Artificial intelligence, voice control, virtual reality… All these novelties will soon be part of our digital daily lives tomorrow, like smartphones, tablets or connected watches that have become almost banal objects. But then what are the still unknown developments that await us that will pave the way for the next digital revolution?
Voice control will soon be outdated
Communication is a basic need: it is therefore not surprising that modern means of communication, in particular, have undergone enormous development over the last decades, moving from SMS to messaging or video chats.
So what will be the next revolution? The networking of digital and smart devices directly with the brain. This means, for example, that a computer or a smartphone can be controlled via brain waves. A sensor is then connected to the cortex by a band, so that its electrical impulses can be translated into actions.
It sounds like science fiction but it is already a reality: researchers have succeeded in developing neural interfaces, in particular for medical reasons. French startups have also been working for a few years on using the brain as a control module, thereby paving the way for hands-free device control.
Merge virtual reality and physical reality
The metaverse, a kind of global virtual reality, fusion between the digital and real worlds has been in people’s minds since the end of 2021.
This technology opens up almost unlimited possibilities in such a merged world, and which go well beyond the video game sector: real estate visits or even virtual shops… For example, the sports brand Vans is launching its first skateboard for in the metaverse.
In the context of hybrid work accentuated by the pandemic, digital collaboration and virtual meetings offer great added value. In most cases, a digital meeting can replace a face-to-face meeting, saving travel costs in the process.
Virtual meetings thus represent the cornerstone of a new world of work that will become increasingly digital. At a time when it is essential to maintain a distance from others, the concept of metaverse presents ideal conditions to develop.
Hybrid approaches in which virtual and physical realities merge and coexist will soon be the norm, especially in the workplace, but also in the entertainment industry. The “experiences” will then no longer be perceived as real, but as virtual.
Of course, all these visions of the future also have limits. There is a potential risk that emerging technologies are not being used responsibly. If the virtual and physical worlds become even more closely intertwined, this technology could potentially be used for surveillance and control. However, there is also some truth: in the years to come, greater efforts will be needed to regulate technological developments to ensure that they are used for the benefit of all.