Today Trends

So, what is this huge change about and why do some people identify it as a genuine revolution? If we follow the theorists’ main assumptions, it is not single and brilliant innovations that will decide our future productive processes, but the meeting of all those developments carried out during the last decades and still to come. In that sense, this trend represents a paradigm shift, instead of one more step in the frenzied technological race. We can be sure about one thing:  In our current 4.0 factories, automation is already being carried out by cyber-physical systems, made possible by the internet of things and cloud computing systems.  These cyber-physical systems combine both physical and tangible machinery with digital processes, acquiring the capacity to make decentralized decisions and cooperate with humans, through the evolving technology developed around the internet of things.

Also called 4.0 , this new robotic era we are living in follows the other three transformative historical processes. The fourth industrial revolution is an expression coined by the founder and leader of the  World Economic Forum ,  Klaus Schwab , referring to the intense technological changes that have been modifying our productive and social processes since the middle of the last century: A fusion of technologies that blur the lines between our established physical spheres, both digital and biological. Schwab himself declared that humanity is “on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before “. According to Schwab and some other experts, now we have the opportunity to shape this  Fourth Industrial Revolu­tion , which wil...

This comes as no surprise: Throughout History we have witnessed several key processes that have totally changed the way we produce, work and, ultimately, live. At the end of the XVIIth century, steam engines transformed the world introducing a rural society into the industrial and social processes. The  First Industrial Revolution  started a long road we are currently travelling on, the end of which is still a long way off. At  Protec Arisawa , our expertise is the design, development and manufacture of premium fibre-reinforced pressure vessels and we are leaders in our field of activity. As such, we cannot ignore this new approach to industrial procedures and should take part in it.

The emergence of new technologies, while holding great promise for society, often threatens the viability of established companies. There are plenty of well-known examples of this, such as the Eastman Kodak Co. and Polaroid Corp. and the advent of digital photography. In many of these cases, the core challenge for established companies stems not from a lack of recognition of or investments in emerging technologies. Instead, it stems from the challenge of commercializing an emerging technology whose economic attractiveness with respect to the company’s existing business model is not at all obvious in the near term. Today, managers in many prominent sectors, including autos, financial services, energy, and health care, face the challenge of pursuing emerging technologies that carry a high degree of uncertainty with regard to their economic viability and their companies’ competitive position. However, what is sometimes lacking is an understanding, guided by systematic empirical evid...

Traveling has sometimes been quoted as a luxury rather than a necessity. But for leaders in different industries, may it be if they are entrepreneurs young and old, politicians, head of nonprofit organizations, etc., leaders need to recharge and some adventures too. Seeking adventure and spending time away from the keyboard inspires and motivates to become better leaders. And for tech-savvy individuals, apps never fail to make traveling to unchartered territories comfortable and as adventurous as possible. Below are mobile apps that will help entrepreneurs keep track of their business while away, and at the same time enjoy the great outdoors. 1. Google Translate First time traveling to China, Thailand, or Costa Rica? How exciting. But wait, do you even know how to ask for directions, say “hi” or “thank you” in their native tongue? This is where Google Translate comes in. Google Translate is a free app designed translate over 100 languages. Although it’s not 100% accurate, it w...

Probably, the most important element on this list. New security requirements of Apple are changing mobile development. Google is likely to present something similar for Android. The latest trends in this area are connected with blocking. Together with two-factor authentication and other methods, you can significantly increase data protection.

The blockchain is so much more than just the technology behind cryptocurrencies. A digital account book of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value. Blockchain can add value in so many ways to the way in which we currently go about our lives and do business. Expect to see this technology become more and more prevalent in everyday life and business.