Amongst the many emerging business trends for the year ahead, human interaction with technology and the subsequent cultivated advancements are sending shockwaves across the business landscape. We unpack how the human-machine interface and Web 3.0 are transforming the world as we know it.
In recent years, the use of the humble smart speaker has skyrocketed across the US. So much so, that a staggering 25 percent of all households across the country have welcomed an Amazon Alexa into their home as of 2023.
This piece of kit is a small part of a wider sphere of emerging technology that is increasingly important in both the domestic and business realm, known as the human-machine interface (HMI), which amalgamates with the rise of Web 3.0 – the next evolution of the internet.
HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE
Although this may seem like a futuristic concept, the HMI plays a prominent role in the everyday lives of Americans.
The digital technology utilized in smart speakers, streaming services, voice assistants, and gesture recognition technology are only the foundations of a wider technology sector that is transforming human interaction and the ways in which people conduct business.
At its core, the HMI is a screen or an interface that people interact with. As the interface has evolved, the technology endeavors to create a humanistic and holistic method of interaction, arising from the recent evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotics.
The HMI has become more seamless and responsive in recent years thanks to the development of natural language processing, gesture recognition, and brain-computer interfaces.
Honeywell, one of the largest HMI organizations in the world, has created three unique and revolutionary products that maximize the operative effectiveness of technology by negating the human pitfalls of fatigue or error.
The company’s Collaboration Station, in particular, is a diverse hub of digital transformation that is utilized across the industrial and construction space, offering specialized visualization architecture that can transform data into a tangible interface, further increasing businesses profitability.
Another company that is becoming more apparent in the HMI space is Neuralink, founded in 2016 by Elon Musk.
The company is focused on connecting human brains with machines via implants. As a result, the human mind will no longer be outpaced by AI but instead work collaboratively by placing threads of it in the brain.
Neuralink’s technology is still in its testing phase and is yet to be launched, but it marks a turning point in the realm of AI and is expected to have a tremendous trajectory.
WEB 3.0 AND THE METAVERSE
Although Web 3.0 sounds like a science fiction character, this other-worldly interface is paving the way for the new era of digital transformation.
Despite still being in its infancy, the beginnings of Web 3.0 can already be seen in the adoption of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), which are becoming more advanced as they are introduced into mainstream media and gaming.
Indeed, the global VR market has an estimated increase in value from $12 billion in 2022 to more than $22 billion in 2025.
Web 3.0 and its many extensions, such as AR, are already innovating sectors including healthcare, allowing for greater accuracy and detail in diagnostics, whilst training for complex procedures and surgeries is made easier as professionals can readily practice their skills without any risk.
In addition, VR and AR will also help revolutionize the retail sector, as it provides the opportunity for consumers to immerse themselves in a product before buying, bringing it to life via a virtual prototype.
Meanwhile, at the forefront of the digital shift is the widely-known Metaverse. Produced by Facebook, this somewhat virtual world was created specifically for gaming, socializing, and business networking.
The implementation of Web 3.0 and its many branches encourages companies across the US and beyond to embrace and adopt such technologies as the Metaverse, which seeks to create a more specialized, advanced, and manageable business experience.
Tech experts are calling it a mere extension of what is already happening in the creation of a shared virtual space, whilst others argue that the Metaverse will completely redefine human interaction with technology, blurring the lines between the physical and the digital.
Looking towards the future of the digital world, embracing technologies such as HMI and Web 3.0 will be vital in critical decision-making if businesses are to remain successful and relevant in an ever-increasing competitive environment.
