future – Australian Science

Tools of the Future

Maya Edberg — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:08:27 +0000

Like they say, a carpenter is only as good as his tools – and this sentiment stands true in almost every profession we work in. Whether it’s something as simple as a pen and paper or more complex scientific equipment, we rely heavily on tools in both our personal and business lives. So what lies in the not-so-distant future? We take a look.

Technology tools

One type of technology that has been verging on the edge of mainstream usage for the past couple of years is holograms. Web-conferencing tools such as Skype have become a home and office staple – but could we soon be seeing people in three dimensions? The technology is there – it has been used to great effect particularly in music concerts as well as at some airports – so it’s not a question of if they will , but when will holograms become the norm.

Credit: Image courtesy of: Science Daily

The biggest changes in technology tools are predicted to come in the form of communication. It’s hard to imagine life without the internet – and it’s only been properly available for less than 20 years. As communication channels become faster and more powerful, the need for on-site offices will diminish and people will increasingly work from home.

Tools for future disasters

There’s nothing we can do to prevent natural disasters, but we can minimise the damage caused. In recent years, geographical information systems (GIS) have been crucial to pre- and post- disaster management, and this area is certainly one that will continue to advance, grow, and save millions of lives.

Credit: Image courtesy of: NYTimes

Aside from complex GIS software, innovative scientists and inventors are hard-at-work creating real-life tools that can save lives on the ground when disaster strikes. One of the most positive creations has been developed by a Japanese engineering company. After surviving the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, they have designed survival pods, called ‘Noah’, which work like buoys; up to four people can get inside them and float atop a tsunami for up to two hours, potentially saving their lives.

Hand tools

There will always be a place for the good ol’ hammer and nail (although you never know), but with everything else seemingly going digital or robotically-driven, what is the future for hand tools?

Credit: Image courtesy of: Tool Bloke

Already, robots are taking over a lot of manual labour, particularly in large factories such as car manufacturing plants. They are more efficient and after the initial costs, are cheaper to run.

But there is still room for something else lying somewhere between robots and humans. This is most evident in the fast developing technology in the world of medical science. To overcome the problem of health practitioner shortages, particularly in remote areas, robotic surgery is becoming the next big thing. A surgeon doesn’t even need to be in the room to perform complex surgeries. The technology is already being used, but there is still huge room for growth, with millions being invested into it.

Credit: Image courtesy of: Wired

As Guang-Zhong Yang from the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery said, ‘You have a human, which is pretty good in terms of decision-making, and learning. You have a robot, which is good at doing precise movements. Why not use a combination of both?’. Precisely. There’s plenty of space for the two of us – both in medicine and elsewhere.

Cite this article:
Edberg M (2013-11-18 00:08:27). Tools of the Future. Australian Science. Retrieved: May 10, 2024, from http://australianscience.com.au/technology/tools-of-the-future/

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Australia’s National Science Agency – Focused on the Future

Kelly Burnes — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:44:20 +0000

I find myself spending a lot of time thinking about the future of our society and planet – how we can solve problems of today and prevent those of tomorrow. Quite often I draw up battle plans on scrap paper in preparation for those policy battles we don’t even know exist yet, those looming around the corner. Thinking I knew the CSIRO website in and out, you can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon CSIRO Futures. This forward thinking, strategic planning group is dedicated to helping government and industry make the tough, and smart, choices that will be critical given our uncertain future.

Wanting to learn more about this group’s work and impact, I reached out to Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, the Theme Leader for CSIRO Futures. This is our digital conversation about science, education, energy, and what Australia must do to secure its future.

Can you provide some historical background on CSIRO Futures? What was the impetus for the creation of this unit? How and when did it come about?

The birth of CSIRO Futures was somewhat serendipitous. In 2009 we started a small internal think-piece to inform CSIRO strategic planning. It wasn’t ever intended for the outside world. However, at a major Industry and Government conference in Melbourne a video link to Boston Consulting Group (BCG) broke down. That was our lucky break. Someone from BCG was going to deliver a talk on “megatrends”. When the video link broke I was asked to step in and cover the session with our own homegrown megatrends. The audience loved the fact this work was also being done down-under and we subsequently received heaps of offers to present the work in boardrooms and at conference keynotes. We later received requests to do foresight research/consulting projects for industry sectors. So that’s when we set up CSIRO Futures. It’s now running pretty well. We’ve delivered a bunch of projects and more are in the pipeline. Our aim is to inform, engage and from time-to-time entertain.

