What fields don't exist now, but will in our lifetime?

[elysepopplewell]

It's the time of year when students are looking to scholarship interviews and questionnaires, and a student on ATARNotes asked for my thoughts on a question they were being asked to respond to. Given the suggestion that majority of us will be working in jobs during our career that currently don't even exist right now - what is a field/job that is yet to be invented that you can see yourself (or others) working in? Keep innovation and addressing current voids in mind. I'm keen to know what you all think of!

[Litigator]

It's the time of year when students are looking to scholarship interviews and questionnaires, and a student on ATARNotes asked for my thoughts on a question they were being asked to respond to. Given the suggestion that majority of us will be working in jobs during our career that currently don't even exist right now - what is a field/job that is yet to be invented that you can see yourself (or others) working in? Keep innovation and addressing current voids in mind. I'm keen to know what you all think of!

Robotics industry maybe. I dont know much about how big it is right now, but i dont know anyone who has claimed to work in it.

If an engineering student could me out here.. those self service machines you see at coles/woolies, under what category does it fall under in terms of engineering? If its not even engineering i plead ignorance  . Id say we would start seeing alot of self service in the future. Less mistakes, less wages, less cost.

[jamonwindeyer]

Robotics industry maybe. I dont know much about how big it is right now, but i dont know anyone who has claimed to work in it.

If an engineering student could me out here.. those self service machines you see at coles/woolies, under what category does it fall under in terms of engineering? If its not even engineering i plead ignorance  . Id say we would start seeing alot of self service in the future. Less mistakes, less wages, less cost.

Combination of software engineering, electrical engineering, and social engineering I'd say!

In our lifetime, the one area that is going to explode is the biomedical/biotechnology industries. I'd wager that we will start shifting from tech wearables to tech 'installables' in the next 15 years or so. There are already companies installing NFC chips underneath peoples skin in the USA, and there is one in Sydney now too I believe. And then there is bionics. Artificial limbs will probably end up being more efficient than a regular human limb, eventually, and when it does you'll start seeing artificial body parts becomes a consumer driven market, not a medical field

[FallingStar]

Combination of software engineering, electrical engineering, and social engineering I'd say!

In our lifetime, the one area that is going to explode is the biomedical/biotechnology industries. I'd wager that we will start shifting from tech wearables to tech 'installables' in the next 15 years or so. There are already companies installing NFC chips underneath peoples skin in the USA, and there is one in Sydney now too I believe. And then there is bionics. Artificial limbs will probably end up being more efficient than a regular human limb, eventually, and when it does you'll start seeing artificial body parts becomes a consumer driven market, not a medical field

I'm seeing half cyborg humans with a combination of fake and real limbs...

I'm thinking more automation of processes and actions. Perhaps stuff like driver less cars and auto pilots that can even land and take off planes. We will be doing more stuff through the internet than in person, and I doubt that the internet is going away or being obsolete in the foreseeable future (although I see everyone using IPv6 being very, very foreseeable in the near to medium future).

So I guess that the internet is going to play quite an important role in our future society. Through that, e-commerce will thrive where trading stuff over the internet will become more and more common, even with the smaller purchases. Perhaps cash become obsolete due to the expansion of e-commerce. Yet how we are going to secure these electronic transactions would be a question we shall answer. Teleconferencing through the internet will become really commonplace, and will not be considered an innovation, but a technological must. Even job interviews are going to be conducted over the internet, with the boss seeing your face through a camera. Like the you will have printers, fridges, and every electronic stuff somehow connecting to the internet. Like using the internet to control a cleaning robot at home, or to monitor home security systems. And probably (well, very likely) more stuff that a) I haven't listed or b) Haven't even been considered possible.

So yeah, that's my view of the future internet of things. Any thoughts?

[RuiAce]

Perhaps cash become obsolete due to the expansion of e-commerce. Yet how we are going to secure these electronic transactions would be a question we shall answer. Teleconferencing through the internet will become really commonplace, and will not be considered an innovation, but a technological must. Even job interviews are going to be conducted over the internet, with the boss seeing your face through a camera.

Gotta be careful of what we mean by cash here. Cash usually just refers to your money, not the tangible coins and notes. And that would probably be in the far future I reckon cause right now it's way easier to just walk 10 minutes than to get a robot to deliver you just plain food or something.

