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The Most Important Technological Innovations of the 21st Century
Many great inventions have already marked the 21st century, and some of these have been pivotal compared to previous centuries. Although we are only 20 years into the new millennium, so much has happened. A boom in technology has promoted the development of new inventions that continue to impact our lives in many ways. However, it is not very easy to determine the most significant inventions. As such, here are the most important technological innovations of the 21st century.
Social Media
Social media is probably the most common and most popular technological innovation of the 21st century. It continues to evolve too. This is a new form of communication that is powered by the internet and requires the use of special devices like smartphones and computers.
There are different social media platforms, and these allow people to communicate in real-time.
You need to open an account with your preferred social media platform to link it with your loved ones’ accounts. With social media, you can enjoy services such as instant messaging, exchanges of photos, and videos. Other social media platforms can facilitate voice calls. Many businesses are now using social media to conduct activities like marketing and to communicate with their clients to improve their performance.
Drone Technology
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are a part of the significant technological innovations of the time. Drones are used for various purposes since they can capture quality aerial photos and videos. Creative designers from Paddlecreative explain that drone technology has significantly revolutionized the film and photography industries.
Drones can be used for multiple other purposes, such as performing property marketing projects and security. UAVs can be used in different sectors, and they are very effective since they provide reliable and real-time data on what is happening in a different place.
The security services can deploy drones to different places for surveillance purposes, and the operators on the ground will get accurate information. In the construction and mining industries, drone technology enhances accuracy and precision, and it is a reliable method of gathering data. UAVs also promote efficiency in the operations of various other sectors.
Blockchain
Though many people still do not understand blockchain or cryptocurrency, they should have heard about it by now. This technology is an alternative to fiat currency, but it is digitally based. With cryptocurrency, you can perform all transactions that you can do with hard money as long as the parties involved have the crypto. The only difference is that a central bank does not control cryptocurrency, and you cannot hold it like hard currency.
The cryptocurrency technology was introduced in 2008 with the creation of the Bitcoin, which remains the most popular among different cryptocurrencies. Blockchain is gaining widespread recognition, and the financial sector has since adopted it. Other industries also use blockchain for different purposes, such as buying different products and services and money transfers. Cryptocurrency can be traded with money.
Because of its popularity and constant presence in the media, today, it is easy to find where to buy Bitcoin. However, several alternative cryptocurrencies shouldn’t be overlooked, such as Ethereum – the second largest one today – and XRP created by Ripple Labs Inc. The latter is a decentralized, open-source technology aimed at enabling global financial transactions of any size, nearly for free.
Electric Cars
While it cannot be said that electric cars are exactly an invention of the 21st Century, technology has been popularized recently. The electric car consists of an electric motor that propels it using the energy that is stored in a rechargeable battery. The most notable development in this technology involves charging stations for these cars, just like gas stations.
Electric cars are energy efficient, and they do not cause much air and noise pollution. These electric cars are a good alternative that can resolve the challenges of environmental pollution. Climate change is real and the challenges of global warming are topical which means that a viable solution should be found in the long-term.
Smartphones and Tablets
Almost everyone uses a smartphone during the current period. Not so long ago, mobile phones consisted of keypads with buttons, but these have been overtaken by new technology.
The touch screen was introduced in 2007 and has since spread to other devices such as tablets, laptops, stereos, and television sets. A touch screen consists of a super-thin glass that is chemically strengthened, and you can operate all the functions on your device from the screen using your fingers. The touch screen glass is sturdy, and it does not easily break. Even if the screen cracks, your device will continue to work.
Since the onset of the new millennium, various technological innovations have happened, and these include but are not limited to the following: drones, social media, electric motors, smartphones, blockchain, and others. These technological innovations have improved our lives in many ways. However, we have yet to witness new technological innovations that take us to another level.
About the author:
Allen Brown is a dad of 3 kids and is a keen writer covering a range of topics such as Internet marketing, SEO and more! When not writing, he’s found behind a drum kit.