Emerging technologies are technologies whose development, practical applications, or both are still largely unrealized. These technologies are generally new but also include old technologies finding new applications. Emerging technologies are often perceived as capable of changing the status quo .
95-741: [REDACTED] Look up bleeding edge or bleeding-edge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Bleeding Edge may refer to: Bleeding edge , used to describe emerging technologies Bleeding Edge (novel) , by Thomas Pynchon, 2013 The Bleeding Edge , a 2018 documentary about the medical device industry The Bleeding Edge (album) , by Parker/Lee/Evans, 2011 Bleeding Edge (video game) , 2020 Bleeding Edge Armor , fictional armor worn by comic book superhero Iron Man See also [ edit ] Leading edge (disambiguation) Cutting edge (disambiguation) Topics referred to by
190-673: A Wonder of the World . They developed extensive water systems; canals for transport and irrigation in the alluvial south, and catchment systems stretching for tens of kilometers in the hilly north. Their palaces had sophisticated drainage systems. Writing was invented in Mesopotamia, using the cuneiform script. Many records on clay tablets and stone inscriptions have survived. These civilizations were early adopters of bronze technologies which they used for tools, weapons and monumental statuary. By 1200 BC they could cast objects 5 m long in
285-459: A differential gear , and the astrolabe both show great refinement in astronomical science. In other fields, ancient Greek innovations include the catapult and the gastraphetes crossbow in warfare, hollow bronze-casting in metallurgy, the dioptra for surveying, in infrastructure the lighthouse , central heating , a tunnel excavated from both ends by scientific calculations , and the ship trackway . In transport, great progress resulted from
380-468: A certain degree of coherence persisting over time and with the potential to exert a considerable impact on the socio-economic domain(s) which is observed in terms of the composition of actors, institutions and patterns of interactions among those, along with the associated knowledge production processes. Its most prominent impact, however, lies in the future and so in the emergence phase is still somewhat uncertain and ambiguous." Emerging technologies include
475-551: A continued use of stone tools such as a range of projectiles , knives, and scrapers , as well as tools, made from organic materials such as wood, bone, and antler. Stone Age cultures developed music and engaged in organized warfare . Stone Age humans developed ocean-worthy outrigger canoe technology, leading to migration across the Malay Archipelago , across the Indian Ocean to Madagascar and also across
570-761: A field for competitive advantage ; converging technologies represent previously distinct fields which are in some way moving towards stronger inter-connection and similar goals. However, the opinion on the degree of the impact, status and economic viability of several emerging and converging technologies varies. In the history of technology , emerging technologies are contemporary advances and innovation in various fields of technology . Over centuries innovative methods and new technologies have been developed and opened up. Some of these technologies are due to theoretical research, and others from commercial research and development . Technological growth includes incremental developments and disruptive technologies . An example of
665-559: A limited period of time (minimum of 20 years, but duration based on jurisdiction) of exclusive right in the making, selling, use, leasing or otherwise of their novel technological inventions. Artificial intelligence , robotic inventions, new material, or blockchain platforms may be patentable, the patent protecting the technological know-how used to create these inventions. In 2019, the World Intellectual Property Organization ( WIPO ) reported that AI
760-441: A long time to elapse before true tin bronze became widespread. (See: Tin sources and trade in ancient times ) Bronze was a major advancement over stone as a material for making tools, both because of its mechanical properties like strength and ductility and because it could be cast in molds to make intricately shaped objects. Bronze significantly advanced shipbuilding technology with better tools and bronze nails. Bronze nails replaced
855-522: A roll and later used for writing. Egyptian society made several significant advances during dynastic periods in many areas of technology. According to Hossam Elanzeery, they were the first civilization to use timekeeping devices such as sundials, shadow clocks, and obelisks and successfully leveraged their knowledge of astronomy to create a calendar model that society still uses today. They developed shipbuilding technology that saw them progress from papyrus reed vessels to cedar wood ships while also pioneering
950-535: A single piece. Several of the six classic simple machines were invented in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamians have been credited with the invention of the wheel. The wheel and axle mechanism first appeared with the potter's wheel , invented in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) during the 5th millennium BC. This led to the invention of the wheeled vehicle in Mesopotamia during the early 4th millennium BC. Depictions of wheeled wagons found on clay tablet pictographs at
