There are 5 Macro Trends that will shape the Future. These are:
- The Age of Automation
- The Demise of Driving
- A Re-Think of Retail
- A Printable World
- The Triumph of the Tiny
Which of these Trends do you anticipate will have the biggest impact and state why?
I feel the trend with the most significant impact would be nanotechnology. The medical implication of being able to control matter at the nanoscale would extend the human lifespan. This could prevent some currently incurable illness as Michael discussed such as cancer. But could also enable us to develop materials in the world to prevent the spread of diseases that might be passed on in surfaces such as self-cleaning public toilets. Perhaps with further research nanotechnology could extend to prevent airborne pathogens and therefore reduce the spread of viruses such as COVID-19. This could also impact food production enabling us… Read more »
I believe Automation will have the biggest impact in shaping the future, the way we live, the way we work, and the way we define value creation. The impact on jobs will be felt and the need for reskilling will take a new meaning in society.
I think initially that the driving and retail will have the biggest impact on jobs. It may overwhelmingly affect young people entering the job market and the jobs that people don’t need study for; i.e. the more vulnerable in the job market. This is a bit of a concern.
The use of tech makes life easy, and challenging. Autofill or spell check, are great examples Helps reduce the work volume and allows you to concentrate on core issues. Automation is almost here-how will this relate to F2F reaching?
I enjoy the idea of grocery shopping. Putting your grocery items into a bag and not having to take them out in order to pay for them, while also handling your children and being able to move through as quickly as possible.
The convenience (for those with means) is undeniably very interesting! Making shopping for necessities less draining is a good thing, as long as someone/some process can be established to support the people who would need jobs like this to survive themselves. Personally, the easier grocery shopping is something I look forward to 🙂
The idea of having facial recognition everywhere we go seems to be a risk to privacy and freedom. I think that clear legislation needs to be in place for this type of technology to protect human rights and prevent violations. There seems to be a risk here that if the technology doesn’t work correctly for example the amazon go may record you have picked up an item and are then charged when leaving the store in error. Will there be technical human support onshore or offshore to handle troubleshooting problems with these types of technology? There are already many problems… Read more »
The Age of Automation and A Printable World are both relevant the library and information industry. Libraries have always been early adopters of technology and are often ‘trend setters’. If I wanted 3-D printing I would go to a library.
automating fruit picking and harvesting food as it is difficult to find workers during COVID, rather workers can be hard to find and to keep them on board.
I believe Trend 5 – The Triumph of the Tiny, may have the biggest impact. With development in this area, disease may become ‘a thing of the past!!’.
How much money do we currently spend on medication, for the care of people who are sick??
Many services have been developed & staffed to support people, who are sick or recovering from illness??
How will we manage a situation where people live longer??
How will our human systems manage this? Mind boggling!!
I feel the change of the retail world will have the biggest impacts as there are the most jobs and daily life experiences in this category.
Yes, the retail world has already changed. Many job losses BUT…..imagine all the time (as consumers), will gain back in our time banks?? I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not??
I cannot choose which trend will have the biggest impact. They are all quite terrifying. Of course, there are many benefits, but at what cost? I am quite concerned that most will lose their skills and freedoms and simply have no option other than to use the automated devices and services.
A very valid point. We have the potential to have everything done for us…. that where will we be able to contribute and “work” any more?
Agree with you. There already seems to be problems in defaulting services to online. And the biggest issue with this is accessibility and receiving support (particularly when errors or problems arise) with these systems. There is often assumption younger people are able use & access these systems and expectation for older generations to learn and adapt to this new way of life. If people want to use hard copy forms, receive mail, get face to face support and assistance with online systems then there needs to be this accessibility. Groups such as those with a disability, English as second language,… Read more »
Cancer tumours cause death in all age groups and to imagine nano-devices called motes attacking cancerous tumours and bring relief to us humans is profound to think that doctors will be able to enter one’s body using smart dust gives a whole new meaning to medicine in the future.
I have seen beautiful people die from cancerous tumours and have been too young to leave this world. This will have a great impact in the world.
A rethink of retailing i believe will have the biggest impact on society because shopping centres are already becoming congested and areal headache , people are more lazy playing with their phones at home while they search for stuff online with their credit card and buy their takeaway junk food and accumulate kilos in the guise of having more leisure time which is wasted in looking more online.
I agree Ian, this is a viable reality and one which consumers will seek out.
Hardly surprising that on-line ordering has taken hold so quickly!
