A FEW EXAMPLES OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES :

  • The steam engine replaced sailing ships as the major transportation system, advancing trade, industry and the movement of people
  • The personal computer (PC) displaced the typewriter and forever changed the way we work
  • Email has largely replaced letter-writing and disrupted the postal and greeting card industries
  • Mobile phones have made it possible for us to be contacted anywhere, anytime and have transformed the telecommunications industry
  • Smartphone apps have largely replaced cameras, calculators, GPS devices and so much more
  • Social networking has revolutionised the way we communicate and the way news is spread in real time

DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE IMPACTED:

INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES

  • Changing the quality of life, health and the environment
  • Changing the pattern of our consumption
  • Changing the nature of our work

ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES

  • Creating new products and services
  • Shifting surplus between producers or industry
  • Shifting surplus from producers to consumers
  • Changing organisational structure

ECONOMIES AND GOVERNMENTS

  • Driving economic growth and productivity
  • Shifting advantages for nations
  • Effecting employment
  • Posing regulatory and legal challenges

DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CHANGING OUR WORLD TODAY:

  • Cloud technology
  • Renewable energy and energy storage
  • Advanced robotics
  • Next generation genomics (analysing genomes)

In 1989, Back to the Future II predicted a 2015 complete with flying cars, hover-boards and self-lacing shoes. While those are still mostly out of the reach, plenty has changed in 30 years. So what will our world look like in another 30 years time?

Imagine 2045

The world will have about 9 billion people (3 billion more than now). We will be consuming more resources and leading technologically complex lives. There may be robots, flying cars and space travel for the ordinary person. There will be a transformed energy industry, advances in medical technology and treatments, and increased life expectancy. The list goes on...

Encourage class discussion, questions and debate.

How does the future workplace look different to today?

Work thru the Ages Disruptive Technology Future Challenge Brave New World Robot Revolution Futuristic Technology Supercomputers Big Data Globalisation Home

Additional Resources:

There is also updates to this topic which can be found under the resources link - Work Ready - Jobs of the Future Updates.