1045-534: A stone very finely. The end of the last Ice Age about 10,000 years ago is taken as the end point of the Upper Paleolithic and the beginning of the Epipaleolithic / Mesolithic . The Mesolithic technology included the use of microliths as composite stone tools, along with wood, bone, and antler tools. The later Stone Age, during which the rudiments of agricultural technology were developed,
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#17327917367891140-445: A technical nature made to the computing community." It is stipulated that the contributions should be of lasting and major technical importance to the computer field. The Turing Award is generally recognized as the highest distinction in computer science, and in 2014 grew to $ 1,000,000. The Millennium Technology Prize is awarded once every two years by Technology Academy Finland , an independent fund established by Finnish industry and
1235-435: A transparent and immutable list of transactions. A wide range of uses has been proposed for where an open, decentralised database is required, ranging from supply chains to cryptocurrencies . Smart contracts are self-executing transactions which occur when pre-defined conditions are met. The aim is to provide security that is superior to traditional contract law, and to reduce transaction costs and delays. The original idea
1330-561: A variety of tasks including butchering carcasses (and breaking bones to get at the marrow ); chopping wood; cracking open nuts; skinning an animal for its hide, and even forming other tools out of softer materials such as bone and wood. The earliest stone tools were irrelevant, being little more than a fractured rock. In the Acheulian era, beginning approximately 1.65 million years ago, methods of working these stones into specific shapes, such as hand axes emerged. This early Stone Age
1425-630: A variety of technologies such as educational technology , information technology , nanotechnology , biotechnology , robotics , and artificial intelligence . New technological fields may result from the technological convergence of different systems evolving towards similar goals. Convergence brings previously separate technologies such as voice (and telephony features), data (and productivity applications) and video together so that they share resources and interact with each other, creating new efficiencies. Emerging technologies are those technical innovations which represent progressive developments within
1520-539: Is a vaccine that treats existing cancer or prevents the development of cancer in certain high-risk individuals. Vaccines that treat existing cancer are known as therapeutic cancer vaccines. There are currently no vaccines able to prevent cancer in general. On April 14, 2009, The Dendreon Corporation announced that their Phase III clinical trial of Provenge , a cancer vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer, had demonstrated an increase in survival. It received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in
1615-456: Is also an ethical issue. Some argue that it is less objectionable than traditionally obtained meat because it does not involve killing and reduces the risk of animal cruelty, while others disagree with eating meat that has not developed naturally. Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to nanotech) is the manipulation of matter on an atomic , molecular , and supramolecular scale. The earliest widespread description of nanotechnology referred to
1710-512: Is an intervention strategy that introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury. Many medical researchers believe that stem cell treatments have the potential to change the face of human disease and alleviate suffering. The ability of stem cells to self-renew and give rise to subsequent generations with variable degrees of differentiation capacities offers significant potential for generation of tissues that can potentially replace diseased and damaged areas in
1805-586: Is basically constant throughout human history ( genes change very slowly), all relevant change is rather a direct or indirect result of technological innovation ( memes change very fast) since new ideas always emanate from technology use and not the other way around. Man should consequently be regarded as history's main constant and technology as its main variable. However, critics of the risks of technological change, and even some advocates such as transhumanist philosopher Nick Bostrom , warn that some of these technologies could pose dangers, perhaps even contribute to
1900-568: Is called the Neolithic period. During this period, polished stone tools were made from a variety of hard rocks such as flint , jade , jadeite , and greenstone , largely by working exposures as quarries, but later the valuable rocks were pursued by tunneling underground, the first steps in mining technology. The polished axes were used for forest clearance and the establishment of crop farming and were so effective as to remain in use when bronze and iron appeared. These stone axes were used alongside
1995-689: Is connected to the history of science . Since technology uses resources, technical history is tightly connected to economic history . From those resources, technology produces other resources, including technological artifacts used in everyday life. Technological change affects, and is affected by, a society's cultural traditions. It is a force for economic growth and a means to develop and project economic, political, military power and wealth. Many sociologists and anthropologists have created social theories dealing with social and cultural evolution . Some, like Lewis H. Morgan , Leslie White , and Gerhard Lenski have declared technological progress to be
