- The Powers of the Mind
- Information Technology (IT)
- Medical Technologies
- Genetics
- Alternative Energy
- Artificial Intelligence, Material Sciences, and Nanotechnology
- The Challenge of Commercialization
The Challenge of Commercialization
The technologies described have great promise. Already they are causing disruption. The next wave of innovation is giving birth to a post-industrial society that is less dependent on materials and force of things and more dependent on ideas. Futurist Magazine annually makes forecasts4 about what is likely to take place next. Its forecasts have included innovations in IT (a more intelligent cloud), medical technology (handheld breathalyzers to diagnose disease), genetic technology (designer genes), alternative energy (cars that produce, rather than consume, power), and artificial intelligence (robot caregivers). The commercial appeal of these technologies surely is high, but they must overcome obstacles to their commercialization. The slow and arduous path of their commercialization is the subject of the next chapter.