7 Digital Disruptions You Might Not See Coming In the Next 5 Years

Usually, if you have a health concern, you make an appointment — possibly via telehealth — with your doctor, who will conduct an examination or run tests to try and pinpoint the problem. But as technology evolves, it has become possible for a computer to listen to your voice and tell you if you have signs of early-onset dementia. In fact, machines will soon know more about your physical well-being than you do.

This raises a host of questions: Should a computer tell you about a potential medical issue? Can you sue the people who own the software if they don’t tell you and it results in something harmful? Is telling you that you have a serious medical condition the right thing to do?

This is called technological biohacking, and it’s one of seven digital disruptions that you might not see coming and, like the others on the list, it could change the world.

“Nobody can see the future exactly as it will happen, so we have to be prepared. We have to proof against what might happen,” said Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst, during his presentation at virtual Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2020 . “We’re in for a decade of radical technology disruption. Now’s the time to get started.”

It’s important to know the different types of change:

• Features: Continuous improvement of constant changes and add-ons.

• Fads: Short-term, very exciting, high-impact things that fade quickly.

• Disruption: Something that comes a little after a fad, but stays and changes business models. This is a fundamental change.

Organisations should focus on identifying the disruptions that will have long-term effects on the world. This, historically, has included things like streaming services to televisions or ride shares.

No. 1: Nontraditional compute technologies

Nontraditional compute technologies are technologies you can’t afford to ignore. As Moore’s Law approaches its potential breaking point, new technology will need to take over. And Moore’s Law is only one technological axiom at risk. Already, deep-neural networks, DNA storage, quantum computing and other technologies are changing the way organisations think about compute styles and models, and how those styles will expand the limits of computational power.

Read more: Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2021

Computing technologies are evolving from traditional to digital, and then to neuromorphic, which allows them to be more human-like. Chips are getting smaller and more dense, new materials and markets are evolving, and the cost of computing is changing. These technologies are also creating new selling opportunities and products.

No. 2: DNA data storage

DNA data storage tackles the challenge of massive data storage and longevity. This technology enables the storage of unprecedented amounts of technology for thousands of years in a small space and in a less corruptible form. It does this by encoding binary data in the base pairs of synthetic DNA. Storage of petabytes, exabytes or even yottabytes of data in mere grams of synthetic DNA is possible.

It’s estimated that 5 exabytes could store every spoken word ever uttered by humans. One single gram of DNA could store all the knowledge generated by humans in one year. That data can then be stored wherever it’s needed. For example, it could be stored in your car engine, for use with repairs. DNA data will radically change how humans handle, store and retrieve data.

No. 3: Distributed Cloud

Distributed cloud is where cloud services are distributed to different physical locations, but the operation, governance and evolution remain the responsibility of the public cloud provider. This means the services are where the customer needs them, but are still the responsibility of the public cloud. In addition, reduced cost of data egress is supported for high-data-traffic applications like machine learning. Data sovereignty can be assured because the cloud services are kept in a specific geographic location but can still be in the public cloud.

No. 4: Digital twin of the earth

Traditionally, digital twins exist in a very specific, discrete context. But, “if we can see it, we can duplicate it,” said Plummer.

A digital twin of the earth would afford a holistic view of how our climate is changing around the globe, how pollution is travelling from place to place, and even how ships are tracked from port to port. This changes how humans think about mapping, tracking, physical operations and emergency services.

For example, a digital twin of the earth would be able to alert authorities to the smallest brush fire before it burns out of control. The earth becomes a monitoring ground for low-earth-orbit satellites to help create simulations of everything from beach soil erosion to animal migrations to human behavioural tracking.

No. 5: Augmented humans

Right now, computers are able to translate thoughts into text and onto a screen. Next up? Pictures pulled from the mind; the same technology would enable people to put their memories or images back into their brain. Technology will also allow humans to augment themselves — from exoskeletons for superhuman speed to implants for superhuman hearing. This will change what it means to be human, but will also raise some serious ethical questions. However, augmentation also has the potential to help people live better lives.

No. 6: Technological biohacking

Everything is recorded. Computers are constantly listening, analysing and storing data, but there are questions about the use of that information. This is especially important as computers begin to collect data that you’re unconsciously sharing, from physical health to verbal triggers, as seen in the intro example.

If a camera in a public park can identify something about your health that you didn’t even know, the concern is no longer maintaining privacy as much as it is understanding how your private information is used. However, when used in aggregate, biohacking can result in cheaper drug production and better medical options.

No. 7: Emotional experiences

Can you be fired if you’re not happy enough? Computers with cameras can now tell if you’re upset, sad, angry or distressed, which means, theoretically, organisations could evaluate your feelings or expressions and use them to make decisions. Inexpensive sensors are now able to track physical biometrics, leading to mood-oriented computing and hyperpersonalised experiences. In fact, Gartner predicts by 2024, AI identification of emotions will influence more than half of the online ads you see.