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#17327917367892090-468: Is described as the Lower Paleolithic . The Middle Paleolithic , approximately 300,000 years ago, saw the introduction of the prepared-core technique , where multiple blades could be rapidly formed from a single core stone. The Upper Paleolithic , beginning approximately 40,000 years ago, saw the introduction of pressure flaking , where a wood, bone, or antler punch could be used to shape
2185-440: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages bleeding edge Emerging technologies are characterized by radical novelty (in application even if not in origins), relatively fast growth, coherence, prominent impact, and uncertainty and ambiguity. In other words, an emerging technology can be defined as "a radically novel and relatively fast growing technology characterised by
2280-402: Is now used to describe advancements and changes that affect the environment around us. New knowledge has enabled people to create new tools, and conversely, many scientific endeavors are made possible by new technologies , for example scientific instruments which allow us to study nature in more detail than our natural senses. Since much of technology is applied science , technical history
2375-459: Is the history of the invention of tools and techniques by humans. Technology includes methods ranging from simple stone tools to the complex genetic engineering and information technology that has emerged since the 1980s. The term technology comes from the Greek word techne , meaning art and craft, and the word logos , meaning word and speech. It was first used to describe applied arts , but it
2470-560: Is the measure of the efficiency of technical factors using the energy. In his own words, "culture evolves as the amount of energy harnessed per capita per year is increased, or as the efficiency of the instrumental means of putting the energy to work is increased". Nikolai Kardashev extrapolated his theory, creating the Kardashev scale , which categorizes the energy use of advanced civilizations. Lenski's approach focuses on information. The more information and knowledge (especially allowing
2565-528: The Paleolithic – the bulk of the Stone Age – all humans had a lifestyle which involved limited tools and few permanent settlements. The first major technologies were tied to survival, hunting, and food preparation. Stone tools and weapons, fire , and clothing were technological developments of major importance during this period. Human ancestors have been using stone and other tools since long before
2660-618: The Balkans , Asia Minor , Egypt , and the Levant , with Roman Egypt in particular being the wealthiest Roman province outside of Italia. The Roman Empire developed an intensive and sophisticated agriculture, expanded upon existing iron working technology, created laws providing for individual ownership, advanced stone masonry technology, advanced road-building (exceeded only in the 19th century), military engineering, civil engineering, spinning and weaving and several different machines like
2755-503: The Eanna district of Uruk are dated between 3700 and 3500 BC. The lever was used in the shadoof water-lifting device, the first crane machine, which appeared in Mesopotamia circa 3000 BC, and then in ancient Egyptian technology circa 2000 BC. The earliest evidence of pulleys date back to Mesopotamia in the early 2nd millennium BC. The screw , the last of the simple machines to be invented, first appeared in Mesopotamia during
2850-515: The Gallic reaper that helped to increase productivity in many sectors of the Roman economy. Roman engineers were the first to build monumental arches, amphitheatres , aqueducts , public baths , true arch bridges , harbours , reservoirs and dams, vaults and domes on a very large scale across their Empire. Notable Roman inventions include the book (Codex) , glass blowing and concrete. Because Rome
2945-479: The Internet and Global Positioning System technology. There are awards that provide incentive to push the limits of technology (generally synonymous with emerging technologies). Note that while some of these awards reward achievement after-the-fact via analysis of the merits of technological breakthroughs, others provide incentive via competitions for awards offered for goals yet to be achieved. The Orteig Prize
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3040-559: The Neo-Assyrian period (911–609) BC. The Assyrian King Sennacherib (704–681 BC) claims to have invented automatic sluices and to have been the first to use water screw pumps , of up to 30 tons weight, which were cast using two-part clay molds rather than by the ' lost wax ' process. The Jerwan Aqueduct (c. 688 BC) is made with stone arches and lined with waterproof concrete. The Babylonian astronomical diaries spanned 800 years. They enabled meticulous astronomers to plot
3135-623: The University of California ; and one to Dr. Z. Dave Sharp for his work with the pharmaceutical rapamycin. Science fiction has often affected innovation and new technology by presenting creative, intriguing possibilities for technological advancement. For example, many rocketry pioneers were inspired by science fiction. The documentary How William Shatner Changed the World describes a number of examples of imagined technologies that became real. The term bleeding edge has been used to refer to some new technologies, formed as an allusion to
