T - Technology | TEDxSIBMBengaluru 2019

TED was conceived in 1984 by architect and graphic designer, Richard Saul Wurman, who observed a convergence in the fields of technology, entertainment, and design (that is, "TED"). The first conference, organized by Harry Marks and Wurman in the same year, featured demos of the compact disc, co-developed by Philips and Sony and one of the first demonstrations of the Apple Macintosh computer. Such was the beginning of TED.



But, why is Technology such an important part of TED?
Well, here’s why - Owing to the application of technology, our standard of living has increased. Our needs are met with greater ease. Technology has brought advancements in agriculture, due to which food production has increased. Owing to the developments in engineering and architecture, building robust civil structures has been possible. Technology has boosted every industry. Businesses have grown, creating more employment opportunities. Advancements in technology have led to the evolution of newer and faster modes of transport and communication. The application of technology has boosted research in fields ranging from genetics to extraterrestrial space. Computer and Internet technologies are ubiquitous. They have changed every sector; be it medicine, tourism, education, entertainment or any other. Technology has touched every aspect of life, making it easier, better and different. It has, in fact, has changed living.

But, enough about the past and present of Technology. 20/20 hindsight will barely help our future generations, no matter what we’ve achieved. It is the Future that we must now predict and shape to the best of our abilities. Not only do our future generations depend on the future, but our evolution as a species will be determined by how we mould our tomorrow. And this is where Technology will be of paramount importance, as without making concrete gains in the fields of space and technology, the vision of a sustainable future looks bleak for the human race.

So, this year, the theme for TEDxSIBMBengaluru 2019 is Future 2.0, where the speakers will paint their vision and version of a future of how they imagine it to be. In those 18 minutes or less, they will give us a glimpse of their image of the future. Forecasting the future of technology is for dreamers who hope to innovate better tools -- and for the mainstream people who hope to benefit from the new and improved. These visionaries will help us decode and perceive the road that lies ahead of us and where it will take us. This is a chance for you to come and be a part of a crystal ball forecast – done by the finest experts of their respective fields, of where we are likely to be in 10-20 years from now.
Allow us to give you a glimpse of how technology will impact our tomorrow:

1. Education for all: 
A considerable number of the global population doesn’t have access to quality education. With the help of the internet, anyone on this planet can have access to not only basic education but also advanced topics. Reputed educational institutions from different countries are already recording lectures and publishing those materials on the internet for everyone to watch and learn. With better internet connectivity and smartphones, “education for all” won’t be a pipe dream anymore.
2. Clean Energy: 
Excessive consumption of fossil fuels has led our planet to the brink of catastrophic consequences. However, technology is helping us deal with this problem by developing clean energy. Development in the field of solar power technology has drastically reduced the cost of solar cells. Generation of electricity through wind turbines has also gained a lot of momentum in recent years. So, in the near future, technology can help us do away with dependence on fossil fuels and embrace clean and green energy solutions.

3. Moon, Mars, More?
Space exploration has taken some hits in the 21st century, with cuts to the U.S. and other international space program budgets. But with the Curiosity Rover on Mars as of August 2012 and plans to launch the "most powerful rocket in history," the Space Launch System (SLS) by 2017, NASA is still very much in the business of the future. After the planned, unmanned sendoff of the SLS in 2017, NASA intends to send a crew of up to four astronauts into space by 2021. This could be a return to the moon, with capabilities for missions on other planets.

4. Quantum Control:
Picture a tiny bit of a thing on an already minuscule computer chip. Something microscopic with the power to think like a computer without the need for complex circuitry and capable of being moved by light or sound: That is quantum technology simplified. Put less simply, quantum control uses a technology derived from physics for computer applications. Quantum electrodynamics, or QED, describes the interaction of matter and light, and QED-circuits take this interaction to the computer chip by trying to harness the interaction for circuitry in machines. Phonons are sound-activated quantum vibrations that move circuitry and motor machines at the chip level.

5. Less-Active  Lifestyle: 
While the smartphone revolution has made our lives easy, it has also made us lazy. Today, the whole world is at our fingertips, and thus we don't have to work or move around as we did previously to get things done. Our sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activities can be partly attributed to the over-dependence on smartphones. This is especially true for the younger generation, who are constantly glued to their cell phones. In the modern era, cell phone addiction is having a negative impact on our lives. Care needs to be taken to deal with this issue in an effective way.

6. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence:
Sophisticated machines that are capable of working with minimal human intervention are sophisticated robots too. Driverless cars are yet another example of AI and robotics. With tech giants like Google, Tesla, and BMW involved in the production of driverless cars, it looks like we are going to see self-driving cars sooner than we may have expected. While the concept of Robotics and AI sounds exciting, it is not without flaws. Many people believe that the implementation of robotics and AI will lead to mass layoffs and unemployment. We have already seen how factory workers lost their jobs when automated assembly lines were introduced. Now, with driverless cars, intelligent chatbots, and more knocking at the door, it may turn out that drivers and customer support agents are going to have a hard time keeping their jobs.