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5 Ways Technology Has Changed the World

Cyberspace already is the new battlefield. Is the military ready?

Computers and credit cards are the new department stores, shopping malls and food marts.

Only 10 years after the iPhone was introduced, phone booths, or call boxes as the British say, stand empty—if you can find one at all.

Gathering intelligence used to rely on large cones and good hearing. Now, payloads on information-gathering drones can convert sound into images.

Nearly everyone has heard a parent or grandparent refer to the good ol’ days. Tales usually begin either with, “When I was your age…” or “In my day, we didn’t have….”

While it seems appropriate that octogenarians and nonagenarians tell such stories, today they’re not the only generations sharing memories that begin with, “When I was young….” People in their 20s and 30s reflect on their youth wistfully because members of the younger generation—who, by the way, are only five or 10 years younger than they are—can communicate, play, buy and sell, and share life moments in ways that surprise even 20-somethings.

Not that many years ago, as technological advances began snowballing, companies understood that if they didn’t change, they would succumb to the fate of buggy whip makers. For example, camera and film companies understood that when digital photography became affordable, the demand for their products would decrease, then disappear. Think Kodak.

Technology isn’t done transforming the world’s landscape. And so, a bit of reflection on five aspects of life today that may not exist as soon as 2020:

•Telephone booths. Already on the endangered list, these oddities used to be on every city block. Today? Not so much. 

•Shopping. Each year, the number of consumers who spend Black Friday at their computers instead of in brick-and-mortar stores increases. And the Whole Foods and Amazon deal, as well as Internet of Things-enabled kitchen appliances, are putting a new spin on the meaning of “retail therapy.” Enjoy window-shopping while there’s still time. 

•Health care office visits. Grandparents reminisce about doctors making house calls. Will their grandchildren remember doctors’ office visits with the same fondness? 

•Manufacturing plants. Robots already have replaced humans on many assembly lines; however, a handful of humans are still needed to ensure the machinery runs smoothly. Artificial intelligence developments will change this landscape as machinery can fix itself. On the other hand, the future of shopping and shipping (see above) could mean a boom in box businesses. Future work force: Pay attention. Prepare. 

•Military battlegrounds. Drones and robots are only the beginning. Nearly indestructible automatons controlled from thousands of miles away will replace warfighters. The stakes will change. Into what, it’s hard to tell.

The bottom line is that today’s military must prepare now to ensure that its strategies and tactics don’t go the way of the buggy whip while our adversaries are taking advantage of how technology has already changed battlefields. Battles in cyberspace threaten our emerging way of life, and it won’t be long before they endanger lives. Are we prepared? If cybersecurity isn’t the highest priority for the nation’s leaders, military and every citizen, we’re not.

AFCEA offers numerous ways to stay on top of this evolution revolution. Meet military and industry leaders in groups like the Cyber Committee. Stay current with The Cyber Edge—online, in print and through email. Keep certifications current at events that feature continuing education. Save money with discounts on hardware, software and events.

Protecting your computer, learning more about cyberthreats and joining the association are all intelligent ways to prepare for how technology will continue to change the world. At least you’ll be prepared.