3230-429: The chain pump . In music, the water organ , invented by Ctesibius and subsequently improved, constituted the earliest instance of a keyboard instrument. In time-keeping, the introduction of the inflow clepsydra and its mechanization by the dial and pointer, the application of a feedback system and the escapement mechanism far superseded the earlier outflow clepsydra. Innovations in mechanical technology included
3325-433: The extinction of humanity itself; i.e., some of them could involve existential risks . Much ethical debate centers on issues of distributive justice in allocating access to beneficial forms of technology. Some thinkers, including environmental ethicist Bill McKibben , oppose the continuing development of advanced technology partly out of fear that its benefits will be distributed unequally in ways that could worsen
3420-764: The plight of the poor . By contrast, inventor Ray Kurzweil is among techno-utopians who believe that emerging and converging technologies could and will eliminate poverty and abolish suffering. Some analysts such as Martin Ford, author of The Lights in the Tunnel: Automation, Accelerating Technology and the Economy of the Future , argue that as information technology advances, robots and other forms of automation will ultimately result in significant unemployment as machines and software begin to match and exceed
3515-480: The sail ). The Egyptians , known for building pyramids centuries before the creation of modern tools, invented and used many simple machines, such as the ramp to aid construction processes. Historians and archaeologists have found evidence that the pyramids were built using three of what is called the Six Simple Machines , from which all machines are based. These machines are the inclined plane ,
3610-415: The third industrial revolution . Combined with Internet technology, 3D printing would allow for digital blueprints of virtually any material product to be sent instantly to another person to be produced on the spot, making purchasing a product online almost instantaneous. Although this technology is still too crude to produce most products, it is rapidly developing and created a controversy in 2013 around
3705-521: The wedge , and the lever , which allowed the ancient Egyptians to move millions of limestone blocks which weighed approximately 3.5 tons (7,000 lbs.) each into place to create structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza , which is 481 feet (147 meters) high. They also made writing medium similar to paper from papyrus , which Joshua Mark states is the foundation for modern paper. Papyrus is a plant (cyperus papyrus) which grew in plentiful amounts in
3800-682: The Chinese emperors of the Ming Dynasty also sent large fleets on maritime voyages, some reaching Africa. The Hellenistic period of Mediterranean history began in the 4th century BC with Alexander's conquests , which led to the emergence of a Hellenistic civilization representing a synthesis of Greek and Near-Eastern cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean region, including the Balkans , Levant and Egypt . With Ptolemaic Egypt as its intellectual center and Greek as
3895-536: The Egyptian Delta and throughout the Nile River Valley during ancient times. The papyrus was harvested by field workers and brought to processing centers where it was cut into thin strips. The strips were then laid-out side by side and covered in plant resin. The second layer of strips was laid on perpendicularly, then both pressed together until the sheet was dry. The sheets were then joined to form
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3990-697: The Finnish state in partnership. The first recipient was Tim Berners-Lee , inventor of the World Wide Web . In 2003, David Gobel seed-funded the Methuselah Mouse Prize (Mprize) to encourage the development of new life extension therapies in mice, which are genetically similar to humans. So far, three Mouse Prizes have been awarded: one for breaking longevity records to Dr. Andrzej Bartke of Southern Illinois University ; one for late-onset rejuvenation strategies to Dr. Stephen Spindler of
4085-585: The Pacific Ocean, which required knowledge of the ocean currents, weather patterns, sailing, and celestial navigation . Although Paleolithic cultures left no written records, the shift from nomadic life to settlement and agriculture can be inferred from a range of archaeological evidence. Such evidence includes ancient tools, cave paintings , and other prehistoric art , such as the Venus of Willendorf . Human remains also provide direct evidence, both through
4180-519: The United States declined from over 30% in the 1940s to just over 10% 70 years later. Similar changes occurred in other developed countries. This stage is referred to as post-industrial . In the late 1970s sociologists and anthropologists like Alvin Toffler (author of Future Shock ), Daniel Bell and John Naisbitt have approached the theories of post-industrial societies , arguing that
4275-595: The ability to move and manipulate objects . General intelligence (or " strong AI ") is still among the field's long-term goals. Currently, popular approaches include deep learning, statistical methods, computational intelligence and traditional symbolic AI. There is an enormous number of tools used in AI, including versions of search and mathematical optimization, logic, methods based on probability and economics, and many others. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been posited by Jeremy Rifkin and others as part of