Can you describe your role as theme leader at CSIRO and the impact this role has had (or will have) on the future of science?

This is an interesting role in CSIRO. In fact – I love it. I was appointed in July 2012 and it’s been fascinating and productive. This role is having impact in many ways. One way is that it’s making science accessible to people in industry, government and the community. For many people CSIRO means evidence-based, robust and well-researched information. When the CSIRO logo is mixed with imaginative stories about the future of the world there’s much interest. The aim is to mix science fact with science fiction to inform people’s decision making.

The report “Our Future World: Global megatrends that will change the way we live

Cite this article:
Burnes K (2013-02-06 00:44:20). Australia’s National Science Agency – Focused on the Future. Australian Science. Retrieved: May 10, 2024, from http://australianscience.com.au/news/australias-national-science-agency-focused-on-the-future/
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What lies ahead in Australia’s Digital Future: A Snapshot of Australia’s Digital Future to 2050

Dan — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:05:57 +0000

Fiber to the Premises was only introduced to homes in 2009. This was made possible with the help of the government in partnership with internet providers. In 2010, Telstra introduce increases the data allowances on their plans allowing their users to use the internet more. This applies to mobile and internet plans. Australia is only beginning to harness the potential of broadband technology.

With this in mind, IBM conducted a research to determine the progress of digital technology in Australia. On June 14, 2012, a report titled “A Snapshot of Australia’s Digital Future to 2050” was released indicating how information and communications technology would be an important resource. This details the changes that would happened to Australia’s digital technology and how it would affect the economy and different industries.

IBM commissioned Phil Ruthven, who is the Founder and Chairman of IBISWorld. The report is a projection of how numerous industries would be affected by the progress and innovations to information and communications technology. This indicates how this technology can benefit a lot of industries and improve their work. It also hints about how some industries can harness the potential of this digital technology to their advantage. Sadly, part of the report indicates how the technology would cause negative effects on some industries and may lead to some of these industries being obsolete. You can find more details about the report here:

Although there are 15 industries that would not find sustainability in this technology, they would only contribute a minimal about of revenue to the economy. The boom that other industries would experience would cover the losses. The report boasts of $1 trillion revenue for Australia by 2050 with the help of this utility. Currently, the resource is generating $131 billion as revenue. Information and communication technology would also benefit a lot of industries like mining, education, and health care. With how high speed internet is being used today, we can really see how this can produce promising developments in the future. The report provided ways on how industries can profit by incorporating the use of this utility as part of their business. Big and small businesses are setting up shop in the virtual market. Harnessing the potential of this promising technology now would help your business gain stability.

Australia would face a lot of great development with the help of this utility as this would improve the potential of a lot of industry. The quality of education would improve. Australia would be able to enhance Tourism, making it a really profitable industry. Together with this, the possibility of Health Tourism, as Health would also benefit from the use of this technology. Australia would be able to provide quality services that are essential Business Process Outsourcing.

The report created a study on different industries and determined how they can compete with the help from information and communications technology. This indicates how the industry can benefit from the use of this resource and how it can affect growth and profit. This also provides ideas on how an industry can adapt and use this technology to their advantage. About 10% from the total number of industries would not be able to operate without this technology, and the industries included in this percentage generate 25% of the country’s revenues. This is the reason why different industries are urged to use this enhanced technology.

Determining the sustainability of the industry was carefully determine with the help of a criterion and ranking that is created for the study with the help of information that is available in IBISWorld’s Industrial Database. This carefully determined as to whether an industry would experience substantial benefits in the use of the technology and the gravity of its effect. This also determines which industries would be able to evolve with the help of the technology that is introduced. It is the same criterion that determined as to which industry may suffer due to the progress that is brought about by the development of other industries and the economy as caused by this technology.

The benefits would also produce a substantial benefit to consumers. As part of the development of information and communications technology, consumers who use the technology would get more out of the service. This would improve the technology we use at home like the internet or the telephone. With better technology, the possibility of working at home is realized. This would allow people to work full-time at home while doing business with different industries even those overseas. This also opens opportunities for small businesses as the technology provides them a level playing field with big companies. Also, with the development of this technology there would be lesser need for resources or the possibility of improving the prices of resources making it easier to create a profitable business.

