7 Ways Automated Technologies are Changing the World

7 Ways Automated Technologies are Changing the World

Technology continues to develop extremely rapidly, and the pace of that development seems to only speed up over time. As it does, technology impacts on our lives in new ways, including having the capacity to bring a great deal of change. This is particularly true of automated technologies that our improving our lives and changing the world for the better in a large number of ways.

Here are 7 ways that automated technologies are changing the world.

What is Automation?

Before we dive deeper into the technologies that are changing our world, let’s first take a look at what automation is. Automation is a form of technology that can perform without active input from humans. It often involves a computer but does not need to necessarily.

Simple examples of automation include coffee makers and thermostats: a coffee maker automatically turns off its heating element when the temperature reaches a certain level, and a thermostat similarly heats or cool automatically in response to the ambient temperature. These same principles can be applied to much more complex technologies that have a wide range of applications.

1. Driverless Vehicles

One of the most famous types of automated technology that has been the centre of a great deal of hype of the years is driverless cars. Although these may still seem like something out of a science fiction movie, this technology is already here, at least to some extent. Several car makers including Tesla, General Motors and Volvo have already developed vehicles that can operate semi-autonomously. This is not quite driverless vehicles – yet – but automakers are developing this technology and are pretty close to delivering it. Driverless flying vehicles, ie. drones, are already being used for purposes from deliveries to military strikes.

2. Face Detection

Face detection is another automated technology that is already being used for a variety purposes. Face detection technology can automatically detect human images in digital images, and compare them to registered face information. This technology is being introduced as a form of very secure and contact-less access control system, as well as being widespread as a security measure on devices such as mobile phones. Face detection is an extremely accurate form of security that is extremely difficult to hack, unlike key cards and codes that can be easily lost or stolen.

3. Surveillance Robots

Robots are another technology that sound that something from the future, but are already being used in the modern world. Surveillance robots have been developed and have a wide number of applications that could greatly help to protect people’s safety. For example, surveillance robots could be used to identify suspicious behaviour and coordinate with human officers to catch suspects on the ground. These robots can also be teamed with facial recognition technology to catch wanted criminals or suspected terrorists.

4. Medical Robots

Speaking of robots, medical robots are another form of new technology with incredible potential to help people and change the world. There are a range of different types of robots that can be very useful in a medical setting, from creating personalised patient care to microbots used in surgery(also known as surgical robots), for example to remove plaque inside arteries. Medical robots are already being used in medical care, including in surgeries. Medical robots have the advantage of being able to perform incredibly detailed and precise tasks without the risk of human error.

5. ANPR

ANPR is another kind of automated technology that is making a big impact in a range of ways. ANPR is a technology that allows the automatic detection of vehicle number plates. This has been used for some time by law enforcement authorities to detect wrong doing and keep the public safe – for example detecting speeding and other behaviour that could put other people at risk. ANPR technology is also being used for an increasing number of other applications, including parking and access control, toll booths, bus lane monitoring, and intelligent traffic systems.

6. Industrial Robots

Robotics are also already playing a role in the manufacturing sector. In the industrial setting, robots are automating and streamlining processes, making manufacturing more efficient and effective. Robots are highly useful because they can make sure that production lines do not fall victim to bottlenecks, but rather production runs smoothly and efficiently. Industrial robots are also useful for detecting defected products and eliminating other issues in the production line.

7. Agriculture

Finally, automated technologies are already having a big impact in the agricultural sector. Automated technologies can be integrated with existing farming practices to make production more efficient as well as raising the quality of output. Furthermore, automated technologies are removing the burden of heavy or tedious tasks from agricultural workers, improving their working conditions. These agricultural robots (AgBots) can perform a wide range of tasks including planting, watering, harvesting and sorting.