4370-509: The basis of modern food technology processes. Based on paintings and reliefs found in tombs, as well as archaeological artifacts, scholars like Paul T Nicholson believe that the Ancient Egyptians established systematic farming practices, engaged in cereal processing, brewed beer and baked bread, processed meat, practiced viticulture and created the basis for modern wine production, and created condiments to complement, preserve and mask
4465-537: The blossoming of a mechanistic philosophy, and the establishment of the Library of Alexandria in Ptolemaic Egypt and its close association with the adjacent museion . In contrast to the typically anonymous inventors of earlier ages, ingenious minds such as Archimedes , Philo of Byzantium , Heron , Ctesibius , and Archytas remain known by name to posterity. Ancient agriculture, as in any period prior to
4560-499: The body, with minimal risk of rejection and side effects. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells have raised among other immunotherapies for cancer treatment, being implemented against B-cell malignancies. Despite the promising outcomes of this innovative technology, CAR-T cells are not exempt from limitations that must yet to be overcome in order to provide reliable and more efficient treatments against other types of cancer. Distributed ledger or blockchain technology provides
4655-599: The branch of computer science that develops machines and software with animal-like intelligence. Major AI researchers and textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents," where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success. John McCarthy , who coined the term in 1956, defines it as "the study of making intelligent machines". The central functions (or goals) of AI research include reasoning, knowledge, planning , learning, natural language processing (communication), perception and
4750-456: The capability of workers to perform most routine jobs. As robotics and artificial intelligence develop further, even many skilled jobs may be threatened. Technologies such as machine learning may ultimately allow computers to do many knowledge-based jobs that require significant education. This may result in substantial unemployment at all skill levels, stagnant or falling wages for most workers, and increased concentration of income and wealth as
4845-533: The case of some isolated populations, such as the Spinifex People , the Sentinelese , and various Amazonian tribes, which still make use of Stone Age technology, and have not developed agricultural or metal technology. These villages preserve traditional customs in the face of global modernity, exhibiting a remarkable resistance to the rapid advancement of technology. Before iron smelting was developed
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#17327917367894940-408: The current era of industrial society is coming to an end, and services and information are becoming more important than industry and goods. Some extreme visions of the post-industrial society, especially in fiction , are strikingly similar to the visions of near and post- singularity societies. The following is a summary of the history of technology by time period and geography: During most of
5035-402: The development of agriculture approximately 12,000 years ago. To make a stone tool, a " core " of hard stone with specific flaking properties (such as flint ) was struck with a hammerstone . This flaking produced sharp edges which could be used as tools, primarily in the form of choppers or scrapers . These tools greatly aided the early humans in their hunter-gatherer lifestyle to perform
5130-665: The earliest known form of the binary code and epigenetic sequencing, early seismological detectors , matches , paper, Helicopter rotor , Raised-relief map , the double-action piston pump, cast iron , water powered blast furnace bellows , the iron plough , the multi-tube seed drill , the wheelbarrow, the parachute, the compass , the rudder , the crossbow , the South Pointing Chariot and gunpowder. China also developed deep well drilling, which they used to extract brine for making salt. Some of these wells, which were as deep as 900 meters, produced natural gas which
5225-632: The emergence of Homo sapiens approximately 300,000 years ago. The earliest direct evidence of tool usage was found in Ethiopia within the Great Rift Valley , dating back to 2.5 million years ago. The earliest methods of stone tool making, known as the Oldowan "industry", date back to at least 2.3 million years ago. This era of stone tool use is called the Paleolithic , or "Old stone age", and spans all of human history up to
5320-403: The examination of bones, and the study of mummies . Scientists and historians have been able to form significant inferences about the lifestyle and culture of various prehistoric peoples, and especially their technology. Metallic copper occurs on the surface of weathered copper ore deposits and copper was used before copper smelting was known. Copper smelting is believed to have originated when
5415-583: The fact that quantum mechanical effects are important at this scale, and so the definition shifted from a particular technological goal to a research category inclusive of all types of research and technologies that deal with the special properties of matter that occur below the given size threshold. Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots , as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. These technologies deal with automated machines that can take
