Technologies for next decade

In December, Wiki brand launched the prospective 30 technologies which will define the course of the next decade. Quite predictably, some major ones were Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Blockchain, Quantum computing, Mobile Computing, Automation, Proximity Tech and Edge computing. On the face of it, the list looks complete and futuristic. However, slight reflection on the list tends to provide a different insight.

The list looked heavily west centric. It seemed to ignore the issues of the eastern developing and underdeveloped world. The key problem of the developing world is not robots or automation, rather their key problems are poverty, hunger, sanitation, service delivery, and others. And the challenge is western solutions do not simply apply to developing world problems primarily for two reasons. First, either the first world has never faced those problems like the issue of crowd management, or secondly, the scales were very minor and limited. Hence the list of decade-defining technology could be slightly different for the developing world. Some of these are listed below:

1.      Sanitation technology: India has a huge scope for sanitation technology research. Just imagine a smart dustbin where you dump your waste and obtain a credit for free wi-fi or Just-in-time waste pickup and processing pipeline. Or imagine small scale waste processing machines installed in the backyard which can generate energy and extract metal/minerals.

2.     Artificial Intelligence: A real-time face recognition enabled services or image matching based services can play a phenomenal role in regulating traffic, crowd control and bringing discipline in public life. AI/ML-based governance framework would be more judicious and scientific in resource allocation.

3.   Public audit systems: 24*7 live real-time monitoring of public offices and public projects can help in keeping watch over the performance of public offices and set vigil over the progress of public projects. The online detailing of account expenses through a user-friendly interface can make the whole of India participant to the entire process.   

4.    Green technologies: Cheap solutions to Solar panels, smart metering, water harvesting system, piped gas line, piped waterline (clean water tech), energy efficient housing technology, rooftop/backyard landscape design using tree plantation, Electric vehicle, the efficient public transport system is need of the hour for our nation.

5.  Mobility based digital solutions: School, Dispensary, Public offices, Post offices, Courts, Police Stations, Toilets, Cinemaghars, Election booths, etc. could be installed on customized mobile vehicles like Car, Bus, Trucks rather than brick and mortar solutions. The mobile office could be taken to the doorsteps of a common man rather than a common man searching for them. 

The list is just a placeholder sample list. It can be detailed out and an equivalent list of 30 technologies could be identified which could cater to the needs of countries like India in a better fashion. However, there are a few which were not on the original list and which deserve special mention. These would be

1. Brain, Cognitive sciences, Cognitive neuroscience

2. Space sciences, cheap rockets, and discovery of remote planets

3. Faster public transport systems, like flying cars, electrical vehicles etc.

Anyway, the new decade will begin tomorrow. Let us see what does it have for us in the store.