working.
There seems to be no end to the ways technology is changing our lives. Pretty much all of us have likely experienced huge improvements in our day-to-day grind with the aid of smartphones and mobile applications. It has paved the way for devices like the smartwatch and tablet, with computers becoming faster, sleeker and smaller than ever before. With all these vast improvements, technology has made completing tasks much quicker, easier and more enjoyable.
Last year’s challenges lead to this year’s solutions. Many There are people who have, are currently and will very soon change the way we look at the world with their technology. Looking back, Steve Jobs revolutionized the world with cutting- edge technology like the PC, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Now, as we travel at lightspeed into the future, Elon Musk and Neuralink set out to develop an implantable brain-machine that literally connects our brain to the internet.
There’s no guessing what the next big change will be. But we can wonder if it’s time to fully embrace modern technology over traditional methods. Let’s take a look at where we are now and how we got here – to learn where we may see the next technology game-changer.
Communication
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Skype… There was a time when the only place to go was MSN Instant Messenger. Yet social media has become a huge part of our everyday lives – growing every day and likely not going anywhere anytime soon. And no wonder. These tools let you communicate with family wherever you or they are, catch up with old school friends or start a club or movement.
And it’s all in your hand. The way we use mobile phones has changed hugely, too – with messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal enabling you to text friends and family wherever you are (and usually for less than it would cost to do it through your service provider). iMessage changed the game by allowing free SMS messaging over both cellular and Wi-Fi networks to other iPhone users. And, with smart watches, we have grown beyond typical mobile devices and PCs. With voice assistants that can perform the same tasks you’d do on your smartphone, these touch-screen watches allow you to receive notifications, make calls, track activity levels and set alarms. Medical organisations have also partnered with smartwatch developers to contact emergency services in situations where, for example, an elderly patient has fallen while unattended.
With the level to which technology has taken communication, it’s interesting to think… What’s next?
Money
With banks usually only open at the same time you’re in the office, managing your money was always an inconvenience. But now, banks provide their own apps to allow you to transfer money online – wherever you are.
The technology has also meant new banks can open without the overhead of a physical space. These banks are often built around community – enabling you to manage your finances with your friends and family in a social and effortless way. Next time you’re struggling to split the bill when you’re out at dinner, you’ll may well turn to one of these apps.
With payment services like PayPal and Venmo you can send and receive money from any location using the internet. The likes of Apple Pay, Mastercard’s Masterpass and Google Wallet are similar digital wallets and mobile payment solutions that enable you to pair a credit or debit card to make payments with your mobile phone.
Whether you’re a professional without the time to get to a branch or an OAP who just wants transparency of their money, these innovations have made our lives hassle-free by simplifying our daily tasks and empowering us to focus on bigger things.
Entertainment
Everyone knows the infamous case of Blockbuster turning down an opportunity to buy Netflix. But just look at how things have changed. VHS tapes are now a relic and Blockbuster is pretty much a distant memory. Now, streaming rules the entertainment industry. With services like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Hulu, we can get our favourite movies and shows directly to our TV or mobile device for a monthly price.
Unlike traditional cable TV, streaming services have become a more cost-effective way to watch TV and movies. On top of that, these services also use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms to learn more about our interests and make recommendations based on what we view.
A similar algorithm and business model has been developed in music streaming services like Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music. Learning from our playlists, favourites and who we follow, these apps can create a selection of music for us to try – and even notify us when our favourite artists have released something new. These apps can also be paired with smart home hubs like Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Home Hub – for many people, radios are long gone, too.
The ground-breaking world of streaming has also reached video games, with Xbox offering up a cloud gaming service which allows users to log into their game collection from anywhere in the world.
Finally, books have seen a huge change in recent years with e-reader devices like the Amazon Kindle, Kobo Clara or Barnes and Noble Nook changing the way we read. You can also fill up these devices with audio books which can be great for long drives or train journeys.
What would you change?
Of course, technology plays a role in every sector. Here at Industrious Code, we’re using it to help candidates connect with the companies that get them excited. Want to see how we do it? Get in touch.
