Every year technological advances find their way to the market with the promise of increasing the ability of people to work, complete menial tasks, connect with each other, and perform dangerous tasks more safely.

As technology continues to take gargantuan steps forward, it is a must to stay abreast of these developments and implement the ones that are most beneficial to what you need to get accomplished. Navigating the ever-expanding world of technology and staying up-to-date on new developments can be a tricky endeavour given how quickly advancements occur, but the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone.

3D Printers

3D Printers are one of the more popular recent developments to capture the imaginations of do-it-yourselfers. 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, involves the use of a machine that can read designs from a computer program and assemble a three dimensional product layer by layer based upon the design.

It seems that the limits of what can be made using this technology are determined solely by the user. To date, these printers have been used to make everything from prosthetic limbs to custom action figures. It is not far-fetched to imagine a day when nearly every serious do-it-yourselfer and arts and crafts aficionado will have one of these machines in their home.

Fire Resistant Clothing

Fire resistant clothing is no longer just for firefighters, it is a development that is sure to become more in demand as safety becomes paramount in heavy duty industries. Utility clothing may illicit images of drab garments, but Ariat, who is an industry leader in fire resistant clothing, has a surprisingly stylish line of fire resistant work clothes. Also, considering the utility provided by these garments, Ariat offers them at consumer friendly prices.

Automated Vehicles

In 2004 “I, Robot” hit the silver screen, and one of the most talked about features of the film were the self driving cars that pervaded the movie. The protagonist of the film, Will Smith, was depicted as a “throwback” character in the film because he chose to manually drive his vehicle. Today, self-driving cars are a reality. Right now, Tesla Motors is spearheading the self-driving car revolution, but this technology isn’t limited to private use vehicles.

How do driverless cars work?

Uber has been experimenting with automated vehicles, and the technology has even spread to more heavy-duty industries. Daimler recently showed off its new snow automated snow removal vehicles, and Built Robotics has even posted videos of their new autonomous excavator. Automated vehicles are also being used on the farm and in factories and warehouses. With the way that this technology is burgeoning and popping up across various areas of the automotive industry, the real question is how long will it be before driving manually makes one a throwback in the real world?

Internet Of Things

One of the more exciting recent technological developments is the internet of things. It is the Internet of things, also known as IOT, that has made room for smart home systems such as Amazon’s Echo and even the aforementioned automated vehicles. The Internet of things allows once inanimate electronics to communicate with each other within a network.

How It Works: Internet of Things

Within a home, the internet of things can complete tasks such as locking the doors of your home even if you’re not there, regulate the temperature of your home, manage a home’s security systems, and much more. The Internet of things will only expand as the desire for automated processes within the home grows.

It is comical to look back to the days of cassette tapes, writing checks, and answering the phone with no knowledge of who is calling you considering where technology has brought society today. Today’s kids and teens will likely never know what it is like to drop off a role of film on the way to the supermarket and pick up newly developed photos on the way home. Technology has taken huge steps into the future, and it shows no sign of stopping.