New Technology 2018

In today’s high tech age, technology seems to change faster than the speed of light. We are always reading about the latest new releases, products or inventions that serve to make our lives better. With so much new technology this year, we are highlighting the items that stand out and the ones we are watching this year.

There is no doubt that smartphones and digital cameras have significantly improved over the years. Smartphones are now able to capture good quality images, and their software has come a long way – helping to create depth of field effects on phones. This has made it possible for big Hollywood directors, such as Michel Gondry and Steven Soderbergh even to shoot some films on their iPhones this year.

The new Rylo, competing with GoPro, features superior image stabilization and the editing software makes it possible to shoot all the footage and simply edit it later.

While camera software has substantially improved and will continue to do so throughout 2018, cameras still have a long way to go before they can mimic the look and feel of very high-end models.

While the talk of self-driving cars has been around for decades, technology is making it possible for these to become a reality. Waymo is launching a new self-driving taxi service in Phoenix this fall.

The draw for self-driving cars can mean more free time for commuters, commutes that are more efficient, fewer traffic accidents and a safer experience for drivers.

Software for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and self-driving cars will continue to develop over the upcoming years, and we are curious what 2018 will hold for advancements in this high-tech field.

Mocap technology was used in “Avatar” and the most recent “Planet of the Apes,” and allows human choreography to translate into stunning visual effects. Additionally, the “Avatar” sequels will be using a new, advanced mocap technology that will capture the actors underwater. (“Avatar” sequel release dates are anticipated to be December 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023.)

Nintendo’s new “Switch” has been incredibly successful, selling almost as many units as the now-defunct Wii U. Software developers also love this new video game reality unit, which appeals to the masses because it goes from console play on television directly to mobile play. This has given new life to traditional, old school games, such as “Doom” and “Skyrim.” Nintendo’s games, such as “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Super Mario Odyssey” even received accolades for exceeding Nintendo’s usual high-quality standards.

While 2017 brought the field of Augmented Reality even further, 2018 should bring it even closer to the masses. While Apple explored the iPhone’s AR capabilities with Pokemon Go-style overlays and even real-world environments, the iPhone will see new sensors that will help to improve future AR applications. Reports indicate that Apple may be releasing an AR headset next year too.

Microsoft continues to work on HoloLens, which is their mixed reality headset. Microsoft has coordinated with other companies to develop some impressive simulations about how mixed reality technology may work.

Mixed reality is a unique AR field. It wants you to have a pet cartoon dog that regularly roams your house, or blow holes in your living room walls using a laser gun, walk down the streets of major cities while remaining in the comfort of your home and build virtual sculptures on your dining room table.

This type of technology has a long way to go, but advancements are regularly being made in the field.

Smartwatches are nothing new, but the future designs will play an even more integral and important part of medical diagnoses. For example, in 2017, the FDA approved the Apple Watch as a medical device. The add-on Kardiaband can help detect abnormal heart rates with an astonishing 97% accuracy using an AI-based algorithm. It can also detect sleep apnea and hypertension, which are difficult to detect using traditional methods.

Adobe has dramatically changed the world. After all, they have coined their own verb – photoshopped after their powerful Photoshop program that can easily alter the appearance of graphic images and photographs.

Adobe has been committed to developing AI, and they are also working on their “VoCo” tool which will allow the program to analyze voices and then make that voice say virtually anything.