Disruption
To say that we are on the verge of transformation driven by exponential technologies is quite an understatement.”
During the week, I finished reading Disruption: Emerging Technologies and the Future of Work by Victor del Rosal. The purpose of the book is to give readers a glimpse into the emerging technologies most likely to cause disruption over the next ten years, and tactics to prepare for its inevitable effects on work. As the book details, much of this disruption has the potential to be significant and is happening at a speed never before seen. Take Uber as an example. In just six years, it has completely disrupted a taxi market that is over one hundred years old, and they are just getting started. While the book provided a lot of insight across a variety of technical fronts, five piqued my interest the most.
“Moore’s Law is alive and well.”
The first was the discussion of Moore’s Law at the beginning of chapter one. A lot of my intrigue was from the realization that I have seen this law mentioned at least a half dozen times in various items I have read throughout the week. For those that have not heard of Moore’s Law, it is a prediction that the overall processing power of computers will double approximately every eighteen months. In other words, all the technologies that surround us today such as our laptops, smartphones, and tablets will be around thirty times more powerful in 2025 than they are today. This exponential growth in computing power is helping to drive these emerging technologies, and the reason I believe it has appeared in print so frequently as of late.
“Cars are one of the most under-utilized assets; they sit idly, parked, about 96 percent of the time.”
Autonomous vehicles were the second topic of interest. Having worked in the automotive industry for quite some time, I am naturally curious about all of the recent talk about self-driving cars. Every day, it seems, there are headlines for companies like Apple, Tesla, and Google who are pursuing this emerging technology. If it ever does take hold and become commonplace, the impact is sure to be widely felt across industries and occupations. For example, picture again the disruption Uber has caused the taxi industry. Now, imagine Uber employing autonomous vehicles. It would decimate that industry as we know it. Although we are presumably a long way from truly autonomous cars, I am excited about the advancements this technology will undoubtedly create for the automotive industry in the meantime.
“3D printers will be able to produce increasingly complex objects, at greater speeds, and with greater functionality.”
The third was the introduction of three-dimensional printing. Interestingly, this technology is nearing the point at which it can be considered mainstream instead of emerging; that is, a twenty percent adoption rate. Like many, I have had the opportunity to see these devices in action. Although currently slow, it is somewhat mesmerizing to watch a prototype part, for instance, go from computer screen to finished product. As these devices become less expensive, faster, and more capable, their use is sure to skyrocket with the potential to cause major disruption. Imagine being able to 3D print replacement parts for your home or auto to a local kiosk, for example, or a healthcare provider printing custom orthopedic implants based on an MRI. The possibilities are seemingly endless.
“We are running into unchartered territory in the world of biotech that may unlock all sorts of promises.”
Biotechnology, along with its impact on health and healthcare, was the fourth topic of interest to me. For example, the previously mentioned technology of 3D printing coupled with biotechnology has already created some remarkable breakthroughs such as the ability to print human tissue for use in testing. Beyond advancements like this one, it was eye-opening to read about companies such as Calico, a Google-backed research and development company that is working to slow the aging process. Innovations developed here have the potential to apply to everyone. On a simpler scale, envision the possibilities of future wearable technologies. Instead of just tracking heart rate, miles run, and quality of sleep, for example, future wearables may provide even more advanced health-related data to improve the management of our well-being.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value”
As an IT professional, the final takeaway from the book is the potential for disruption (and opportunity) that emerging technologies have on the field of Information Technology and work in general. There are exciting new technologies to learn and embrace, but they require a commitment to lifelong education to stay relevant. Luckily, there are more resources than ever available to those committed to learning, such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) offered by some of the best schools like Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. Want to learn about Big Data, Cybersecurity, or Cloud Computing? The information is out there for those who seek it. Beyond acquiring knowledge, soft skills like communication and problem solving will remain critically important and highly sought after in this ever-changing world of work.
“The better we understand the tools at our disposal, the better positioned we will be as individuals and as a collective to harness innovation to our advantage.”
In summary, the book provided a glimpse into the future by examining the emerging technologies with the greatest potential for disruption. All of these technologies are fueled, in part, due to the exponential growth in computing power. Although the author provided a brief summary of nine of them, I found autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, and biotechnology the most interesting. Imagine a person 140 years of age (made possible by Calico) being driven in a driverless car to a 3D printing kiosk to pick up a freshly printed part for a broken blender. Sounds far-fetched, right? Maybe; we will see. In any event, the future looks bright and full of opportunities for those willing to learn and adapt, while taking advantage of the many resources available.
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