Who said TV is bad for you?

It’s amazing how many of today’s ordinary technology, started their life as an extraordinary prop in a book or television show.

This week ABC Wide Bay’s David Dowsett and I took a look at the top 10 innovations that were first seen in the 1960’s Sci-Fi series Star Trek and now probable, possible and in many cases ordinary.

1. Mobile phones
2. Warp speed
3. Transporter beams
4. Tractor beams
5. Replicators
6. 3D medical holograms
7. Medical tricorders
8. Holodecks
9. Cloaking devices
10. Friendly androids / robots

Take a listen now and let me know which Sci-Fi or movie innovation you’re still waiting for.

Robots aint what they used to be, they’re what they’re going to be…

Robot butlers and maids seems to be the most common expectation we have of our new metallic friends. Robots that are lifelike, technically called androids, may still be some time off, but Robots of all other sizes, shapes and complexities are making their debut into the world of work and play.

In this week’s on air discussion James Lush of ABC Perth Local and I had a look at what we can expect to see and have in the world of Robots, Androids, Bots and Nano Bots.

In the world of medicine and health care we will see the growth and surge in telemedicine allowing Doctors and medical professionals to share, consult and even operate anywhere from anywhere, as Doctor’s climb inside a virtual robot and drive themselves around remote hospitals and operating theatres.

In offices and factories we will also have remote vehicle robots jockeying their virtual executives and workers around distant and remote global offices and factories.

There will also be an array of factory robots including Baxter who can learn and replicate any repetitive task in 90 seconds and costs around $22,000 to purchase, giving him an operating cost of $3.52 per hour, the same cost of the average Chinese worker – will this bring back some of the manufacturing to Australia? – stay tuned.

In our homes, we have already seen the march to the automation of lighting, heating, security and appliances as well as robotic washing machines, dryers, vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers, but as they say in the TV ads, wait there’s more…

Our roads over the next years will start to be populated by self driving cars and remote controlled heavy vehicle will continue to grow in popularity, what will this mean for road conditions and safety?

Aged Care, retail, defence, security and all other things Robot were all part of this weeks segment, so have a listen and let me know what you’re most looking forward to about your first Robot.

Noodle making robots

Robots have long been the stuff of science fiction and many of us have grown up waiting for the day when our dreams might turn into technological reality.

In this morning’s regular look ahead David Dowsett of radio ABC and I took a look at robots and discovered that they are already here.

Telemedicine robots allows Doctors to virtually jump inside a moving mechanical device and transport themselves around hospitals and clinics engaging and treating patients along the way. Robotic surgeons use their robotic arms to accurately guide and oversee complex operations often in tandem with skilled physical physician hands. Nano robots are routinely swallowed into our body and then guided around to take internal x-rays and photographs. Robotic limbs replace lost, degenerated and non-existent limbs, as well as provide heart pumps and other life-giving robotically controlled devices.

In our offices and factory’s we see the increased use of teleworkers using robotic Segway like devices that allow executives to be in two places at once by jumping on-board a telerobot and riding it virtually around far away offices to attend board meeting in one country without ever having to leave the comforts of their own offices. Many of these devices cost no more than $250 and use PC tablets mounted on robotic shoulders and free software to see and connect you.

On our roads we can expect to see a fleet of driverless cars who know where you need to be and when, have real-time updates of the road conditions ahead and will chauffeur you to your destination in comfort and safety.

Robots are also entering the hospitality industry as noodle makers, hamburger flippers and sous chefs and in retail as clerks and sales assistants.

Robots as anthropomorphic, high functioning, independently thinking, self replicating humanoid machines are still a long way off. In theory they appear to be easy to create, but in reality are still beyond the ready boundaries of our capabilities and technologies.

There is much work being done in robotics and the most recent catalyst of this is the growth and convergence of big data, mobile technologies, changing culture and a growing appetite for robot like devices together with a practical and pragmatic future need to overcome a growing chronic shortage of workers in some industry’s.

For now, and the immediate future, we will have to contend ourselves with robots and mechanical devices that provide assistance with life and works more mundane and repetitive tasks.

Robots when they do arrive will bring with them many challenges. They will start and stop careers, industry’s and jobs. They will require us to grapple with the ethics and rights of robots and humans and make decisions that we have never had to make before as we learn to co-exist with machines.

The time to start these debates is now, for we are truly on the precipice of when not if as science fiction turns daily to robotic science fact.

Have a listen to the segment now…

3D Printing and Robots – the April Webinar

Science fiction becomes science fact in my BreadCrumb Innovation webinar this month as I finish off my series of three webinars on my 13 trends for 2013.

This month we took a look at robots in our offices, aged care facilities, warehouses, on the road and pretty much everywhere we look, and the heralding of the 3rd Industrial Revolution, the thing that will for ever change the way we see design, prototyping, manufacturing, retailing and every other thing we do and buy – 3D printing.

These horizon game changers need to be on every decision makers radar strategy screen and we must start thinking now how and when they may start disrupting and changing our world and business.

We also stopped off along the way to celebrate the 40th birthday of mobile phones and explore what this little invention has meant to the world and also chat about a couple of great teenagers with incredible innovation skills and what they’ve invented.

Have a look at this month’s webinar (47 minutes) and be sure to join me on Monday 13th May 2013 @ 1.00 p.m. AEST when I begin a series of webinars sharing the how, what, where, who and why of innovation, taking you behind the scenes of my BreadCrumb Innovation program and show you the step by step proven formula of how I bring Innovation and Foresight to an orgnaisation. click here to reserve your spot.

