What will technology look like in 2026

By: Heather Gaither

Technology in 2026

The World of Opportunity

Going Green

• The need for physical media and paper in general will greatly diminish.

• Newspapers, periodicals, and books will be paperless. Everything will be received/reviewed through our second screen experience.

• Education: college students along with students of every

age will have the ability to view and gather assignments using a tablet. This will be cost effective in the end.

Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation

Theory tries to explain how an innovation is communicated over time through different channels to members of a social system.

-Innovators 25%-Early Adopters 13.5%-Early majority 34%-Late majority 34% -Laggards 16%

5 step process which deals with making precise decision making:

Televisions and Computers• Voice activated• Picture quality will be even better than it is• now, for a more crystal clear viewing

experience. • The capability to use hand gesture when

operating the television.

• Computers will have projections where the images can be presented in midair. Using hand gestures to operate controls.

• The capability to adjust the size of an image by using your finger.

• Typing will all be voice activated.

Automobiles

• Energy safe solar powered engines• All eco friendly and non pollutant to the environment.• Driverless cars with the ability of inputting a destination right into built-in GPS system.• No more texting and driving or driving under the influence of alcohol• According to the National Safety Council, in recent years, 40,000 deaths occurred in the

United States that are related to car accidents. *see source• Having an improved advancement to an autopilot mode can decrease car related

accidents in the United states.

Use of Gratification Theory• Gives insight into what people do with technology• Use activity seeking to access different media to fulfill various needs• Examines a multitude of communication technology including mobile phones, radio, satellite

television etc.• People use different forms of entertainment to pass the time with social media sites like Facebook.• Netflix recently announced that users can download their movies and watch them later without the

use of streaming it through the internet. This will be an industry game changer where other companies will follow suit; once again evolving the way we watch movies. * see source.

Social Networking• 70% of adults online in the US have at

least one kind of social media application

• Social media is an ongoing phenomenon where people use PDA devices to get a multimedia experience.

• The “on the go” status has made social media sites very successful throughout the years.

• In 2026, social networking sites will continue to boom which could have a strong negative effect on our communication skills with others.

• Mobile heath is on the rise• Out with paper and in with electronic documents: Paper work, copay receipts,

results are all processed through an electronic computer health system.• Communication technology is one of the fastest growing areas of innovations in

healthcare.• Track activity, caloric intake, heart rate, and sleep logs are all built into wristlets/

bracelets. Healthcare providers are able to view individual daily progress reports daily or weekly.

• Video capability of providers and physicals. 5-10 introduction. • The extremely ill are able to get evaluated through the convents of an

individual’s home. Home visits are available if needed.

eHealth

The Principle of Relative Constancy• With all this new technology where

does all the old technology go?• The core of the principle of relative

constancy; people spend a fraction of their disposable income on mass media over time.

• New technology is introduced so adaptation can happen. It has to be more captivating so the user will give it up for something that is even more interesting.

• Examples: A person might spend the extra money on Netflix since they think the theatre is more expensive.

References:

• August E. Grant and Jennifer H. Meadows.(2014).Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals(14th Edition.).Burlington,MA

• Cecilia Kang. (2016). Self-Driving Cars Gain Powerful Ally: The Government. New York Times. Page 3

• http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/technology/self-driving-cars-guidelines.html?_r=0

• Carly Ledbetter. (2016). You Can Now Watch Netflix Anywhere You Want Without the Internet. Huffington’s Post. Page 1.

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/you-can-now-watch-netflix-anywhere-you-want-without-the-internet_us_583ee08fe4b0c33c8e131f0d