There's going to be some added pressure with employers conducting the job venues on the spot as well.

[elysepopplewell]

In our lifetime, the one area that is going to explode is the biomedical/biotechnology industries. I'd wager that we will start shifting from tech wearables to tech 'installables' in the next 15 years or so. There are already companies installing NFC chips underneath peoples skin in the USA, and there is one in Sydney now too I believe. And then there is bionics. Artificial limbs will probably end up being more efficient than a regular human limb, eventually, and when it does you'll start seeing artificial body parts becomes a consumer driven market, not a medical field

That sounds very Futurama! The very first episode, where Fry is chipped to be a pizza delivery boy?

[jamonwindeyer]

That sounds very Futurama! The very first episode, where Fry is chipped to be a pizza delivery boy?

Aha exactly! It's not as far off as we think

[elysepopplewell]

Keen to know what everyone's thoughts are on self-serve machines and what not? It seems there's some techies here! I work at Woolworths and it's a source of annoyance I have with customers who act like self-serve machines are the root source of all evil. Does anyone have much perspective on how many more jobs this will open up, by opening more self serve machines, as opposed to how many jobs would be existing if we only had people-checkouts?

[wyzard]

It's the time of year when students are looking to scholarship interviews and questionnaires, and a student on ATARNotes asked for my thoughts on a question they were being asked to respond to. Given the suggestion that majority of us will be working in jobs during our career that currently don't even exist right now - what is a field/job that is yet to be invented that you can see yourself (or others) working in? Keep innovation and addressing current voids in mind. I'm keen to know what you all think of!

Great question! It's really interesting to think what kind of new job titles that might open up in the future.

I just completed my Bachelors of Science majoring in Physics, and I'm keen to get involved in research on Quantum Computing. Quantum Computing currently is still in its infancy and is a very active area of research.

Quantum computers in principle can outperform traditional computers that everyone is using at the moment at certain tasks, such as factoring very large prime numbers and much more. The challenge currently is building one that actually works and implementing algorithms (you can blame quantum decoherence for that ).

If quantum computers become more widespread and used, I'm speculating that we will have "Quantum Programmers" that specializes in programming quantum computers, manipulating 'qubits' rather than the traditional 'bit' employed by current computers. Who know what kind of mind-blowing software can be made using quantum computers?

[wyzard]

Keen to know what everyone's thoughts are on self-serve machines and what not? It seems there's some techies here! I work at Woolworths and it's a source of annoyance I have with customers who act like self-serve machines are the root source of all evil. Does anyone have much perspective on how many more jobs this will open up, by opening more self serve machines, as opposed to how many jobs would be existing if we only had people-checkouts?

I think it's one of those 'machines will take over our jobs' kinda sentiment that people have with self-checkout machines that makes them think they're a source of evil.

Personally, I'd love using those; being an introvert, I find it kinda draining visiting an actual cashier and have to make small talk. So having a self-checkout works perfectly for me

When it comes to job, I think having a self-checkout can be good thing too, as the job of a cashier is replaced by maybe a software engineer to make sure the self-checkout machines are working properly, fixing any issues and implementing improvements. The menial task of cashiering can then be automated by the machine, and the person behind it have more time and energy to do something else. It's understandable to see why some people hate this idea, as they see unemployment; rather than improvement in technology and freeing up more free time for humans to do something else.

[RuiAce]

Keen to know what everyone's thoughts are on self-serve machines and what not? It seems there's some techies here! I work at Woolworths and it's a source of annoyance I have with customers who act like self-serve machines are the root source of all evil. Does anyone have much perspective on how many more jobs this will open up, by opening more self serve machines, as opposed to how many jobs would be existing if we only had people-checkouts?

I love those self-serve machines for the exact reasons mentioned above

Great question! It's really interesting to think what kind of new job titles that might open up in the future.

I just completed my Bachelors of Science majoring in Physics, and I'm keen to get involved in research on Quantum Computing. Quantum Computing currently is still in its infancy and is a very active area of research.

Quantum computers in principle can outperform traditional computers that everyone is using at the moment at certain tasks, such as factoring very large prime numbers and much more. The challenge currently is building one and implementing algorithms.