5510-429: The first, people use the energy of their own muscles. In the second, they use the energy of domesticated animals . In the third, they use the energy of plants ( agricultural revolution ). In the fourth, they learn to use the energy of natural resources : coal, oil, gas. In the fifth, they harness nuclear energy . White introduced the formula P=E/T, where P is the development index, E is a measure of energy consumed, and T
5605-518: The flavors of their food. The Indus Valley civilization , situated in a resource-rich area (in modern Pakistan and northwestern India), is notable for its early application of city planning, sanitation technologies , and plumbing. Indus Valley construction and architecture, called ' Vaastu Shastra ', suggests a thorough understanding of materials engineering, hydrology, and sanitation. The Chinese made many first-known discoveries and developments. Major technological contributions from China include
5700-535: The former was the gradual roll-out of DVD (digital video disc) as a development intended to follow on from the previous optical technology compact disc . By contrast, disruptive technologies are those where a new method replaces the previous technology and makes it redundant, for example, the replacement of horse-drawn carriages by automobiles and other vehicles. Many writers, including computer scientist Bill Joy , have identified clusters of technologies that they consider critical to humanity's future. Joy warns that
5795-564: The fourth, they can create symbols, develop language and writing. Advancements in communications technology translate into advancements in the economic system and political system , distribution of wealth , social inequality and other spheres of social life. He also differentiates societies based on their level of technology, communication, and economy: In economics, productivity is a measure of technological progress. Productivity increases when fewer inputs (classically labor and capital but some measures include energy and materials) are used in
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#17327917367895890-476: The invention of the winch and the odometer . Further newly created techniques and items were spiral staircases , the chain drive , sliding calipers and showers. The Roman Empire expanded from Italia across the entire Mediterranean region between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. Its most advanced and economically productive provinces outside of Italia were the Eastern Roman provinces in
5985-560: The issue of 3D printed firearms . Gene therapy was first successfully demonstrated in late 1990/early 1991 for adenosine deaminase deficiency , though the treatment was somatic – that is, did not affect the patient's germ line and thus was not heritable. This led the way to treatments for other genetic diseases and increased interest in germ line gene therapy – therapy affecting the gametes and descendants of patients. Between September 1990 and January 2014, there were around 2,000 gene therapy trials conducted or approved. A cancer vaccine
6080-534: The laboratory. The first in vitro beefburger , created by a Dutch team, was eaten at a demonstration for the press in London in August 2013. There remain difficulties to be overcome before in vitro meat becomes commercially available. Cultured meat is prohibitively expensive, but it is expected that the cost could be reduced to compete with that of conventionally obtained meat as technology improves. In vitro meat
6175-553: The lingua franca, the Hellenistic civilization included Greek , Egyptian , Jewish, Persian and Phoenician scholars and engineers who wrote in Greek. Hellenistic engineers of the Eastern Mediterranean were responsible for a number of inventions and improvements to existing technology. The Hellenistic period saw a sharp increase in technological advancement, fostered by a climate of openness to new ideas,
6270-408: The majority of all AI-related patent filings published since 2013. Companies represent 26 out of the top 30 AI patent applicants, with universities or public research organizations accounting for the remaining four. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. DARPA
6365-444: The modern age the primary mode of production and subsistence, and its irrigation methods, were considerably advanced by the invention and widespread application of a number of previously unknown water-lifting devices, such as the vertical water-wheel , the compartmented wheel, the water turbine , Archimedes' screw , the bucket-chain and pot-garland, the force pump , the suction pump , the double-action piston pump and quite possibly
6460-404: The more effective iron axes increased, providing more farmland to support the growing population. Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and its peoples ( Sumerians , Akkadians , Assyrians and Babylonians ) lived in cities from c. 4000 BC, and developed a sophisticated architecture in mud-brick and stone, including the use of the true arch . The walls of Babylon were so massive they were quoted as
6555-474: The motions of the planets and to predict eclipses. The earliest evidence of water wheels and watermills date back to the ancient Near East in the 4th century BC, specifically in the Persian Empire before 350 BC, in the regions of Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Persia (Iran). This pioneering use of water power constituted the first human-devised motive force not to rely on muscle power (besides
6650-401: The newly devised right-angled gear , which would become particularly important to the operation of mechanical devices. Hellenistic engineers also devised automata such as suspended ink pots, automatic washstands , and doors, primarily as toys, which however featured new useful mechanisms such as the cam and gimbals . The Antikythera mechanism , a kind of analogous computer working with
