By Amelia Amy
Technology is constantly changing and improving. New ideas are introduced all the time some are set aside until current technologies can support the idea. However, these ideas have been discussed previously and are now at the point or closer to the point where they can become realities. These technologies will make a significant impact on travel the world over when they are perfected.
Biometric passports:
This technological “advance” is still questionable as to whether it benefits people. However, there are already cards with this type of technology required for regular visitors to U.S. Ports of call. It is only a matter of time before any traveler at any country’s border is required to have a passport with Biometric identifiers. While advanced, these type of passports will still be vulnerable to hackers. Still, the technology will be an improvement over today’s paper and stamp version.
Crash-proof cars:
Automobile accidents account for numerous deaths each year (35,200 deaths in the U.S. alone in 2013), so the introduction of crash-proof cars would be a welcome advance. People would feel safer on the roadways, although this could also be a problem as people are less cautious.
Self-driving cars:
Another effort aimed at making roadways safer are to eliminate the issue of driver error by having cars that drive themselves. This technology has been explored — Google after all has driverless cars on the roadways already. In 2015, the vehicles are expected to be used in greater numbers in the United Kingdom. Studies are being done on the best way to network these vehicles and make transportation safer and more efficient once the human element is removed.
Solar powered airplanes:
Fuel is expensive, and the finite space on even the biggest airplanes means flight is limited in some respects. With the advent of solar-powered airplanes and the technology to store that power, airplanes can fly greater distances and at any time of day or night. This means a great leap forward for the flight industry.
Space “airlines” :
Not really a new technology so much as a decrease in price, but this process will see the cost to visit other planets decrease and people opting for vacations that are out of this world — literally. Right now it is $200,000 to take Virgin Galactic sub-orbital flight into space. In the future though, with other company’s viewing for a respectable place in the market, that price will drop, and civilians will get to see space for themselves.
Space elevator:
A company out of Japan, Obayashi, says it will take them 40 years, but they have the ability to create a 36,000 km elevator that will reach into space. Forget the need to get on a rocket, just hop in the elevator and you are on your way to space. Most likely though, you will still need space gear to be able to breathe once you get high enough into our atmosphere and beyond. The technical details for this have not yet been discussed in detail.
These technologies will grow and become the approved method to do things, like transporting goods via driverless cars or hopping in the space elevator for a vacation.
Amelia Amy lives in Wales, UK and is an avid blogger and reader. Since her early years she’s had a passion for writing. Her articles have been published in leading UK newspapers. Her areas of interest are Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle, Food, Lifestyle, Reviews (Book/Movie), Health and Fitness. She works as a freelancer on her chosen areas of interest and currently writes on behalf of Bahrain Visa which helps you in visa assistance service.