I anticipate automation as being the most impactful trend. Its applications across so many currently people dominated and staffed industries is profound. This essentially decimates skilled labour workforces across the globe and will likely have a massive impact on the stability of the global economy and distribution of wealth. We as teachers are trying to prepare our students for a world that does not exist yet, the jobs and careers that we prepared for, and the ways we were taught, are no longer relevant.
Well said. There needs to be more support for teachers trying to prepare students for this eventuality.
A rethink of retail certainly in the post covid normal world. Using those retail practices will keep the economy running better.
Industry will welcome with open arms the Rethink on Retail. I admit that at times I get extremely cross with the stores not having enough Check out areas open. Hopwever As time-consuming tasks are reallocated to computers, this means you need fewer staff hours to accomplish the same results so industry will be richer. I always use the Check out Girl – I am keeping her in a job.
Out of the 5 Macro trends I believe automation will have the biggest impact due to the effect it will have on a number of other industries. Insurance, ride share services, automotive industry – production and maintenance. It has the potential to change the way we do things quite dramatically and in quite a short period of time.
True, we are going faster, sooner, and we lost privacy and security, however, we need to ensure that ethics are in place!
Thank you for the heads up for the jobs of tomorrow!
I was thinking the very same thing!! This PD has also reinforced to me, the importance of professional development & ‘moving with the times’…..
Automation I believe will have a huge impact on societies as we have known it because it will affect people’s jobs, livelihoods, sense of identity. This will change the entire fabric of society as we have evolved over centuries to be autonomous and to have a life with a sense of purpose. I believe this may affect the learnt helplessness people face with depression due to relying on a third party to do or fix things for them. Actually doing things with a purpose is good for the soul. The fact that there are 25 million people here in Australia… Read more »
After listening to all 5 trends, I am not sure which will have the most direct impact on us. I think it will affect all jobs we have in some way shape or form. We will however re train to adapt to the changes to ensure the world goes on.
This will definitely have an interesting impact on the education sector, with a potentially massive influx of mature aged students looking to retrain or upskill to meet changing industry demands.
Could not agree more
The Age of Automation. Leaving people with more time to do ?
to do? , nothing! with the fact that there are 25 million people here in Australia who will be searching for work in a job market that will not require their services. This will change the entire fabric of society as we have evolved over centuries to be autonomous and to have a life with a sense of purpose. Hope that robot has a lovely smiley voice over
Exactly. We will have more time with fewer skills to do what? Very worrying for future generations.
I believe it will be the age of automation. Many processes and systems are already automated with many more to come. All of the macro trends involve automation in some way- transport, building, shopping, nanotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing etc. While this has, and will continue to, reduce the workforce in some industries it will also create opportunities in other areas as people are required to develop the automation.
In my field of Pathology, there has already been a big impact from AI Robotics. It started with automation of tests by Pathology Autoanalyser’s replacing bench work. The advances of AI controlled Autoanalyser’s has had a major impact on the design of Pathology laboratory design and the workforce. The technical workforce now need engineering skills as well as clinical knowledge. AI Autoanalyser’s will not only be able to run the test, but could be programmed to make clinical diagnoses and recommend and preform further tests. This could lead to reduction of the workforce of both technical and clinical workers. The… Read more »
I find the use of nano-technology in the medical world fascinating. It has the ability to overhaul our current practices and create whole new ways of doing things, supporting patients and revolutionary treatments.
I feel that the age of automation and the triumph of the tiny will have the biggest impact… AI plus nanobots – mind boggling.
Unfortunately not all workers can use their skills in these areas.
Totally agree, I think it is impossible for us to comprehend the changes that are coming. My mind is very boggled 🙂
definitely there will be smart people looking for ways in science to invent technology aimed at achieving great advances in health eg: for good, and also some maybe who will be trying to get inside our lives ,heads, bodies for evil. its a bit scary.
Yes I agree. It is all so overwhelming and not in a positive way.
The age of automation which actually is the mother of all, when things are done, rather than being done, it changes the way how the doers behave. The use of machines makes life easy, but it also makes it difficult. Just thinking of autofill in my computer, or the spell check, suggestions when I am typing. Where does it take me, sometimes is just another direction. Medium is becoming the driver of our thoughts and words.
agree, the driver of a new language as spell checker corrects a word that sent the conversation into a whole new dimension. also, which could also lock out the people of this world with no access to devices
To be completely Honest, I think it will be fairly evenly matched across the 5, I can already easily identify the impact all 5 have had on my life personally.
My biggest area for concern is the combination of automation and the triumph of the Tiny,
those nanobots following AI instructions could pose issues.
Agreed. The plastic monsters crowding the atmosphere, droning around, seeping into the systems, it is just scary, a science fiction nightmare or a dream!
