We are all still waiting for the flying car to get invented, but for now, here are some amazing new technologies that are totally nifty and could possibly improve your life. You're welcome!
1. Facebook Lite
The focus of this app is to provide a data-efficient Facebook experience to people who have slow connections and older phones. Think: Facebook and its amazing mobile app without all the lag time. The app data size is less that 1MB, which is amazing for such a dynamic app. Everything loads super quickly and is definitely better for your phone bill.
Pro: A faster Facebook experience.
Con: Only available on Android smart phones right now.
2. Sell your kicks with Flip
Flip is a mobile resale app for your sneakers. The company guarantees any and all items will be sold within 90 minutes, because if no one wants your old kicks then Flip will buy the pair. The app is so well designed it is making me wish I had a pair of sneakers to sell. Go check it out in the App Store under FLIP: Everyone’s Sneaker Connect
Pro: Make some money off of old sneakers, well-designed app.
Con: Only for iOS Apple phones right now.
3. Your next dream destination: space
The founder, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, just announced plans to launch people into space! That’s right! Tourist trips to space are coming your way in 2018.
How? Blue Origin will be using their reusable landing spacecraft.
Pro: Explore a new frontier in the future.
Con: You have to wait a solid two years.
4. Is that a snake in the skyline?
Russian billionaire Vasily Klyukin has plans to change the Japanese skyline to look more sss-scintillating.
Anyways, Klyukin is setting his sights on building a skyscraper in the shape of a Cobra. Why a snake in Japan? Snakes are meant as compliments in Japanese culture.
Pro: I think we all know where the next James Bond villain is working.
Con: Anyone with ophidiophobia should not visit this building.
5. Hotel robots are here
Don’t believe me? Check out Connie at theHilton McLean in Virginia.
Connie cannot replace the hotel staff, rather she can help with the concierge and finally get you those extra pillows. Hilton and IBM Watson collaborated to create Connie. There will definitely be more Connies in your future.
Pro: The wow factor.
Con: So," I, Robot" is going to become a reality. Thanks Hilton and IBM.
6. Change your genes.
With the help of CRISPR-Cas9, scientists can now target and change specific genes in living cells.This past year alone, Chinese scientists were able to genetically engineer a human embryo. Sounds pretty crazy? CRIPSPR-Cas9 targets the problematic genes and replaces them with different molecules. Take that genetic diseases.
Pro: Let me repeat myself, take that, genetic diseases.
Con: The ethical conflict of being able to change your genes could get messy.
7. *Oprah voice* You get Internet, you get Internet! And you get Internet!
Google is saving the world. Again. This time the tech magnet is supplying internet access to parts of the world that do not have limited access.
Project Loon uses high altitude balloons to accomplish this. First stop is the small island country of Sri Lanka. If Project Loon is successful there, then Google will most likely expand the project.
Pro: Everyone will eventually have internet and finally connect the world.
Con: The internet audience is becoming bigger = more people to be embarrassed in front of. Do not do anything stupid on the internet.
8. Go see Google!
Check out amazing technology yourself! Google will be hosting its annual Google I/O conference at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California from May 18 to May 20. Registration opened March 8. Obviously, you will need a Google account to sign in and fill out the super quick application.
Pro: Student academic tickets are $300, which is fairly inexpensive.
Con: Registering does not guarantee entrance into the three-day conference. And it is in California, so make sure to calculate travel costs into your game plan.