6745-516: The non-profit organization called the X Prize Foundation , are intended to encourage technological development that could benefit mankind. The most high-profile XPRIZE to date was the $ 10,000,000 Ansari XPRIZE relating to spacecraft development, which was awarded in 2004 for the development of SpaceShipOne . The Turing Award is an annual prize given by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to "an individual selected for contributions of
6840-523: The old method of attaching boards of the hull with cord woven through drilled holes. Better ships enabled long-distance trade and the advance of civilization. This technological trend apparently began in the Fertile Crescent and spread outward over time. These developments were not, and still are not, universal. The three-age system does not accurately describe the technology history of groups outside of Eurasia , and does not apply at all in
6935-563: The only iron was obtained from meteorites and is usually identified by having nickel content. Meteoric iron was rare and valuable, but was sometimes used to make tools and other implements, such as fish hooks. The Iron Age involved the adoption of iron smelting technology. It generally replaced bronze and made it possible to produce tools which were stronger, lighter and cheaper to make than bronze equivalents. The raw materials to make iron, such as ore and limestone, are far more abundant than copper and especially tin ores. Consequently, iron
7030-399: The owners of capital capture an ever-larger fraction of the economy. This in turn could lead to depressed consumer spending and economic growth as the bulk of the population lacks sufficient discretionary income to purchase the products and services produced by the economy. Emerging technologies Artificial intelligence (AI) is the sub intelligence exhibited by machines or software, and
7125-530: The particular technological goal of precisely manipulating atoms and molecules for fabrication of macroscale products, also now referred to as molecular nanotechnology . A more generalized description of nanotechnology was subsequently established by the National Nanotechnology Initiative , which defines nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers . This definition reflects
7220-447: The place of humans in dangerous environments, factories, warehouses, or kitchens; or resemble humans in appearance, behavior, and/or cognition. A good example of a robot that resembles humans is Sophia , a social humanoid robot developed by Hong Kong -based company Hanson Robotics which was activated on April 19, 2015. Many of today's robots are inspired by nature contributing to the field of bio-inspired robotics . Stem cell therapy
7315-457: The primary factor driving the development of human civilization. Morgan's concept of three major stages of social evolution (savagery, barbarism , and civilization ) can be divided by technological milestones, such as fire. White argued the measure by which to judge the evolution of culture is energy. For White, "the primary function of culture" is to "harness and control energy." White differentiates between five stages of human development : In
7410-443: The production of a unit of output. Another indicator of technological progress is the development of new products and services, which is necessary to offset unemployment that would otherwise result as labor inputs are reduced. In developed countries productivity growth has been slowing since the late 1970s; however, productivity growth was higher in some economic sectors, such as manufacturing. For example, employment in manufacturing in
7505-574: The research communities' (the academia's) accumulated theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, often state-, business-, or client-driven purpose. Science policy is the area of public policy which is concerned with the policies that affect the conduct of the science and research enterprise, including the funding of science, often in pursuance of other national policy goals such as technological innovation to promote commercial product development, weapons development, health care and environmental monitoring. Patents provide inventors with
7600-423: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Bleeding Edge . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bleeding_Edge&oldid=1259099426 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
7695-406: The shaping of natural environment ) a given society has, the more advanced it is. He identifies four stages of human development, based on advances in the history of communication . In the first stage, information is passed by genes . In the second, when humans gain sentience , they can learn and pass information through experience. In the third, the humans start using signs and develop logic . In
7790-438: The similar terms "leading edge" and " cutting edge ". It tends to imply even greater advancement, albeit at an increased risk because of the unreliability of the software or hardware . The first documented example of this term being used dates to early 1983, when an unnamed banking executive was quoted to have used it in reference to Storage Technology Corporation . History of technology The history of technology
7885-408: The sources of these resources are described below. Research and development is directed towards the advancement of technology in general, and therefore includes development of emerging technologies. See also List of countries by research and development spending . Applied research is a form of systematic inquiry involving the practical application of science. It accesses and uses some part of
