Accelerating growth in technology

In a time where technology is rapidly advancing, what it looks like one day can be vastly different to the next. Never have we had such a rapid growth in this area - what once would have taken hundreds of years to develop can now happen in a matter of a months or years. This accelerated growth is set to continue, changing the way we interact with technology and live our lives. 

Acceleration over the years

We’ve come a long way since the invention of early technologies. Over 600 years ago the printing press was invented – but more notably, it took another 200 years after that for the next prominent piece of technology to come around. As times have changed, so has our ability to improve the rate at which we produce new technologies. Consider 20 years ago when the primary forms of communication and media consumption were newspapers, television and radio. Then came email – a game changer in the workplace and in our personal lives. It opened up doors for instant worldwide communication that was accessible by the masses. Then came social media, which again gave us an even greater ability to instantaneously communicate and interact with people.  

The considerable changes that have happened over this time mean that our expectations of what technology can do is constantly changing – and now we’ve learnt to always expect more. Such rapid acceleration also means that what was once considered a luxury technology is an everyday part of our lives now. In the past a personal assistant was something for the wealthy or business owners – yet today almost everyone has access to personal assistant technology like voice assistants through their smartphones.

The future is being created now

A world where we used technology in our everyday lives may have seemed far off in the past, but it’s here. We are busier than ever and becoming more time poor in our lives. We need more time, which allows for technologies like voice assistants, driverless cars, and food ordering and delivery to be utilised in our day to day lives. Companies are continuing to invest in technologies that will alleviate time pressure for us. The reality is that when we aren’t driving, cooking or working we are likely consuming media – so an investment in technology advances that free up time can benefit everyone involved.

This rate of acceleration is constantly moving and technologies invented today will be considered a part of everyday life in a few years. There are many technologies already in place that people don’t realise are here, such as the use of virtual reality in advertising. Motorsport is a great example of this, as when you are watching on televised coverage or streaming media the sideline ads on the track are not physical but virtual advertising that is superimposed onto the space. Your location and other factors can then be used for relevant targeting for these ads. This opens up doors for other spaces that can use this technology in the future.

Where to from here: the next evolution

These rapid advancements mean that in the next few years the technologies of movies will be reality. Holograms aren’t a new invention but recently the technology has developed significantly – the likes of Roy Orbinson’s (a rock star who has passed away) holographic concert show us that we don’t need to physically be somewhere to be present anymore. As this technology becomes more widely used we can see the potential for day to day use - a holographic driver for a driverless car, a guide in virtual reality open homes, or a presence business meetings from the other side of the world. It’s a technology that will give us greater ability to be more efficient in our lives. While it can seem distant, it’s important to remember that these technological evolutions have been happening for years. We’ve gone from paper, to fax, to email, to messaging platforms – who is to say holograms won’t be next? 

The next evolution will change what we see as ‘the norm’ and eventually it will be as ingrained in our day to day lives as a smartphone. It’s important to embrace the change and see the value and potential these technologies can add to our lives.

Jai Ivarsson is realestate.co.nz’s Head of Technology. With experience working with successful start ups, Jai specialises in finding pragmatic solutions that allow for fast growth.