Isaac Newton famously stated in his letter to Robert Hooke that his ability to see further came from standing on the shoulders of giants. Technology changes, but what the young may miss is that the breakthroughs of today are because of the engineering of yesterday. Industries change, grow, and transform. If done right, they do it for the better.
Communication
Anyone who has ever penned a letter on stationery or turned the dial on a rotary phone understands the profound changes that the communication industry has undergone. Cell phones, email and text are some of the obvious ones, but now businesses and families can stay connected with video chat and location based social networking. The newest frontier of communication revolves around wearable technology. These devices may look like a pair of glasses, a bracelet, or a necklace but are actually pieces of interactive communication equipment that act as a mini computer, transmitting health data, location information, and messaging dialogue.
Construction
Mother Nature has forced our hand when it comes to improving technology in the construction industry. Houses are no longer simply a brick and wood construct. You now have the option to create your home out of recycled materials with a solar-powered ridge vent in the roofing and compost systems for your waste. The new technology of construction is designed to create a personal biome, allowing you and your home to communicate with the electronic devices that make up our new world. Coined as the Internet of Things, modern construction allows electronics and appliances like your coffee maker, thermostat, and garage door be controlled from your smartphone.
Farming
Gone are the days of oxen pulling a plow. To stay alive in the competitive farming industry, farmers need to use technology that will keep costs down, increase product revenue, and mitigate against risk. Where once a team would need to walk the fields to look for weeds, pests, and disease, some Iowa farmers are considering using drones. These remote-controlled crafts would allow one person the ability to survey the land in a fraction of the time it would take for a crew of hired staff.
Medical
There is a lot of money in the medical and pharmaceutical industry, and the benefits are apparent. In the last half century, 13 infectious diseases have been nearly eradicated thanks to vaccines. Endoscopic techniques have replaced many invasive surgical procedures, including gall bladder removal and some arterial bypass operations. One of the cutting edge prospects of the medical industry is nanotechnology, in which a microscopic organic robot can be implanted in the body, performing various tasks like removing arterial plaque.
Shopping
The way we shop would seem like magic to a person from the past, as more brick-and-mortar businesses give way to online stores. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around seven percent of all shopping is done online today. This figure includes grocery shopping, and is expected to double in the next year. The younger generations spend nearly 10 percent of their income on online shopping. With e-commerce, a person can do all of their shopping, including groceries, wardrobe, and automotive, without ever leaving the home. Now mobile technology is kicking in and allowing a person to go into a brick-and-mortar store and purchase the item online, and have it delivered to their home.