I agree with your comments here. Whilst all 5 will impact us – there are some that pose a “scarier” concept moving forward than others do.
The Age of Automation
Yes I believe it will divide areas – and will leave remote areas at a disadvantage.
I feel that as 3D printing becomes more mainstream within the general populous in the next decade, this will have a huge daily impact on consumer spending, sustainability ,education ,industries and skills. My eight year old came home from school with a variety of 3D shapes which were made in
her year 2 classroom as part of mathematics, so for that cohort, its forming part of their primary learning.
I am fascinated with the application of this technology within the medical field .especially in the development and transplantation of skin .
Yes, I agree, the robot surgery, compounding at home, three d printing, it just seems the stuff dreams or nightmares used to be made of.
And the impact it will have on our working lives, jobs for future, or not that far in future! tremendous! But it will happen and get accepted just as normal, usual for a machine to take our temperature or even give needles, and how would we open our mouth to a dentist, who is a machine!!
Agreed Fiona… amazing to think what can be done in the medical field with this technology.
3D printing could have a major impact within the medical field. Broken shattered bones could be printed and replaced. Imagine being able to print a replacement heart or kidney. What would the material for the printing be? Possibly be cells grown in tissue culture.
I agree, the impact of 3D printing on the retail world is huge. It has the potential to be helpful but my concerns are with the sustainability of the material used to print products. Are we creating more plastics to pollute the world or do other materials exist that are more environmentally friendly?
The shoulder joint is made up of three bones that all together form the joint. These bones are the clavicle, scapula, and humerus. 3D printing has been used to assist in my husbands shoulder replacement two days in hospital and then home and is pain free. This particular operation could not have been done three years ago. Its the future in Medicine
I feel AI creates too much convenience, it is soul less and impersonal, not to mention highly intrusive! If Ai can do what it is doing now with general automation and this is the beginning, will there be any privacy in our lives? People will fear to express themselves honestly because big brother will be listening. We are forced being into this technology, whether you want it or not, so it is limiting people’s choices… This is why they have children Hooked on screens now through general AI, they will be controlled soul less robots to a degree. It make… Read more »
I feel that automation (AI) will have a huge impact – AI will be able to run the 3D printer – we saw in the videos some of the robots have taken over jobs such as customer service etc (those booking appointments were amazing) and will no doubt take over roles such as accounting, tax returns and financial planning, along with surgeries, appointments with doctors etc. and from the clips will be able to improve on themselves (without human intervention). A scary thought as what sort of jobs will our children, grand children and great children be able to do?
What sort of jobs will our children have? it sounds rather soul less to me.. It seems there will be very little interaction with other people, most will be sitting in front of radiated screens… Will there be jobs for the population we have?
I know I’m from the older generation but this is very frightening, there are some conveniences but I feel people will loose the experience of expressing themselves and creating conversation with new people. The soul will be minimised
I really think a printable world will have the biggest impact. I will reduce the need for trades, production and thus reduce companies etc. we will need to rethink the industry
Completely agree, I teach Baking & Patisserie, Chocolate & meringue can already be printed!
As a cook and Commercial Cookery teacher…I’m not sure I like the advent of printable food… where is the feel, touch, smell, see approach to buying and cooking food?
All very interesting (and a little scary)! I believe a printable world is a very near and real change that will make a big impact due to the fact that it will alter so many aspects of living to just about every person and their day to day lives.
I agree, it is a bit creepy for comfort until it becomes a new normal.
All of the trends are very interesting and have a place in the world of tomorrow which will impact a lot of industries. I am moving towards age automation. Schools have not yet changed enough to prepare for the future. Automation is here now and we need to keep up with it.
Moving forward will depend on how schools successfully accept the changes.
I agree Jeanette. I believe schools are struggling to keep up with the advances however, they require the funds to do so.
Nicole I agree – funding is a huge issue at TAFE too.
5 micro trends will shape our future is sessions were fascinating.
Especially, the Printable world was very interesting.
Agreed!
The way the micro technology can assist in the human body is fascinating!
Although all of the trends will impact on our future. I anticipate a printable world will have the biggest impact, because it is something that the normal person will be able to have in their home. It can be used for so much. Not just for the average person but the way it impacts the medical world and construction is just mind blowing.
I totally agree. The way business works and job roles will need to change which means also education and the way we teach students
With all the changes to come, how can teachers, governments make sure a part of society is not left behind. The impact of moving manufacturing jobs overseas created jobs losses. We must plan and create education and training opportunists. What sort of society do we want to leave for generation to come.