Join me for BreadCrumb Innovation – the monthly FREE Webinar tour into the FUTURE

Ever fancied yourself as a sculptor or inventor? Ever looked at a car, lamp shade or dinner set and said I’d like that, but I wish it also had…….

In the not too distant future your hyperpersonalisation needs and creative genius will unite to be able to give you exactly what you want, where and when you want it.

This little genie is heralding the third industrial revolution, an epic adventure we have already embarked on that will eventually become routine and easily produce one-off spare parts, bespoke tailored clothes, designer houses, tricked up cars and even produce our own replacement human organs right in our own homes, offices, hospitals and workplaces.

In this morning’s Melbourne Age there’s a great article on someone who had lost part of their face to cancer and had it reprinted for him and reattached (great story read it here).

This game changer technology, known as 3D printing, will ultimately revolutionise the way we think, design, produce and manufacture and for those that get into it now, it may offer the riches of a new-found industry.

This disruptive technology will change the way you do business. It will offer you invention, innovation and possibilities that until now you may have considered science fiction, but I’d love to show you how it’s all becoming science fact in my FREE 45 minute webinar on Monday 8th April at 1.00 p.m. AEST.

BOOK NOW

The other major horizon trend we’ll chat about this month is Robots, who doesn’t love a good robot story!

Robots have started to do some really cool things in farming, aged care, education, retail, medicine and even walking around our offices and I’ll show you what to expect from them in the very near future.

As always we’ll stop off along the way to look at what’s new and trending, what’s hot in innovation land and which projects and ideas are getting the global innovation juices flowing this month.

Lots of great stuff this month and as always when we know future, we think future and do future, so…

BOOK your spot NOW

Last month we had a record crowd online, so please join our ever-growing tribe of Webinar Wisdom Warriors.

All you need is an inquisitive mind, a passionate desire to know what’s over the horizon and a computer screen.

BOOK NOW

Aged Care for the Young At Heart

The Future of Aged Care is such a big topic, if for no other reason 1 in 4 of Australian’s are going to be in the Age Care demographic in the next 25 years.

Robots and stay at home technology is going to play a big part in this future and this week I took Clare Brady of Channel 7’s Today Tonight on a virtual tour of how this might look in a decade or two, these were her take-aways from our chat:

“Waiting in the wings are robots washing hair to replace human hairdressers; and for more independence in the home, elderly people will soon have robots that remember faces, where you put your glasses and how you like your tea.

Futurist Morris Miselowski is convinced the sorts of inventions seen in Hollywood films like ‘Robot and Frank’ aren’t the stuff of fantasy. He says seniors’ mornings will never be the same again when homes come equipped with elite sensors.

“If it senses anything untoward – so if we normally get up at 9am but we’re not up yet – it will shake the pillow, rock the bed, draw the curtains to let in light. Then, if you don’t get up, it will phone somebody,” Miselowski said.

“When you’re in the bathroom it will monitor your vital signs, take sugar tests out of your urine, breath test you, and in the mirror it will check your complexion. it’s quite incredible (and it’ll happen) in the next ten to fifteen years.”

It’s a real challenge as in 40 years one in four Australians will need some form of care and will be living, on average, well beyond 100.”

Watch this segment now:

What’ll it be like when we get there?

Everyone loves a chat about Robots and how and when we’re going to see them in our lives and when you match this up to the other topic we are all concerned about – Aged Care you have the basis for my chat this morning with Steve Mills of 6PR Perth.

Topics included Robots that wash hair, carpets that monitor your movements, fridges that know what you’ve taken out, bathrooms that test your bodies vital signs from your ablutions and clothing that can monitor that your breathing OK and if not can call for help, are all part of the future of aged care.

Have a listen now:

Physically Aged, Virtually Young

In 2050 25.3% of Australia’s population will be over 65 years of age, with many of us living routinely to 100 and preferring to remain in our own homes, as long as possible.

How will the Australian government and the Aged Care industry cope with this?

Given that we will have fewer people in our workforce and more demands on those that are; an employment landscape that is less 9 -5 and more project and task driven, where will Aged Care workers come from?

This is the start of my chat this afternoon with 2UE’s Clinton Maynard and Trevor Long as we looked at technology in institutional, residential and at-home aged care.

This included magic carpets that monitor a persons walking and movements, homes that monitor residents for vital signs, robots that wash hair and sit with dementia patients to ensure their safety and much more.

Have a listen now:

Science fiction coming to life

Flying cars was where Phoebe and I started this radio Sydney ABC Local radio conversation, but we quickly got talking about how many science fiction dreams have turned into reality with a look at the movies and books that inspired the iPad, iPhone, water-bed, robots, video chats, ear buds and more.

So listen in to see where some of our everyday tech gadgets started their lives.

I will know what you’re thinking…

Technology that can read your minds, predict your thoughts and see your dreams were all part of today’s on air discussion between radio ABC Australia’s Adelaine Ng and myself, as we delved into some of the most prolific public perceptions of the future.

The flying car also got a mention, this is the perennial favourite, but the reality is far more boring; it’s been around for decades but authorities won’t allow it into the airspace.

We also had a great chat about the future of the brain and the work being done to discover how it works and how we may be able to “fix” it when it’s broken. (audio not available)