Beer 30: The Future of Touchless Tech

With Elon Musk’s recent demo of Neuralink – and the notion that mind control could be the next generation of touchless tech – we wanted to discuss this topic further with fellow community members to get their input on it all. And what better way to dive deep into the unknown than conversing about a new era of hands-free technology over complimentary beers?

 
 

Since we can’t read minds (yet!), Tech Square ATL (TSQATL) Social Club hosted an afternoon happy hour in the courtyard of Tech Square (right between Centergy One and Technology Square Research Building) to ask the hard-hitting questions:

  1. When will technology, like Neuralink, be widely available and adopted? 

  2. What touchless technology will catch fire in 2021?

In addition to enjoying some refreshing beverages in the end-of-summer heat, we also uncovered that the TSQATL community seems to be split over the viability of Neuralink. While some (33.33%) believe the technology is 10-15 years away from broad adoption (2030-2035), others (66.66%) believe that the technology will never see broad application due to privacy concerns and reductionism in how researchers are approaching the human mind (a conceptual oversimplification of how the brain/mind works). 

One point of contention was that it took about 15 years for Tesla’s Model 3 to become widely available, so 2030 might be more of a feasible timeline for when Musk’s newest technology will become adopted and available. Speaking of the business mogul, TSQATL is hosting an additional discussion around the latest advancements in battery technology and Tesla on Battery Day – Tuesday, September 22. Be sure to RSVP now to reserve a spot!

 
 

In terms of the future, community members were quite vocal and varying. Though healthily skeptical that touchless technologies will continue to enjoy the rapid trajectory COVID-19 has afforded them once the pandemic subsides, attendees made bold predictions about which touchless tech will explode in 2021. Predictions included: RFID, gesture recognition, facial recognition, AR recognition, voice-related technology, transactionless shopping, and credit card tabs via mobile.


DID YOU KNOW?

There are already a few approved devices on the market for recording or stimulating from the human brain. However, these devices only have a small number of electrodes – less than 10. Neuralink is designing their product to have over 1,024 channels of information from the brain! 


All in all, one thing is clear – touchless technologies, like QR codes, are definitely having a moment. But whether it will be here to stay or expand exponentially remains to be seen (or mind-read?). 

What are your thoughts on the future of touchless tech? Let us know in the comments below.

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TEP Talk: The Current State of Touchless Tech