If quantum computers become more widespread and used, I'm speculating that we will have "Quantum Programmers" that specializes in programming quantum computers, manipulating 'qubits' rather than the traditional 'bit' employed by current computers. Who know what kind of mind-blowing software can be made using quantum computers?

It's going to be ages before they fully get one up and running but I think there has been some progress on this already right?



From an actuarial analyst's perspective, tbh whilst it's been around for a while in other countries risk analysis in general insurance is extremely new in Australia. So new to the point we don't even have a proper code of conduct for it yet...
There's always new things opening up in business industries. Although I can't get out of my head what exactly is worth mentioning though

[elysepopplewell]

I think it's one of those 'machines will take over our jobs' kinda sentiment that people have with self-checkout machines that makes people think they're a source of evil.

Personally, I'd love using those; being an introvert, I find it kinda draining visiting an actual cashier and have to make small talk. So having a self-checkout works perfectly for me

When it comes to job, I think having a self-checkout can be good thing too, as the job of a cashier is replaced by maybe a software engineer to make sure the self-checkout machines are working properly, fixing any issues and implementing improvements. The menial task of cashiering can then be automated by the machine, and the person behind it have more time and energy to do something else. It's understandable to see why some people hate this idea, as they see unemployment; rather than improvement in technology and freeing up more free time for humans to do something else.

Interesting perspective - the idea that people will be freed up to do other things. You're definitely right about certain people preferring self serve for social reasons. Some people are just rude and they know it so they stick to themselves, other people are anxious and stick to themselves, some people are just quieter people who don't like the interaction. I <3 self serve

[ssarahj]

Interesting perspective - the idea that people will be freed up to do other things. You're definitely right about certain people preferring self serve for social reasons. Some people are just rude and they know it so they stick to themselves, other people are anxious and stick to themselves, some people are just quieter people who don't like the interaction. I <3 self serve

I definitely agree with the idea that people will ultimately have a lot more leisure time. With technological developments only getting better I think it makes sense that society will eventually move away from the capitalist ideas of work that stem from the Industrial Revolution. But I have no idea what that might mean for us and what we might spend our time working on - but this perhaps won't happen in our lifetime 

[Musa]

Any ideas on where unskilled labour will shift to, considering that most of their jobs are becoming gradually automised?

[elysepopplewell]

Any ideas on where unskilled labour will shift to, considering that most of their jobs are becoming gradually automised?

I just did some scrolling back to a Humans of New York post I saw. This is what the interviewee said:

“I work at a machine tool automation company. We build the machines that build the cars. High school wasn’t for me. I didn’t respond well to being lectured and having things jammed into my brain. So I started out sweeping floors at the factory, then I got moved into the saw shop, and now I do electrical installation. I’m up to $17 an hour now. And I’ve started studying PLC so I can move up even further. There’s actually a lot of opportunity in my field. There's not much competition. Nobody my age wants to do this stuff. They all want to go to art school or make video games or something. I think maybe it’s because too many people are being told to do whatever they want. Because no matter what you think you can be, there’s still gotta be people like me.”

So, I mean, soo much of our society is held up by jobs that you wouldn't even consider as a job - some jobs are taken by people who you don't even think about. I tend to think that they'll be utilising technology in ways that are more forefront to people (like self check out) than what happens behind the scenes (like sorting rubbish at a tip). I don't really know why I think this, it's kind of unsubstantiated. Is it because businesses that work so closely with humans, like customer service, want to show their innovation in order to keep up with competitors, but the unskilled labouring jobs aren't competitive in that manner? They aren't trying to keep up with technology, they're just trying to find the cheapest way to do something, and sometimes the cheapest way is a human over a bot?

I definitely agree with the idea that people will ultimately have a lot more leisure time. With technological developments only getting better I think it makes sense that society will eventually move away from the capitalist ideas of work that stem from the Industrial Revolution. But I have no idea what that might mean for us and what we might spend our time working on - but this perhaps won't happen in our lifetime 

Ok...brain ~explosion~

What if, we were all relieved of our work duties, or at least to some extent, and then everyone's vocation became caring? So everyone works on becoming more caring for each other, but mainly the environment. They would call it: The Age of Compassion. Just as people see a duty to work for money, people would see a duty to work for the environment and each other. I know this is far fetched, but I'm actually really vibing with it? What do y'all think?