6 disruptive technologies till 2025

Put some futurists, scientists and technology experts in one room and let them think about the future. It becomes even more interesting if they think about the future of technology. They even predict the 6 most disruptive technologies for the future for you! The timeframe is till 2025. For The National Intelligence Council this is exactly what happened. From a list of 102 future upcoming technologies the scientists selected the six most likely to occur and with the most impact.

Here are the six technologies.
1. Biogerontechnology;
2. Energy Storage Materials;
3. Biofuels and Bio-Based Chemicals;
4. Clean Coal Technologies;
5. Service Robotics;
6. The Internet of Things.

1. Biogerontechnology: These technologies brings us control over, and improvement in, the human condition and promises improvements in lifespan. The advancement of the science and technology underlying the biological ageing process has the potential to extend the average lifespan and possibly postpone the costly and disabling conditions that humans experience in later life. This will have huge impact on the demographic structures, psychologies, activity patterns of ageing yet healthy citizens resulting to formulate new national economic and social policies. Download the full report aboutBiogerontechnology.

2. Energy Storage Materials: These technologies have the potential to disrupt the way energy is stored and distributed. The biggest disruption could be in economic terms and in terms of global socio-economic structure. The potential for one of these technologies (or a combination) may lead to a paradigm shift away from fossil fuels. Download the full report about Energy Storage Materials

3. Biofuels and Bio-Based Chemicals: These technologies have the only potential to provide alternatives to conventional gasoline and diesel-fuel. We know already the crop-based biofuels. These fuels are already introduced in vehicles. Biofuels fights global-warming concerns but has also a negative impact on food production. The rise of biofuels will have a huge impact on the economic powers in the world and the US will become less dependent upon less-than-friendly countries for a critical energy resource. Download the full report about 'Biofuels and Bio-Based Chemicals'

4. Clean Coal Technologies: these technologies offer the potential to improve electrical generation efficiency, lower emissions of harmful pollutants, and provide fuels and chemical feedstock from available coal resources. The development of clean coal technologies is gaining momentum in coal rich nations. Rapid deployment of clean coal technology could pose a major challenge to other (predominantly oil) energy markets; the resulting geopolitical instability could also be a major challenge to US interests. Still it is a question if the technologies will keep up their promises. Download the full report about Clean Coal Technologies

5. Service Robotics: Robotics and enabling technologies have the potential to replace humans in a variety of applications with far-reaching implications. Just think about the implementation of robots for elder-care applications, and the development of human-augmentation technologies, mean that robots could be working alongside humans in looking after and rehabilitating people. Download the full report about Service Robotics

6. The Internet of Things: By 2025 Internet nodes are inside everyday things. with this people can remotely control, locate, and monitor even the most mundane devices and articles. Popular demand combined with technology advances could drive widespread diffusion of an Internet of Things (I.o.T.) that could, like the present Internet, contribute invaluably to economic development and military capability. The internet of things will revolutionize supply chains and logistics could slash costs, increase efficiencies, and reduce dependence on human labour. Download the full report about 'The Internet of Things'

Source: Adapted from The National Intelligence Council
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