Mobile, Wireless and Senor Network Access
Health care: Using sensor networks, in the future doctors could remotely monitor their patients’ health by implanted devices that could monitor how the patient moves or could pick up vital health signs such as blood sugar levels. If a problem is then detected, the implanted device could alert a doctor or the hospital to respond to the problem, such as if the patient collapses. With this future idea, the patients will also have a ‘home hub’ that enables communication with others. But more importantly, keeps a strong medical profile of you, then with easy wireless network access medical professions could easily find out all the information they need if you are unable to provide it, if unconscious for instance. The home hub could also be connected to a pill dispenser that alerts the patients when they need to take their medication.
Apart from in-body devices, on-body monitoring devices could be possible. These small devices could be worn by patients such as ‘bracelets’ to monitor the patients’ pulse and blood pressure, or could be incorporated into particular objects like inhalers for asthmatics. The device could use wireless technology like Bluetooth to send signals from the patient’s body to the previously discussed ‘home hub’ or the patients mobile phone, informing them that for instance atmospheric conditions may exacerbate their asthma and so are suggested to use their inhaler.
Transport: Health care devices could be incorporated with transport wireless network devices. For example, wireless telematics in someone’s car could automatically call the emergency services if a severe impact occurs. The patients could potentially be comatose, however, the their mobile phone or a special bracelet could be connected with their home hub that contains all their medical data and so the doctors will easily be able to obtain her data on hand so if she is allergic to a certain drug, the doctors can treat her accordingly, and the transport technology will make the medics arrive much faster, hence improving the chances of survival.
Although we currently have Oyster cards which use contactless technology, in the future of public transportation everyone could have a universal pre-paid ticket that can be topped-up by preferable is automatically charged on a credit-card, therefore reducing the problem of accidentally running out of travel credit. The new travel card will also be wirelessly connected to a personal mobile device of your choice that have wireless access, such as a mobile phone or PDA, saving and monitors your route. Therefore, if you save a particular journey, such as to work, the new electronic ticket with be able to alert you during stages of your journey, for instance, telling you when the next train will arrive once of the bus. Also, if there is a problem such as a particular bus route is out of service the person can then instantly be provided with an alternative route to their destination.
Proliferation of Pervasive Networking
By 2020, I believe that we will be living in a world in which ubiquitous devices flawlessly and automatically interact with other devices around them, adapting accordingly to various functions and changing to interact with other objects in close proximity. Ultimately, pervasive networking will be used effortlessly to make everyday tasks ridiculous easy; however, this comes with the drawback that in order to maintain an active role in society you will need to be entirely technology literate.
Living in a predicted world with body area networks and senor networks in our homes and health monitoring systems – everything will be connected and most things will be done for us or made easier for us to do. No longer will we have to turn on lights, open curtains, turning on the TV or computer (if they still even exist) with our hands. Today we must push buttons or for some people clapping turns on lights but in the future voice recognition technology will do it all. Even typing on a computer could become a thing of the past as everything is done via your voice. Or as Emotiv technologies suggest, wireless headsets could use your brain signals to control various aspects of life. Tan Le is highly confident that neuro-technology could be extensively used in the future. For instance, used for interactive gaming or “the user interface of the control system to opening curtains or closing curtains” or “being able to control an electric wheelchair. In this example, facial expressions are mapped to the movement commands.”
Windows commercial predict that the future will be completely touch screen, with everything involving swiping and dragging. I like the idea of touch screen technology. No longer will there be mice or keyboards or buttons. Everything will be accessible from a flat clear surface, that can be installed anywhere, walls, floors, Microsoft even said chopping boards.