It will be very interesting to see how the demise of driving will develop. We have autopilots, landing aircraft better than human beings. We still put a pilot and co pilot in the cockpit. If self-driving is going to happen, I believe that will be a huge impact that will be seen and experienced by most of us. Retail has gone through a big change already with online shopping. I do believe there changes mentioned will come and as with self-driving cars, it will have a huge impact because it is obvious for everyone to see and experience. The triumph… Read more »
A printable world and the triumph of the tiny will have the biggest impact because the age of automation, demise of driving and re-think of retail are “old-fashioned” due to in the process of realisation and happening and commerce-driven, while 3-D printing and nano technology will benefit productivity and health.
Agree
I believe the age of automation is impacting not only the present but also the future specially in reference to teaching & learning as both the educators as well as the leaners have to keep abreast with technology. The pace of the automation that is happening requires knowledge & skills that are imperative for future employment and well being so as to be a valued member of society.
Printable trend, would have a life changing trend for countries that are presently facing issues with growing food due to the impact of climate change.
Well expressed, especially in regard to correlation between automation and teaching and leaning aspects
Romi, I totally agree with what you have said that age automation impacts both the present and the future. well expressed.
Hi Romi
I agree – AI is certainly moving forward at a quick pace and at the rate it is developing I believe many teachers won’t be needed moving forward as AI will be able to provide the information to the student s- particularly with Artificial Super Intelligence
A printable world was interesting. There are a lot of great insights in these sessions
Although there are great insights to the various trends as discussed by other colleagues there is also the fear of change that is happening to fast & the fear of how will one cope with these trends.
agree, are we ready for all these changes, are we protected from all these changes, do we have regulations in place when things go wrong?
Agree.
Yes I worry where this will leave our future generations. Will they need to use learnt skills or will technology take over as AI develops
The Age of Automation and-Think of Retail can shape the near future, considering many countries where the majority of people are quite deprived of the advantages of the digital world.
Yes, I agree. However, will these countries have access to these new technologies or be left behind?
The countries leaders have to have Technology enablers as one of their main agenda items and work creatively to get their countries comfortable with technology!
The age of automation will be big in the future. Not only will it be big in all work places, and a lot of employment lost but also in every individuals every day life.
If I think of these trends in the context of my NESB students at TAFE, I believe the age of automation has had the most direct impact on their lives as we see automation taking over industries they were once able to be employed in. While technological advances are making incredible changes to our lives, for those who are not technologically literate, their employment opportunities seem to diminish.
I agree and it is concerning that so many job opportunities will be diminished.
All the trends discussed will be fascinating to see unfold over the next 10 – 20 years. I believe the age of automation will certainly impact us the most as a society as some occupations will no longer exist and new ones will present themselves. Developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills will become more important in a tech-driven world.
I agree Lee, the age of automation will have an ever increasing impact on the way society interacts as well as communicates and processes vital information. Our world is already highly tech-driven and very reliant on all 5 of the macro trends which will change our lives even more dramatically entering into the next decade.
I absolutely agree with how the importance of thinking outside the box will become a critical aspect if we need to keep abreast with these amazing trends.
Good thinking about the occupational and societal changes
I absolutely agree with how the importance of thinking outside the box will become a critical aspect if we need to keep up with the developing trends and prepare our young generation for what’s coming
Interesting times, however, most of us have gone through many shifts, changes and adaptation throughout our working careers I think all these trends will impact us both positively and negatively depending on how we choose to allow them It’s a matter of working with the Trends, and being prepared for the change that they will offer is key As a VET teacher in Electrical Trades, I see these changes from more the design and servicing of these technologies is where our students need to develop and hone their skills. It is certainly opening up many opportunities for my industry (so… Read more »
totally agree, we need to teach our students to be critical thinkers and adapt to quick changes.
That is certainly a positive way to view these potential changes
All will be very interesting and will all have a huge impact to the way we live. In terms of impacts on how we deliver to students, the Age of Automation, will change learning the most. Teachers will need to develop new ideas to make students independent because of technologies.
Yes David, I agree, but the process of educating students to be independent has always been key regardless of technologies – but very interesting how our students will be motivated and to think will be interesting compared to how we were taught and the students we have taught throughout our careers – however exciting times all the same
All 5 macro trends are shaping the future but the one that is having the most impact is the Age of Automation. With the rise of robots, influence of Artificial Intelligence (including digital and facial recognition technology) jobs are evolving and new occupations are emerging as new technologies are coming into play that are altering the nature of work.. It would be hard to live without these new technologies now that have entered our world (eg. Google Maps).