7980-432: The space company SpaceX , where instead of creating single use rockets that have no purpose after their launch, they are now able to land safely in a pre-specified place where they are recovered to be used again in later launches. As innovation drives economic growth, and large economic rewards come from new inventions, a great deal of resources (funding and effort) go into the development of emerging technologies. Some of
8075-584: The technology could be used by elites for good or evil . They could use it as "good shepherds" for the rest of humanity or decide everyone else is superfluous and push for the mass extinction of those made unnecessary by technology. Advocates of the benefits of technological change typically see emerging and converging technologies as offering hope for the betterment of the human condition . Cyberphilosophers Alexander Bard and Jan Söderqvist argue in The Futurica Trilogy that while Man himself
8170-410: The technology of pottery kilns allowed sufficiently high temperatures. The concentration of various elements such as arsenic increase with depth in copper ore deposits and smelting of these ores yields arsenical bronze , which can be sufficiently work hardened to be suitable for making tools. Bronze is an alloy of copper with tin; the latter being found in relatively few deposits globally caused
8265-474: The treatment of advanced prostate cancer patients on April 29, 2010. The approval of Provenge has stimulated interest in this type of therapy. Cultured meat, also called in vitro meat, clean meat, cruelty-free meat, shmeat, and test-tube meat, is an animal-flesh product that has never been part of a living animal with exception of the fetal calf serum taken from a slaughtered cow. In the 21st century, several research projects have worked on in vitro meat in
8360-423: The use of rope trusses and stem-mounted rudders. The Egyptians also used their knowledge of anatomy to lay the foundation for many modern medical techniques and practiced the earliest known version of neuroscience. Elanzeery also states that they used and furthered mathematical science, as evidenced in the building of the pyramids. Ancient Egyptians also invented and pioneered many food technologies that have become
8455-519: Was a $ 25,000 award offered in 1919 by French hotelier Raymond Orteig for the first nonstop flight between New York City and Paris. In 1927, underdog Charles Lindbergh won the prize in a modified single-engine Ryan aircraft called the Spirit of St. Louis . In total, nine teams spent $ 400,000 in pursuit of the Orteig Prize. The XPRIZE series of awards, public competitions designed and managed by
8550-646: Was conceived by Nick Szabo in 1994, but remained unrealised until the development of blockchains. This type of technology where digital graphics are loaded onto live footage has been around since the 20th century, but thanks to the arrival of more powerful computing hardware and the implementation of open source , this technology has been able to do things that we never thought were possible. Some ways in which we have used this technology can be through apps such as Pokémon Go , Snapchat and Instagram filters and other apps that create fictional things in real objects. This technology can be attributed to Elon Musk and
8645-495: Was created in 1958 as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Its purpose was to formulate and execute research and development projects to expand the frontiers of technology and science, with the aim to reach beyond immediate military requirements. Projects funded by DARPA have provided significant technologies that influenced many non-military fields, such as
8740-520: Was not homogeneous. In many Eurasian cultures, the Iron Age was the last major step before the development of written language, though again this was not universally the case. In Europe, large hill forts were built either as a refuge in time of war or sometimes as permanent settlements. In some cases, existing forts from the Bronze Age were expanded and enlarged. The pace of land clearance using
8835-401: Was produced in many areas. It was not possible to mass manufacture steel or pure iron because of the high temperatures required. Furnaces could reach melting temperature but the crucibles and molds needed for melting and casting had not been developed. Steel could be produced by forging bloomery iron to reduce the carbon content in a somewhat controllable way, but steel produced by this method
8930-498: Was the most prolific emerging technology in terms of number of patent applications and granted patents, the Internet of things was estimated to be the largest in terms of market size. It was followed, again in market size, by big data technologies, robotics, AI, 3D printing and the fifth generation of mobile services (5G). Since AI emerged in the 1950s, 340,000 AI-related patent applications were filed by innovators and 1.6 million scientific papers have been published by researchers, with
9025-588: Was used for evaporating brine. Other Chinese discoveries and inventions from the Medieval period include block printing , movable type printing , phosphorescent paint, endless power chain drive and the clock escapement mechanism. The solid-fuel rocket was invented in China about 1150, nearly 200 years after the invention of gunpowder (which acted as the rocket's fuel). Decades before the West's age of exploration,
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