Life comes at you fast, and technology moves even faster.
Technology considered cutting-edge becomes obsolete at an ever-quickening pace. Crowdfunding and app stores give solo inventors and programmers access to a global marketplace. Based on new innovations, technology companies reach record stock market valuations.
So, let’s take a look at 15 things that didn’t exist 10 years ago that we can’t live without today.
Ring Doorbell
Ring doorbells have gone from an innovation to a fixture on every street.
Online shopping is everywhere, and you can now communicate with your courier from your sofa—even if you’re not at home! It’s also great for home security, and police services regularly use footage from Ring doorbells to catch criminals.
5G Networks
Ten years ago, most people used 3G internet on their mobile devices, but 5G is now available in all major urban areas.
It’s one reason why remote work has boomed in recent years. It enables you to stream high-quality video on your commute and is vital for the Internet of Things to connect cars and driverless vehicles.
Electric Bikes and Scooters
Now, you can travel to work by bike without needing to take a shower afterward.
Electric bikes and scooters enable you to take short trips without taking a car or worrying about parking. They are also great for the environment, and as more people choose one over a car, emissions will massively decrease.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats, like Nest, enable you to control your home energy usage from your phone.
They let you do all that and more, such as warm up your house before you come in on a cold day, turn off lights in empty rooms, or fine-tune heating programs to your family’s needs.
Apple Watch
Paying for groceries with your watch wasn’t possible until the Apple Watch launched less than ten years ago.
Since then, it has evolved to allow you to track your health through fitness tracking, heart monitoring, and sleep advice. Parents can use it to monitor the location of their loved ones and stay in touch with them. It’s also convenient for checking notifications during work meetings.
Contactless Payment
Contactless payment systems are now commonplace, so many people don’t carry cash or even a wallet.
You can now pay with even more devices than ever, including your phone, watch, and even your car! These systems can also be more secure, offering face or fingerprint scans so only you can use your device to pay.
DNA Testing Kits
Genetics has advanced so much that you can now easily order a DNA testing kit for home use.
Companies like 23andMe can help you learn more about your family history, provide health reports and wellness insights, and connect with relatives you never knew you had! You can also use insights to improve your fitness.
Wireless Earbuds
It doesn’t seem that long since wireless earbuds started appearing in gyms nationwide, but now everyone seems to be wearing them.
Apple has made the technology more mainstream with AirPods. Wireless earbuds offer many advantages over traditional earphones, such as better freedom of movement and a greater ability to multitask.
Subscription Box Services
Subscription boxes deliver food, fashion, and many other items to your door, allowing you to sample new products that align with your interests.
Meal services like HelloFresh deliver pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards to help you cook with zero waste. Clothing companies like Stitch Fix send you monthly boxes of clothing, and you can return the items that don’t suit you.
Food Delivery Apps
Where would we be without apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats?
Food delivery apps enable us to get virtually any type of cuisine delivered to our door in minutes with the push of a few buttons on the phone. They’ve even encouraged restaurants that never previously offered takeout to get involved, boosting the local hospitality industry.
Digital Wallets
Digital wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, allow us to store our cards across all our devices without taking physical cards or wallets out of the house.
They also offer a range of security features that make it highly unlikely anyone can access your cards.
Online Therapy Apps
Although online therapy apps are relatively new, they are already helping millions of people worldwide every day.
These apps make it easy to contact licensed professionals remotely through a subscription model. As we learn more about mental health issues, it’s vital that people have options for accessing help, and online therapy apps provide that instantly.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
While electric cars have existed for many years, they’ve been challenging to mainstream due to the lack of charging infrastructure.
That has now all changed. Home charging stations are commonplace, and EV chargers are present at most gas stations nationwide. This has made the government’s plan to increase the adoption of electric vehicles more viable.
Virtual Reality Gaming
The big technology companies have gone all in on virtual reality gaming, so why not get involved?
The headsets make this a highly immersive experience, and there are many practical uses beyond gaming, such as work, education, and fitness. Just don’t do the boxing game too close to your TV!
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has existed for as long as computers have, but generative AI, which creates new text and images from existing information, has been a game-changer.
This has led to advances in coding, education, and task management. Other AI models are further embedded into everyday life with advances like driverless vehicles, virtual assistants like Alexa, and chatbots.
