These are my annual predictions (since 2005) for the top ten emerging technologies that will impact Higher Education in the near future. Note these are technologies in research and development or early diffusion; they are not already emerged technologies like MOOCs or online / e-learning

1. 2016
10
Simon Priest
simonpriest.com

3. The IoT or “INTERNET OF THINGS” (IoT 2015 = 20 billion devices, 8 ZBs* data)
means by 2020 (in 5 years): MORE DEVICES (50+ billion),
increasingly larger BIG DATA (50+ ZBs*),
and newly EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
1,180,591,620,717,411,303,424 bytes (where 1 Byte = 8 bits, each bit is either 1 or 0)
1 billion billion KBs
1 trillion GBs
1 ZettaByte
1 ZB
2020
2009
1992
50 Billion
5 Billion
1 Million
201520 Billion
DEVICES
YEAR
*

5. 10 Emerging Tech 2016 Future
Printing Output 3D & Bio-printing 4D (just add water, etc.)
Display Output Flat Screen & 3D Monitors Holographic & Flexible
Interface Brain-Computer (BC Interface) Headsets & Implants (BCI)
Shared Storage Cloud (many large systems network) Fog (multiple small devices network)
Protection Biometrics (fingerprint & retina) DNA & Behaviometrics (gait)
Device / Tech Tablets & Smart Phones Augmented & Virtual Reality
Data Devices Magnetic (HDD) & Optic (CD) 3D (Multilayer, Holographic & Atomic)
Robotics as Tools (for Assembly & Surgery) Cooperation (AI & Machine Learning)
Collaboration Video / Web Conferencing Crowdsource / Makerspace
Learning Mode Online & eLearning Adaptive & Transdisciplinary

6. 10 Emerging Technologies
Applied to Higher Education

7. 13D Printing with injected plastics
“ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING”
Bio Printing of tissues & organs
4D Printing: product changes
and assembles itself with an
environmental shift (electricity,
light, temperature, moisture)
over time (the fourth dimension)
3D applied to footwear design

8. VIDEO of 4D Printing in Fashion: Dress, Jewelry, etc.
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9. One of the early experiments with 4D printing had a practical application
4D printed material formed a cube in water and enveloped a water sample
Our future learners may design pipelines that change diameter in response to
pressure fluctuations and self-repair all damage due to temperature extremes

10. 2
Flat Screen Monitors
& 3D Modeling
Holographic & Flexible Screens

11. VIDEO of Holographic Human Anatomy
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12. Practice performed on a 3D model prevents great wear and tear on originals
Savings from buying fewer originals easily pays for 3D model development
Imagine what could be done with holography and holograms that feel real

13. 3
A network of neural sensors
replaces the mouse, keyboard
and other input devices
Brain-Computer Interfaces
(BCIs) are currently used for
helping people with disabilities
The next few steps will be to
develop headsets as wearable
technology and to commonly
implant micro-BCIs in the brain

14. VIDEO of Brain Computer Interface by Neuro-Headset
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15. Whether an implanted core processor or a carried personal device,
our learners will have unprecedented access to global information
We must find ways to teach and assess, other than telling & testing
They have the answers and we are no longer the information source

16. 4
Personal
Mobile
Devices

17. VIDEO of Local Grid Fog Computing Application
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18. The “Cloud” already handles the BIG DATA needs for ACADEMIC Analytics
Fog computing is used when real-time speed, privacy & control are needed
The “Fog” will provide real-time LEARNING analytics that faculty
& students will use to drive quick decisions about their learning
Big Data
ACADEMIC ANALYTICS

19. 5
Palm / Finger Print,
“BIOMETRICS”
Face, Retina / Iris
Voice, Expression
“BEHAVIOMETRICS”
Gait, Typing Rhythm

20. VIDEO of DNA Sequencing from Nanopore to Laptop
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21. For the occasional exam, and other participation requirements,
our learners will be expected to identify themselves biometrically

22. 6Tablets
&
Smartphones
Wearable Technology
Augmented &
Virtual Reality

23. VIDEO of Augmented Reality Headset
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24. We must be ready for emerging technologies with new pedagogies
In this Virtual Reality classroom, learners are still arranged in rows!

25. 7Magnetics (hard drives)
&
Optics (CDs & DVDs)
3D-Multilayer Optics
100+ written layers
(>10 times DVD)
Holographic (even more)

26. VIDEO of Experimental Atomic Data Storage
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27. Personal devices will contain limitless memory capacity, allowing all users
(without BCI implants) to carry their profession’s entire body of knowledge
Testing will be obsolete, because learners will access information
UBIQUITOUSLY: all times, any place, each device, in every format

28. 8Robotic Assembly
&
Robotic Surgery
Human Robot
Cooperation
is only possible
if robots “learn”
and that entails
AI (Artificial
Intelligence) &
Machine Learning

29. VIDEO of Top Ten Robotic Applications
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30. AI Robots already perform difficult and dangerous tasks for humans
AI Robots will also be learning beside and on behalf of our students

31. 9
Web-based Video Conferencing
Group Collaborative Software
(as simple as cloud-based apps)
Collaborative Crowd-Sourcing
(fund raising turned teamwork)
Co-creative DIY Makerspaces

32. VIDEO of Collaboration in MakerSpaces
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33. The solutions to big problems of our future will be created out of
Online “Co-creative Crowdsourcing” conducted on a global scale

34. 1
0
eLearning or Online learning
tends not to be collaborative &
so can be individually isolating Adaptive eLearning (where lessons
change in concert with learner test
scores) do not work in groups & at
best can only be multidisciplinary
Collaboration requires Teamwork
& team-based eLearning can be a
natural extension of social media
We need transdisciplinary content
with adaptive eLearning methods

35. VIDEO of Adaptive Learning (not transdisciplinary)
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36. The solutions to big problems of our future will be TRANSdisciplinary:
found on the transcendent edges of multidisciplinary & interdisciplinary

37. GLOBAL ONLINE
C S

38. 2016 PREDICTIONS for the future
Students will create self-assembling/repairing dynamic materials with 4D printing
Students will use holographic displays that they can see, manipulate, touch & feel
Students will have ubiquitous access to information; memory testing will be archaic
HigherEd will use the Cloud for academic analytics & the Fog for learning analytics
Students will be expected to identify themselves biometrically during compulsories
Universities and Faculty will match new pedagogies to suit emerging technologies
Students will carry with them & access their profession’s entire body of knowledge
Students will bring their robot learning buddy or tutor to the learning environment
Students will solve problems by collaborating in global co-creative crowdsourcing
Student TEAMs will solve big world problems by being adaptive & transdisciplinary

39. The solutions to big problems of our future will come from our learners!
Are we doing enough with technologies & pedagogies to prepare them?