EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES

EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES -by Gautam Shah 

.

Emerging technologies are those technical innovations which represent progressive developments within a field for competitive advantage. The era defining phrases such as Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Steel Age succinctly tell a story.

Technology is relevant on following counts

●         Materials

●         Conversion Processes

●         Deployment Design

●         Termination Processes

Technologies begin to be relevant, simultaneously on several of these counts. A challenge emerges on one of these counts, and the whole process gets a rethink. New materials have been conceived and devised because conversion processes demand the change, deployment design offers new opportunities, or the termination processes force a re-validation.

 

New materials emerge from technical up-gradation, development of new combinations, use of different processing methods, revolutionary deployment design and new concerns regarding cost-benefits, conservation, sustainability, disposal, recycling, etc. 

New Processes are needed to meet needs for varied forms, shapes and sizes in design fields. It is advantageous to move over to new materials, then to waste time and effort in fine tuning the current materials. There are also tendencies to move from speculative to guaranteed performance as much as taking up risks associated with new things.

 

Deployment Design was till now based on planner and spatial geometric configurations. It is now increasingly relying on understanding of natural forms and their behaviour (biometric), Neural networks, Molecular structures like DNA, cell and crystal formations, Galactic space bodies and Energy modelling.

Termination Processes were always very important for human interventions, such as: Building sites, large human settlements, war zones, areas of natural calamities and diseases. These places had to be abandoned wasting geo-political advantage, or expending the effort for a fresh start at a new location. Modern day activities are planned with concerns like conservation, preservation, recycling, safe-disposal, recovery of fringe benefits, etc.

EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES are operative as:

          1        Miniaturization

          2        Regulated processing

          3        Multi lateral or functional operations

          4        Convergent technologies

          5        Quantum jumping

          6        Systems thinking

          7        Specificity and Localization

          8        Generality and Universalization

          9        Tools, Handling, Reach capacities

          10      Cross over absorption of technologies

1   Miniaturization

It works primarily as mass versus weight factor resulting in energy versus benefit ratio. In buildings it results as a space saving and handling factor. In certain circumstances the loss of the second (width) and third (depth or height) dimension makes an entity of nearly zero mass (embedded transistors in a printed circuit, CCDs, metallized film, etc.).

2   Regulated processing

Regulated processing conditions the response time and in many circumstances recovery time. These technologies were used in controlling the reverse action, bounce back or impact absorption, but are used in transfer systems such as elevators, walkways, conveyors, controls for gadgets, vibratory conditions, acoustics, climate control, etc. Regulated processing was once upon a time on simultaneous or synchronous movement control. One movement system (like a turning shaft) turned several sub systems through sprockets, gears and levers. This is now being changed with thyristor controls resulting in nearly no-movement devices.

3   Multi lateral or Multi functional operations

Multi functional processes have faster throughput, accurate and consistent output. Such plants save space, often operate in inclement environmental conditions, isolation, hazard prone situations and require no ergonomic considerations. Some of the known Multi Functional technologies are CNC machines, work stations, Robotics, Fewer components, Non-moving or passive operations, Distributed and Localized control systems, Integrated feed forward and feed back systems.

 

4   Convergent technologies

We add on technologies to existing systems as these are realized or become viable. Here there is an inherent sequencing of processes or layering of applications. Convergent technologies combine several such time and space relevant technologies. The singular offering has efficiency of integrated working, fewer components, and a compact design. As this is conceived as a replacement for existing set, it obviously has a neat and self-sufficient form. Convergent technologies are deficient in the sense that the solution offered is local, specific and still only a component-relevant (yet a larger component replacing several small ones).

5   Quantum jumping

Quantum Jumping is often called a ‘disruptive technology’. It is a radical concept that replaces one or several technologies. A quantum jumping technology must become effective very fast. Wireless telephony or mobiles have made a substantial change.

6   Systems thinking

Systems consist of elements, relationships and a structure or pattern. System thinking allows one to seamlessly transit from one to another type of system, and develop a common concept or an inclusive system. It is not a physical entity but helps in assimilating diverse technologies and orders.

 

7   Specificity and Localization

There is always a debate, should one be specific and locally relevant? By being so one saves on effort and redundancy of diversity. It saves on transport and negates the scope of communication. The former has turned costlier but the later has become faster, efficient, cheaper and multi mode. Specificity and localization have a tendency of creating closed ended systems or holistic architecture. The owner is omni present here and so there is a resistance to change such as alteration or enhancement. Most arts and crafts are intrinsically specific.

 

8   Generality and Universalization

These concepts develop when the creator, or producer is distanced in time and space from the user. These entities are designed as open ended systems for wider acceptability (markets-clientele) and longer relevance. Another cause for this is to create ‘windows’ or slots for upgrades and expansion. A pyramid is not an extendible form, a cylinder has limited scope for enhancement, but a cubical form has several sided options. A step further to this thinking is to create potential nodes where connections can occur as in case of space stations or Internet.

  

9  Tools, Handling, Reach capacities

Tools, handling systems and reach capacities have made it possible to deploy new designs. Last century some amazing tools like under water and argon welding, flexi drills, pneumatic tools and medical scopes. These capacities and Robots, Scopes, MMR, sonar and other imaging tools, Flex hand tools, pneumatic super speed tools, Spark erosion, Automation, control devices, Remote processing, material removal and mass building linked to 3D modelling.

10  Cross over absorption of technologies

Innovations in a field have more takers in other fields. Space travel innovations have been very extensively adopted in life sciences, fine chemicals and agriculture. Advances in Bio-sciences have inspired builders to design biometric architecture. Digital imaging, remote sensing and global positioning have collectively opened many new avenues of knowledge. Miniaturization has brought in drones, bugs, spiders are not just espionage tools but monitors for conditions inside the body, pipes, atomic reactors, mines and architectural models. These are some examples how different technologies overlap to generate a new entity, which in turn is employed in never conceived form. A technocrat needs to be aware of emergent technologies in other fields. Otherwise by the time these percolate to their own field, the developments out-date them.

 

.