The United States has been the top superpower in the world for at least the last 70 years. Ever since the demise of the German Empire after the Second World War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early nineties, no other nation has gained as much economic prosperity, political stability, and military power as America. Even if European and East Asian countries are widely developed, they have yet to reach the pinnacle of society as their northwestern counterpart.
But what makes a nation great? Is it the number of soldiers it has or how profitable its businesses are? Or is it scientific discoveries and the advancement of medical systems?
In all honesty, the answer is probably a combination of all four, all influenced by a single factor, the biggest difference-maker in the 21st century. If you haven’t guessed it, we are talking about technology and how those who have it rule over those who do not.
Having said that, let us look at four important tech trends in business, science, medicine, and defense systems.
Business: Global Interaction and Connectivity
If you want your enterprise to succeed, it is no longer enough to only target your local market. Whether you live in countries as highly populated as India, China, the United States, or Indonesia, top organizations understand that in the current environment of globalization, the best and quickest way to economic prosperity is to market products and services to a global clientele.
Luckily, technological development allows for this process to every day be more seamless, affordable, and efficient, regardless of the size of your firm. For instance, if you want to connect effectively via a two-way communication channel with as many people as possible, you can commission a reputable, mass-scale SMS services provider to handle all announcements, campaigns, and other information between your organization and its customers.
Science: a Better Tomorrow
Many of the most profitable science fiction movies in Hollywood tell stories about the end of the world and how we as human beings have destroyed our planet to such an extent that we are forced to live elsewhere. Examples include Gravity, Contact, and, more recently, Interstellar, an ambitious, excellent film on the consequences of environmental destruction and the lack of urgency behind it.
Yet, for the first time in the history of our planet, we might have the technology to prevent our very own extinction and reverse the effects of global warming. Aside from the well-known alternative sources of energy like solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric energy, we now have access to advanced processes of geoengineering that will one day enable us to create the climates and temperatures that we desire, leading to the survival of flora, fauna, and ourselves.
Medicine: AI and Automation
Urban legend says that the best time to schedule a surgical procedure is around 10:30 in the morning. There are several reasons for this. First, whoever your surgeon is, he or she will already be awake and ready to go. Second, chances are he has completed only one or two surgeries before yours. As such, he doesn’t lack the energy to do a proper job. Finally, most people begin to think about lunch at around 11:30 am.
As ridiculous as this might sound, it is true. But it shouldn’t be. After all, you are putting your life in the hands of your physician and paying for it. Hence, the quality of service you get should be up to par.
Fortunately, robots don’t get tired, and while they cannot handle the unexpected as well as human beings, at least not yet, they are less prone to error, more detailed, and more precise.
Defense: Human Life Above All Else
According to statistics, roughly 100 million people died during the Second World War, by far the most in any military conflict in history. As tragic and heartbreaking as this is, what came from it was the birth of the United Nations and a global understanding that if there were to be a third, the planet would most likely cease to exist.
Sadly, conflict is part of our nature, and fighting is ingrained in our genes and brains. Thinking otherwise would be not only unrealistic but also irresponsible. Still, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything about it.
Today, modern defense systems exist to make nations more powerful and more threatening to others. But they are also there to prevent people from dying on the battlefield and wars from altogether taking place.
Technology continues to influence our lives in many ways. From how we do business to how we protect our planet, stay healthy, and create peace, it is the number one aspect that will determine the type of life we lead both now and in the future.
