Today, the advancement of technologies and innovations have been an enormous increase for all human beings. To create an environmentally and sustainable conscious society, people are willing to improve their quality of life via latest techs and innovations for social good. Here are Top Eight must watched Innovations for social good for 2020.
1. Helmet for the blind
Photo credit: CloudMinds
The Chinese organization CloudMinds designs his first wearable device for the blind based on the cloud framework. Looking like a cycling helmet, Meta uses sensors and cameras to map its environs, which send information to a cloud server to be processed by AI technology. It supports visually impaired people in face recognition, object recognition, path planning, and obstacle avoidance, etc.
2. Smart lockers for medicine
Photo credits: Pelebox
In South Africa, Pelebox smart lockers enable patients to collect their repeat chronic medication with a one-time SMS code instead of waiting hours queuing at public clinics. It is controlled by a digital platform that manages various internet-enabled smart lockers. So far, the lockers have delivered more than 10,000 prescriptions.
3. AI for Earth
Photo credits: AI for Earth
Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote in an April 2019 blog post, "Data is a critical part of our work and a global transition to a low-carbon future." Microsoft is investing heavily in using AI for social good and sustainability. Its AI for Earth program has spent over $50 million to create innovative AI applications in combat for climate change.
4. Incredibly Fast 5G Wireless Speed
Photo credits: Forbes
Wireless speeds 66 times faster than what we currently have could be here by 2020 (though widespread availability won’t be until a few years later), and it will change everything. This article from CNET explains that 5G speeds would enable us to download a two hour long film in 3.6 seconds, compared to 6 minutes with 4G and 26 hours at 3G speed.
Analysts suggest the number of devices connected to a mobile network will more than triple by 2020, from 5 billion in 2015 to 25 billion by 2020. With that many devices fighting for bandwidth, wireless speeds will have to compete in order to keep up. 5G research and development is expensive, so is restructuring existing networks – so phone bills may also increase
5. Blockchain for fundraising
Photo credits: Humaniq
Humaniq is a simple and secure mobile app, which serves the blockchain financial platform offering financial inclusion solutions for the unbanked, today announced its executive leadership and advisory board, helping guide the company through its current token sale and the development of its mobile banking app that will support Humaniq's humanitarian initiative.
6. Commercial Spaceflight and Tourism
Photo credits: Futuristic Spaceflight/NetHosting
The space tourism sector is heating up with the major players getting close to their goal of delivering various forms of commercial spaceflight by 2020.Notably, NASA’s decision to open up the International Space Station for tourism and other private ventures from 2020 is a key catalyst in expanding the scope and market of space tourism.
7. Printed Food
Photo credits: McDonalds
A 3D printer that prints delicious healthy meals? It may be coming in the near future – several devices are already in the works and will soon be hitting the shelves. Currently, the most these food printers can do is prepare food, you’ll have to bake the dishes yourself. They probably won’t be in everyone’s kitchen until they’re capable of producing fully cooked meals, and it has been popular among customers in recent years.
For example, Fast food giant McDonald in the US has just announced the creation of a brand new 3D printed burger, its 3D Mic Mac. Restaurants should be equipped with 3D printers by the end of 2020 in order to offer this customisable hamburger. It also is expected to launch its first 3D Mic Mac with meat or tofu in 2020 in the US. Would you try McDonald’s 3D printed burgers?
8. Autonomous Driving
While we still aren’t at the stage where we can expect to routinely travel in, or even see, autonomous vehicles in 2020, they will undoubtedly continue to generate a significant amount of excitement.
In America, Tesla chief Elon Musk has said he expects his company to create a truly “complete” autonomous vehicle by this year, and the number of vehicles capable of operating with a lesser degree of autonomy – such as automated braking and lane-changing – will become an increasingly common sight. In addition to this, other in-car systems not directly connected to driving, such as security and entertainment functions – will become increasingly automated and reliant on data capture and analytics.
From all this, new technologies and innovations will widely be popular among our society in the near future. As a result, it’s going to be very advantageous for our next generation, however, there will be unexpected challenges and failures that need to be mindful.