Co-written by Tyler Lin
In the Silicon Valley, technology is a driving force that influences many people’s lives and jobs. Over the past decade, numerous new technologies have been introduced ― from hoverboards and smartwatches to e-commerce and social networks. These new technologies redefine how we live and how we do things, and with the introduction and improvement of newer technologies, 2016 is looking to be an eventful year for the tech community.
Virtual reality
First introduced in the mid-20th century with products such as the View-Master, VR, otherwise known as virtual reality, has reached its prime in recent years. With the introduction of the Oculus Rift VR headset in 2011 and the various versions made by name-brand companies such as Sony and Samsung, VR is constantly developing and gaining popularity in the tech world. Be on the lookout for the final models of VR headsets to be released from as early as March this year.
Self-driving cars
Self-driving cars, though often perceived as unreliable, have produced impressive results considering that the technology is only a few years old. Major companies, most notably Google, have been developing self-driving cars from as early as 2005, yet it was not until recent years that these cars have been road-tested. Yes, the technology is not to be fully commercialized until 2020, but it will still be interesting to observe how it develops this year as self-driving cars continue to appear on streets.
“Personally, I feel like self driving cars would make our lives perfect, but however, just like anything, there is room for a lot of potential flaws in self driving cars.” – Sophomore Sharjeel Rahman
Wearable technology such as Google Glass and the recently released Apple Watch have been subject to debate about whether or not such technology is worth its price tag. Despite this, it seems that wearable technology has found its place in the world, with companies such as FitBit producing modestly priced activity bands while major corporations such as Apple and Samsung have started to manufacture and sell premium “smartwatches.”
Drones
Drones have been one of the more controversial technologies ever since they have been built. Commercial drones such as the Phantom 3 Pro now have much more capabilities than their older models, but the main concerns for these new drones are flying into restricted airspace, peeping on people, and risk for injury. On the other hand, the use of drones has began to show progress as large companies like Amazon plan to use this technology to deliver packages in a more efficient manner.
“The combination of both building and flying provides an immersion experience that makes me feel as if I were playing a real life video game.” – Sophomore Ninaad Sridharan
