Here are a few new technologies you might have missed from the past year.
#CleaningRobots
For a while, now tiny robots have been vacuuming our floors, but LG just announced this year a robot that disinfects using UV lights. These robots will move around similar to the vacuum robots, but will focus on high traffic areas in places like hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. Technology in the robots allows them to sense when people are nearby and shut down to reduce humans exposure to UV light. The robots are controlled via smartphone and can also be shut down with an emergency button or through the app. The robots look like a tower fan or air filter with wheels (Pictured in upper right corner).
#NewBatteries
One thing that has been holding back electric transportation is the limitation of batteries. Current batteries are too heavy, costly and require too much time to charge. These limitations make it hard to meet todays transportation needs. However, a new discovery is helping to change batteries to fulfill the needs of all drivers. Xin Li of the Harvard John A Paulson School of Engineering has developed with his team a battery made of solid state lithium metal. Old batteries also utilize lithium but in a liquid state. These new batteries instead involve layers of lithium, graphite, and electrolytes. The way these materials are stacked helps solve the dendrite problem lithium batteries have that can cause battery fires and shorts. Having solved this issue new faster, smaller, and more powerful batteries can be developed. See the video below to see the difference in how these two types of batteries work.
#Illuminarium
More than just a movie, the Illuminarium is an experience that uses video and other sensory technology. The first Illuminarium opened this year in Atlanta with an educational wildlife experience filmed by Radical Media. This 4K video is paired with surround sound, haptic floors, smells, and even special effects like dust or water. Guest are able to walk through the Illuminarium much like you would a museum and experience all it has to offer. Sensors are also being used to make portions of the Illuminarium interactive and react in real-time to visitors' movement. Future locations are being considered across the U.S., so Illuminarium might be coming to a big city near us.
What do you think 2022 has in store for us in the future of technology?
