This week's seminar is on Emerging and Future technology- a very interesting topic indeed! I'm glad to present this week as I really (& honestly) enjoyed researching for my article for presentation. Through the process, I chanced upon many emerging technologies which we may experience in the future and I really look forward to them. Such inventions are truly an eye-opener and makes me anticipate the future.
During my presentation, I said that I chose to present on the future of virtual reality because of a video I chance upon- KIDS REACT to Hatsune Miku. I only showed the first part of the video, so if anyone is interested (or if anyone even visit my blog ;\), here is the full video.
Virtual reality technologies are currently 2D, but we are on the road to developing 3D virtual worlds and even the possibility of virtual reality from within our nervous systems. As mentioned in my presentation, there are several potential benefits of virtual reality which we can reap but we should also not neglect the potential costs too. Weighing the potential boons and banes of future VR technology, different people will have different receptiveness of it.
Linking it back to the concepts taught in lesson, such receptiveness is associated with the rising and falling star analogy we always use in class. People who are the falling stars may question the need for VR technology since potential costs can be foreseen. On the other end of the spectrum, the rising stars will be open to such potential advancements of VR technology and outweigh the benefits to the costs- they are optimistic of the future and often question the impossible-"Why not?". Hence, a key takeaway will be: regarding future innovations, risings stars should be the main focus, without them, there may not even be future advancements of technology.
Another interesting concept is that supply could sometimes create demand. This is an intriguing perspective which is usually overlooked. Who would have ever thought that they needed virtual reality until the first virtual world game is introduced? Will will ever taught that we needed an iPhone before it entering the market? Hence supply of a good product, coupled with good marketing tactics through social media to reach out to the public, can in fact create demand in the market- People do not actually realize that they need the product until they experience the satisfaction it brings to them.
Lastly, i feel that we should have debated more on whether "Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein.
At first glance, imagination is truly more important than knowledge. Although knowledge helps us understand what we have better, imagination helps us to challenge the impossible and explore outside our boundaries and what we already know. Isn't that the driver of advancements? Knowledge may help us to know things better but we need imagination to think out of the box, to challenge the status quo and to bring about transformation advancements for us to progress. Take the example of the invention of social robots. Knowledge of the human nature may help us understand why some people are autistic. However, it is imagination that leads to the invention of social robots that can possibly interact with autistic patients and treat them. This shows that imagination brings knowledge one step further and is therefore more important.
However, after careful consideration, I feel that although imagination is more important than knowledge, it cannot do without knowledge. They are interdependent. Without knowledge, imagination may be impractical. Without the knowledge of plastic, how will the imagination of plastic technology in cell phones be realized? Hence, we still need apply our knowledge of the world to turn our vision to reality, although the vision will largely depend on our imagination.
As a result, i think that whether imagination is more important than knowledge is not conclusive and should therefore be an issue for further discussion.
I shall end of this blog post with another emerging technology which i have found, apart from those already presented in class. This technology is an advancement in the field of plastic surgery. It uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) over the skin to destroy and remove a specific layer in the fat. We often hear of deathly liposuction surgery and this new technology may be an alternative to it.
Non-invasive body shaping (w/o surgery)
I rate this lesson a 9/10 because not only were the future technology fascinating, I also felt a tremendous sense of relief and freedom after my individual presentation.
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