Tablet technologies are quickly gaining popularity and will someday soon take over the place of a laptop computer. Similarly, smartphones like the Apple iPhone, Microsoft Windows Phone, and the Samsung Galaxy were all released in 2012, gradually pushing our normal cell phones into extinction. So many new gadgets, all in the same year, and 2013 will follow suit.
One new technology to watch out for is called Leap Motion. Their product, which is scheduled for release in 2013, converts traditional desktop and laptop computers into a motion sensing device. In other words, you’ll be able to check your email, read Google news, build your family tree and connect with loved ones over Facebook and Skype without needing to use your keyboard and mouse.
The best part is you don’t need a new computer. You simply add the Leap Motion device to your current computer setup and it’s instantly converted into a motion sensing machine. It’s quite remarkable. Be sure to watch their demonstration video so you truly understand how this will change the way we interact with our household computers in the near future.
Surprisingly enough, there is a great new thermostat technology called Nest planned for release in 2013. Nest is a thermostat that learns how your home likes the temperature to be regulated, not only for comfort, but also to save energy. Whether it’s extra warm at night to stay cozy during the winter months, or cool when everyone leaves for their regular morning exercises, Nest learns every time you use it, so it eventually does all the work for you. Also, Nest is WIFI enabled, which means you can access your thermostat from your smartphone when you’re out of the house.
Isn’t it nice to think about warming up the house for a couple hours right before you get home from a ski trip? You can bet that there will be many more things you’ll be able to control in your home from a smartphone using the Internet. Security systems, lights, and even cameras are already available and getting more and more popular.
Probably the most incredible technology expected in 2013 is a revolutionary idea in the automotive industry. Sometime in the near future, Cadillac Super Cruise will be available, allowing drivers to remove their hands from the wheel while the vehicle drives itself.
In a nutshell, high tech computers and semi-autonomous intelligence monitor the side of the road and the cars around the vehicle simultaneously. With this information, Cadillac Super Cruise calculates a safe speed to travel and maintains a safe distance from obstacles on the road.
This means that when you drive from your retirement home to the theatre, you can sit back and read your e-reader with a cup of tea. Now, 2013 won’t actually create this scenario for us, as the technology is brand new.
Think of how many digital cameras existed before there was actually a good one at a reasonable price. It’s important to recognize that the technology is in development and will eventually get here with more upgrading and remodeling.
What a great year it will be for seniors and technology. Imagine 5 years from now…