Trends Identified
Digital genome
While the first sequencing of the 3.2 billion base pairs of DNA that make up the human genome took many years and cost tens of millions of dollars, today your genome can be sequenced and digitized in minutes and at the cost of only a few hundred dollars. The results can be delivered to your laptop on a USB stick and easily shared via the internet. This ability to rapidly and cheaply determine our individual unique genetic make-up promises a revolution in more personalized and effective healthcare. Many of our most intractable health challenges, from heart disease to cancer, have a genetic component. Indeed, cancer is best described as a disease of the genome. With digitization, doctors will be able to make decisions about a patient’s cancer treatment informed by a tumour’s genetic make-up. This new knowledge is also making precision medicine a reality by enabling the development of highly targeted therapies that offer the potential for improved treatment outcomes, especially for patients battling cancer. Like all personal information, a person’s digital genome will need to be safeguarded for privacy reasons. Personal genomic profiling has already raised challenges, with regard to how people respond to a clearer understanding of their risk of genetic disease, and how others – such as employers or insurance companies – might want to access and use the information. However, the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks, because individualized treatments and targeted therapies can be developed with the potential to be applied across all the many diseases that are driven or assisted by changes in DNA.
2015
Top 10 emerging technologies of 2015
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Smartphone Diagnosis
(Definition) The technology can measure biometric information and send the result instantly through sensors, camera and simple accessories for collected blood sugar level, blood pressure and heart rate. (Application) The technology can replace expensive medical devices which make it easier to supply them at low price. In addition, it will improve health service accessibility and allow giving feedback simply with smartphone application.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Bigdata Analytics for Healthcare
(Definition) The technology collects patients’ hospital service use, medication, treatment and other various data including medical records to analyze useful information. (Application) Based on the result, the technology can provide prevention of diseases and personal healthcare which in turn reduces the medical cost.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Bio Stamp
(Definition) The technology is a sensor which can be attached to skin in order to monitor the person’s health. (Application) The technology allows the elderly to simply monitor their health as when the device is attached to the skin it can automatically monitor live the blood pressure, temperature, brain activities and so on, then send the data.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Li-Fi
(Definition) Wireless communication technology which combines high efficiency light LED and wifi using light. (Application) The technology provides high speed communication service at low price at the intensity of LED where we cannot visualize without crossing of frequencies. It can majorly improve internet accessibility.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Tactile Display
(Definition) The technology allows the user to actually feel certain objects from the surface that they touch. (Application) Improve the elderly and the disabled’s use of touchscreen, therefore, improve the convenience via reproducing the sense of touching virtual hand.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Beacon Technology
(Definition) Local area network technology which allows useful information to the users automatically in a limited area. (Application) The technology provides adverts, convenient information, payment information and so on automatically within a short distance, therefore, those who are not familiar with browsing can receive useful information.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Vacuum Insulation
(Definition) Insulation material technology using vacuum in order to minimize the heat loss. (Application) The technology can reduce the causes of energy poverty through minimizing heat loss both in heating and cooling energy.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Energy Harvesting Nano-material
(Definition) Nano material technology which converts waste energy into useable electric energy. (Application) The technology can be applied to collect unused energy from various transportation methods such as road and railway as well as vibration from human activity. The technology can create electricity at any time and place, therefore, reduce the energy cost of low income group.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)
Virtual Reality
(Definition) Virtual space creation technology which re-create real or virtual object in 3D. (Application) The technology can provide cultural spaces in a remote area by re-creating various virtual forms in a real space, for example, theme parks, museums and concert halls.
2015
KISTEP 10 Emerging Technologies 2015
South Korea, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)