Suzanne, I certainly agree and see the impacts technologies have made and continue to make on our standard of living. Could we live without many of the life changers of technology have made – some yes and some no – it’s the convenience we are enjoying – it’s educating ourselves to educate for the future is our role – something I am still grappling with
I think the age of Automation may have the greatest impact. If we can already get two computers to talk to each other and for them, to develop their own code – well that is scary. I can see that many of the futuristic films becoming true, i.e. where artificial intelligence and our own life can not be distinguished apart or for that matter we could end up being their servants instead of the other way around.
I agree Jenny, that the Age of Automation is the most significant of all the trends. Critical thinking will be important skills for all! We all need to reflect, problem solve and see things from different perspectives. Life is evolving in so many ways and we all need to keep up!!!!! Adapt, and keeping moving forward!!!!!!!!! So exciting!!!!!
I agree Suzanne. Critical thinking is key for all Lessons
I agree with you Jenny – the greatest impact would be automation .. very scary when they are talking to each other, however, I currently work in retail and the idea of a printable world will truly change the way we sell our product, how we promote it and the challenges around the ownership of our products. Interesting times indeed.
As time passes tech keeps changing and evolving, I’d like to think the triumph of the tiny will make medical intervention and changes/ cures, but whether the big pharmaceutical companies allow this is another matter.
I would like to think that as well, as it would be for the benefit for man kind ( which would be a nice change instead of some mufti-national corporation)
Hi Kate
I agree . I hope that human nature and the inherent need to do good prevails.
Technology continues to improve which means the opportunities are endless. I look forward to seeing what improvements we will see
The demise of driving I can see will have a big change if its cost efficient.
One of the biggest expenses I have is owning a car, if self driving uber style car trips come into effect. the cost of use could be 10% of owning a car. Car ownership will completely change. Then we will have the problem of what to do with all those empty car spaces and empty car parks.
This trend interests me most in terms of when and how it will become a reality. I’m sure the government will find plenty of uses for empty carparks!
I do like the idea of drive less cars. Hopefully this option would be better the environment as well with less cars on the roads. I am sure car park land will be used for housing, business etc
The demise of driving would create a safer world on the roads without the human interaction which causes many accidents and deaths each year, also with the shift to cleaner fueled vehicles a less polluted planet.
These are all very interesting and will all have a huge impact to the way we live. In terms of impacts on how we prepare our students, I think the Age of Automation, which encompasses the other areas is at the top. How do we teach students to be problem solvers and try new challenges if everything is already being done for them? I am looking forward seeing solutions in this area and I really feel sorry for the future students who won’t have the same, useful opportunities to develop their own critical thinking skills because of these technologies.
Yes, I agree that the Age of Automation is the most significant of all the trends. Critical thinking will be important skills for all! This will be an important part of new courses moving forward!
Fiona
I agree we will need to develop new ways to think critically and in a way go back to basics to ensure these soft skills are not lost to automation.
Yes Fiona just imagine I learnt keyboarding a manual typewriter. Some of the skills I had to learn to do my Teacher of Typewriting examination makes me feel how amazing my skills were.
I feel lucky to have seen the evolution technological change. DOS and all the character based application packages. I feel the intellect required to write programs were may be difficult but after that it has been easier with all the picture based programs.
I can’t decide which of these individually would have the biggest impact. I think what’s interesting and very frightening is that they are all happening at the same time and these trends will come together in ways that we can’t yet predict – magnifying the impacts
I agree – it all seems to be happening at all fronts at he same time, and one can only hope that the relentless march towards automation does not resolve in full employment for AI and increasingly less for humanity. If people do not work, how will they be able to pay for all this.
Most certainly – the speed at which these changes are happening is quite frightening and confronting! Changes due to the implementation of technology in the way we (and future teachers) deliver training and education will have a profound impact on the way future generations learn.
Yes the changes will all come into play very quickly at around the same time. This will make it very difficult for some people to get a grasp on
Lots of interesting ideas and amazing that it is not at all far away! I feel that the Age of Automation may have the largest impact on society in the future. I think it will have far-reaching effects on businesses, industries but most importantly, people. People have a fundamental need to be able to interact with each other. It will be interesting to see how this trend impacts in the long term and the complete shift in relating to others. Not to mention how available this technology will be to people who may not have the financial means to access… Read more »
I really enjoyed this. ITs all very interesting and slightly terrifying.
All 5 of these trends are really not that far away in the scheme of things and all have the potential to create huge change.
The demise of driving is one I feel probably the closest to home, as he said, will my children ever learn to drive? or will that be a thing of the past for them by the time they reach that age.
This module absolutely got my brain ticking.
Thank you.
Absolutely agree, scary thoughts of driverless cars but it will be safer than drivers in sydney now
I have lived through many of these changes and am still worried about driverless vehicles.