I made a list of 150 crazy things we didn't have 15 years ago
So many used to be hard or frustrating, now they just work
It’s wild how different the world is now
Imagine what it'll be in the future:
🔷EVs
🔷E-books
🔷YouTube
🔷Podcasts
🔷VR gaming
🔷Video calls
🔷Audiobooks
🔷3D printing
🔷Social media
🔷Remote work
🔷Telemedicine
🔷Crowdfunding
🔷Online dating
🔷Online gaming
🔷Online banking
🔷Online learning
🔷Online shopping
🔷Fitness trackers
🔷Mobile hotspots
🔷Mobile payments
🔷Home automation
🔷Voice assistants
🔷Scheduling tools
🔷QR code scanning
🔷Group video calls
🔷Interactive maps
🔷Smart thermostats
🔷Home solar panels
🔷Password managers
🔷Smartphone wallets
🔷Remote car starters
🔷Autonomous vehicles
🔷Online food delivery
🔷Travel planning apps
🔷Online bill payments
🔷Electronic signatures
🔷Bike-sharing services
🔷Ride-sharing services
🔷VR travel experiences
🔷Car-sharing platforms
🔷End-to-end encryption
🔷Smart street lighting
🔷Blind spot monitoring
🔷Easy-pairing Bluetooth
🔷Smart luggage tracking
🔷TV and movie streaming
🔷Adaptive cruise control
🔷Online grocery shopping
🔷Robotic vacuum cleaners
🔷Online workout programs
🔷Cloud-based file sharing
🔷Smart parking assistance
🔷Privacy-focused browsers
🔷Streaming music services
🔷Team collaboration tools
🔷Virtual coworking spaces
🔷Two-factor authentication
🔷Wearable fitness trackers
🔷Nutritional tracking apps
🔷Sleep tracking technology
🔷Electronic voting systems
🔷Virtual tutoring services
🔷Universal remote controls
🔷Online multiplayer gaming
🔷Language translation apps
🔷Advanced sports analytics
🔷Gene-editing technologies
🔷Voice-controlled smart TVs
🔷Online courses and degrees
🔷Electronic medical records
🔷Noise-canceling headphones
🔷Traffic management systems
🔷In-car infotainment systems
🔷Learning management systems
🔷Energy-efficient appliances
🔷Collision avoidance systems
🔷Project management software
🔷DIY platforms and tutorials
🔷Online art and design tools
🔷Nanotechnology applications
🔷Last-mile delivery services
🔷Customizable radio stations
🔷Video conferencing platforms
🔷Personalized fitness coaching
🔷Smart locks and keyless entry
🔷Meter-accurate GPS navigation
🔷Drones for aerial photography
🔷Live sports streaming services
🔷Online study groups and forums
🔷Electric bicycles and scooters
🔷Augmented reality applications
🔷Collaborative document editing
🔷Online professional networking
🔷Hands-free mode on smartphones
🔷Braille displays and e-readers
🔷Online access to public records
🔷Gamified language learning apps
🔷Meditation and mindfulness apps
🔷ML-personalized recommendations
🔷Wireless headphones and earbuds
🔷E-ticketing for trains and buses
🔷Time tracking and invoicing apps
🔷Online hobby and interest groups
🔷Virtual museum and gallery tours
🔷Online music production software
🔷Online travel guides and reviews
🔷Community-based traffic reporting
🔷Remote monitoring of energy usage
🔷E-commerce and online marketplaces
🔷Vehicle telematics and diagnostics
🔷High-resolution digital photography
🔷Mobile restaurant and café ordering
🔷Virtual incubators and accelerators
🔷Freelance and gig economy platforms
🔷Personal finance and budgeting apps
🔷Advanced weather forecasting models
🔷Over-the-air (OTA) software updates
🔷Public transportation tracking apps
🔷Instant video editing on smartphones
🔷Mobile boarding for public transport
🔷Virtual laboratories and simulations
🔷Remote sensing and satellite imaging
🔷Intelligent waste management systems
🔷Livestreaming events and performances
🔷Mobile apps for mental health support
🔷Cloud storage and file synchronization
🔷Digital photo storage and organization
🔷Virtual concerts and live performances
🔷Infrastructure monitoring technologies
🔷Ad-blocking and tracker-blocking tools
🔷Digital coaching and training platforms
🔷Virtual reality simulations for athletes
🔷Digital news platforms and subscriptions
🔷Environmentally friendly building design
🔷Urban data platforms and city dashboards
🔷Hearing aids with Bluetooth connectivity
🔷Collaborative playlists and music sharing
🔷Access to research databases and journals
🔷Online certifications and training programs
🔷Online art galleries and virtual exhibitions
🔷Mobile apps for speech-to-text transcription
🔷Online resources for learning sign language
🔷Personalized learning paths in online courses
🔷Connected devices and sensors for city services
That's the list!
Now imagine AI assisting all of the above, and humans and machines collaborating through the most powerful interface ever developed: language.
The next 15 years will create more change than the previous 50, perhaps more.
What did I miss?
Challenge: add more to this list, including underlying technical things that used to be hard, but now just work.
Justin Mikolay 💻
@jmikolay
Inspiring & helping you to create & put something new into the world. Love writing, knowledge management & the creative process. Fmr speechwriter & submariner.