Think back ten or twenty years and you might remember the world wasn’t like it is today. Twenty years ago mobile phones were brand new inventions and were the size of bricks. Twenty years ago, computers weren’t portable, they were big bulky monstrosities plugged in somewhere in your home. Twenty years ago there was no such thing as smart technology, and the internet was not the focus of almost every social and business interaction. So what changed? The answer is a lot.
Tech Became Affordable
Over the past few years, technology has become more and more affordable. We have now reached the point where it is possible to buy a 3D printer for your home. Just five years ago no one would ever have dreamed that was possible because the devices were ranging in the thousands and used purely for business. Now, 3D printing has become something of a hobby that anyone can try.
Why did technology like this become so affordable? Production processes improved, automation replaced manual labour and factories were cheaper to run. As such, it was possible to make things like cell phones and computers without charging an absolute fortune due to production costs.
It Became Reliable
There was a time when it wasn’t possible for a chess programme to beat every chess player. That changed in the late nighties when software was created that beat a chess world master at their own game. It might sound silly, but this was the first sign of how powerful technology was becoming. It was also proof that it was reaching a point where software could be smarter than a human. As such, technology was becoming more reliable, and it was only matter of time before it was integrated into business.
There are lots of examples of how tech has improved and become more reliable over the years. Though perhaps the most exciting is the advances in the design of an oscillator. Phase-noise can now be eliminated, and that means that devices such as MRI machines and radar are more accurate with fewer chances of delivering false or inaccurate readouts. Once we reach the point where we know the software and technology can be trusted, we can lean on them more.
Speeds
The final piece of the puzzle is the speed of technology and how it has brought the world together. In the past, the internet was slow, but gradually it has become more rapid to the point where file transfers and information can be passed instantly from one computer to another. We can video chat to people all over the world, and we can connect with people anywhere, even on a space station. Once we reached this point of connection, there was no reason not to use technology in every aspect of our lives, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
As you can see then, there were many factors that contributed to the reason why technology became such an integral part of our lives. It will be interesting to discover the role it has to play over the next few years.
