Emerging Technologies

Are imaginations are being stretched. Stretching them are the introduction of new, advanced technologies that are emerging at a pace not seen before. We have entered a period where what was unthinkable a few short years ago is not only achievable, but becoming commercially available. Sometimes, even implemented and put into use!

The rapid rate of technological advancement is indisputable. The three biggest remaining questions are:

1. What industry or industries will these capabilities impact the most?
2. How will it affect the program and project management profession?
3. What should we as professionals do to respond to what is here today and coming tomorrow?

The answers to these questions are quite difficult to articulate. To do this, I am going to use an example. First let’s look at combining three rapidly advancing technologies - artificial intelligence, drones and advanced image processing. Believe it or not, there is a term that describes what appears to be in-front of us. It is called Singularity. One of the multiple meanings of the term ‘Singularity’ deals with a hypothetical point in time when artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies combine (in this case its drones and image collection and processing) and achieve a level of advancement that multiple factors undergo a significant and irreversible change.

Going back, as I mentioned in the opening, “Sometimes, even implemented and in use,” this is the case today. In the EU, where construction sites are collecting images (in some cases via drones and even palm sized drones for smaller size/indoor projects, those images are uploaded and use AI software that performs image recognition and assesses the progress and flags up delays or errors automatically. Remember my ‘Board Meeting” blog, how about showing the video and the system assesses the status, evaluates the progress, graphically highlights issues on the video and reports the results. Is this at the door-step of becoming an expectation, a requirement and part of project management?

As for question #2 - Are we entering the point where singularity is about to happen and the implications on program and project management will impact all of us? It certainly appears that way give the technology example. Finally, for question #3, we as professionals had better understand the new capabilities of multiple technologies that are emerging and combining to change operational models that have been in place for years and in some cases decades. In addition, we had better prepare for resistance to these changes.

Given this recent, high-impact technology offering, perhaps you might want to consider viewing a couple of past webinars 1) Cognition and Artificial Intelligence: A Growing Component in Multiple Projects and 2) Talent & Technology Symposium 2018: Drones – Coming to a Project Near You! – I have provided the links below. However, don’t stop there! Go on and evaluate emerging technologies on an on-going basis and adapt to this rapidly changing world of technology.

LINKS

1. Cognition and Artificial Intelligence: A Growing Component in Multiple Projects
https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/513907/Cognition-and-Artificial-Intelligence--A-Growing-Component-in-Multiple-Projects

2. Talent & Technology Symposium 2018: Drones – Coming to a Project Near You!
https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/497519/Talent---Technology-Symposium-2018--Drones---Coming-to-a-Project-Near-You-

This article clearly indicates the value drone usage can have when properly applied.  "Drones are now delivering life-saving medicines to remote parts of Ghana" - MIT

Link:  https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613423/drones-are-now-delivering-life-saving-medicines-to-remote-parts-of-ghana/

Thought I would follow-up to my PMI Drone Technology webinar I did earlier this year that had about 8,000 attendees. As discussed, it was only a matter of time before this was going to happen given. Given all the dangerous incidents that have been reported regulation was only a matter of time. The U.S. Senate vote was 93 to 6 vote on the 1,200-page a piece of legislation addressing drones and air traffic control.

Please check out my session #4: Drones! Coming to a Project near You! 

Sound weird, odd, off beat?   I was shocked about how drones are being used in a VERY COMMON project manager function!

Also there is an article supporting that session coming soon as well.

Goldman Sacks sees big things when it comes to drones.  Check out the link below to an overview of their view.  All I can say is the bigger the market the more drone and related (Drone DATA) projects many of us will be managing!

http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/technology-driving-innovation/drones/?cid=li-pa-dronesamp-4