How will technology enhance our lives in the future?

Sarah Parker
Authored by Sarah Parker
Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - 14:47

George Clarke’s new Channel 4 series, National Trust Unlocked, will see him explore one of Devon’s most beguiling attractions. The episode on September 20 will take a glimpse at the picturesque 6,400-acre Killerton Estate, surrounded by Dane’s Wood and Ashclyst Forest. Technology will allow many across the country – and those in Devon who have not visited the local attraction, to see inside and uncover its history. This is just another leap forwards for technology helping to bridge some of the gaps in our lives and provide a new way of engaging. But how else could we expect technology to boost our lives beyond 2020?

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality may just become our actual reality as industries around the world are developing ways in which we can save time and money by doing things virtually. For example, estate agents may begin using VR technology when showing people around houses. An initial VR tour may tell potential buyers the house isn’t for them without a trek to the property, which would save both parties time and effort.

Equally, VR is increasingly used for university campus tours for similar reasons. This broadens the scope of where students may want to consider studying without having to make a specific trip in the early stages of deciding their university careers. Museums and even the BBC have upped their game when it comes to virtual ways of engaging with museums. The National Trust itself offers virtual tours to allow potential visitors to ‘try before they buy.’

Digital Finance

The world of finance has been made even more accessible thanks to technology. At the most basic level, the rise of digital banks has given customers more choice – and most provide a host of features that allow greater control over their finances, such as data sets and budgeting plans. The accessibility of trading stocks and shares has also increased with a range of platforms to help people get into it.  

Even industries such as forex trading (foreign exchange trading) are more accessible. There are many resources online to help to understand and compare the different types of brokers that exist – which can help budding traders begin their journeys and choose the right method for them. The wealth of resources and platforms don’t require as high an initial investment as they used to, which means that more people can get involved with areas of finance that had previously been off-limits. This allows traders to work from their homes, and in itself live in more desirable places such as in Devon.

Personalised Experiences

One of the growing trends in tech – that we probably don’t even realise is occurring – is the personalisation of everything. Data collection across sites we visit helps to tailor future suggestions to us, as anyone who has used any online shopping can attest to.

Smart software that helps to control settings in our homes without us having to be there is just a small example of how this will grow. The future will see information – such as the temperature we like – and use this to personalise our experiences at home without us having to do anything. Moreover, apps that help track sleep and productivity can amalgamate data and provide a more personalised experience. This could be through telling us when the perfect time to go to bed is or by showing us where our procrastination stems from.

The future of technology and how it may benefit us directly is something people will be more interested in as we realise just how much we can do. Technology will increasingly be able to save us time and effort, provide ways to do things that might have been blocked before, and will help us utilise the data collection elements to truly feel like it is working for us specifically. There may be small steps to make, but as George Clarke’s series will show us, technology can be used to unlock areas in our lives.