The report is definitely an eye-opener to a lot of industries. The year 2050 can be very vague. It is impossible to determine how your business would be after 40 to 35 years. Having this report truly helps allowing business to make well-formed plans that would change their business. The use of enhanced information and communication technology really shows great promise. You can even see how broadband technology affects businesses today. The report claims that the technology would evolve fast and does not take much time to generate profit. The report also helps in showing people which industries would benefit from the technology and would exhibit great development. This would be great information for potential investors. Also, with the reports about possible revenues, it really poses more possibilities for progress to Australia’s economy. This would also help in attracting international investors.

IBM hopes to show the potential in information and communications technology and how this can affect Australia and its 509 industries. The report shows a lot of significant benefits and very minimal consequential effects. The report is favors by a lot of economist calling year 2050 “The Trillion Dollar Digital Age”. There are industries that did not fare well on some of economists’ projection and the report provides a possible solution. Some industries can enjoy a transformative benefit with the help of this technology. The report really helps in showcase the possibilities that lie in the Australia’s Digital Future.

For further information and complete findings download the report:www.ibm.com/ibm/au/digitalfuture

Twitter: #ausdigitalfuture

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The Future of Energy

Kelly Burnes — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:09:18 +0000

The 7th Annual MIT Energy Conference held March 16-17 in Boston, MA, was an all-around inspiring event filled with conversations of hot topic scientific research and intense policy discussion. It was impressive, considering this event is entirely planned and executed by the student body, with well over 500 in attendance. From the scientific prowess of the professors working on new energy technologies, the caliber of executives leading the charge on the corporate front, to the undergraduate and graduate students pursuing their dreams to engineer a better tomorrow for society, we are indeed poised to see a radical transformation in both the technology and the policies of the energy sector.

‘Insight and Innovation in Uncertain Times’ could not have been a more appropriately named theme for the conference. The whole MIT community understands and embraces the challenges that lie ahead. And they are committed to finding solutions that include sustainable and renewable energy. The realization that we must commit to being better environmental stewards moving forward was a message that resonated throughout the panel discussions. It was enlightening to hear many of the large corporations such as BP, GE and Shell, understand the need to reduce their carbon footprint, lower their GHG emissions, and develop clean technology to power a changing world.

Biofuels, LNG, CNG, shale gas, nuclear, wind, solar, hydro – all these energy sources were highlighted throughout the day in conversations and presentations. Because it’s not just going to be one type of energy that we rely on for power; it’s going to be a combination of several, an energy portfolio that keeps the lights on and the cars rolling down the highway. And it may be different from one municipality, or a state, to another. Community planners have a big role to play in terms of energy. Many expressed the need for their seat at the table of discussion on global warming at the conference. It appears communities are starting to grasp that we must connect these three pillars – the social, economic and environmental. It is this type of holistic thinking and long-term planning, that will put not only the United States, but other countries who adopt these approaches, on the path to a secure, clean, energy future.

An energy policy is difficult to implement anywhere; to be sure, this is no small feat. But unless countries attempt to craft a decision-making framework for implementing an energy policy, progress will continue to be haltered. For the past 30 years, the US has not had a sound energy plan. Sure, the Energy Policy Acts of 1992 and 2005 were notable. But the time is ripe with the myriad of technologies we now possess to start implementing a comprehensive plan. The very nature of public policy is incremental and iterative; define the problem, identify criteria, list alternatives, analyze, evaluate, implement. If something doesn’t check out, repeat process. Mistakes will be made; it is the ability to think fast and correct those mistakes that we will learn and find the solutions needed to drive us forward. By 2050, the global population will be 9 billion. Think about that. We will have to figure out how to move that extraordinary number of people and the goods they require, safely and responsibly. Can we pull it off while being environmentally conscious at the same time? We really have no other option.

I believe that option will be met courtesy of universities such as MIT, along with corporations and policymakers partnering in innovative ways. I would also be remiss if I didn’t add it was refreshing to see so many women at the event, from students, to researchers, to corporate executives. The energy frontier is open for women to conquer, from the lab bench to the boardroom. From scientists, to policymakers, to venture capitalists, women can carve their niche in the sustainable energy field. You’ve heard the saying, “the future of tomorrow begins with today.

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