The top technology breakthroughs in the year 2013 are sure to impress. With 2013 in the rearview mirror, it is important to look back at what this year has meant for us. Today, we would like to focus on the technological milestones of 2013, according to MIT’s technological review released earlier this year. Read below for a list of the top 7 technology breakthroughs of the last 12 months.
Let’s take a look at the countdown of the top technology breakthroughs in the year 2013.
No. 7 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: Prenatal DNA Sequencing
Earlier this year, Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) and Verinata, two companies involved in DNA sequencing, teamed up in an effort to unveil a fetus’ entire genome. The repercussions this will have? Well, not only diagnosing certain ailments, such as Down syndrome, will be much easier and less risky, but this could also mean that you could find out if your child has blue eyes or any singing abilities even before he’s out of the whom. Ethical or not, such advances in the medical world are nothing short of impressive.
No. 6 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: 3D Printing Jet Parts
3D printing, or additive manufacturing as it is called in industry, has been successfully used to produce countless items, from plastic prototypes to medical implants. But General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) is planning to take it to the next level. The company has set out to start producing fuel nozzles (used in aircraft engines) via 3D printers rather than traditional welding. As the largest manufacturer of jet engines in the world, it is easy to see the impact such an event would have on aviation.
No. 5 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: Long-Term Memory Chips
While Theodore Berger has been researching ways to restore long-term memory function in patients with strokes, Alzheimer’s, or brain injuries for nearly two decades, it is only earlier this year that his arduous labor has started showing results in several experiments. While the idea is still somewhat far-fetched and no studies have yet been performed on humans, the silicone chips inserted by Dr. Berger in monkeys seem to be improving their ability to form long-term memories.
No. 4 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: The Smart Watch
Designers at Pebble watch understand the need of the consumer to remain connected to viable content and information in times when using a smartphone may not be recommended or feasible, such as when riding a bike or driving a car. They created a watch that connects via Bluetooth with iPhones or Android phones to display simple data, such as messages and notifications, on a small black and white screen.
No. 3 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: Temporary Social Media
With cyber security being a highly discussed topic in recent years, it was about time the science world took notice of the phenomenon. In 2013, technology has focused on designing and improving the notion of self-destruct messages, a concept that could not only enhance the privacy and security of online activity, but also increase the trust and freedom people have when communicating online.
No. 2 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: Solar Power Times Two
Renewable energy has been at the forefront of technological research for years, but 2013 has definitely been a good year for solar power. Earlier this year, Dr. Harry Atwater of the California Institute of Technology proposed a model that might double the efficiency of any solar device.
No. 1 Technology Breakthrough in the Year 2013: Artificial Intelligence is Truly Getting Smarter
While artificial intelligence has been around for quite some time, 2013 has been a year of great improvements and advances in this field. Thanks to technological progress, machines are now able to automatically translate speech and recognize various objects. With so much progress, we’re really hopeful about the future of artificial intelligence and the role it will play in our lives.
If you enjoyed our list of the top technology breakthroughs of the year, you’ll also like our “Top 5 Technologies that will be Big in 2014.”
