Tapping into the data flow: innovation leaders float big ideas
Anticipating a three-day festival of presentations and panel discussions that aim to disrupt industries, evolve cities and positively impact our daily lives, GE Reports asked five industry and technology leaders to gaze into the datasphere with one open-ended question in mind:
What digital disruption or development would really rock your world?
Power sharing of disease-defying information
Larry Marshall, chief executive, CSIRO (above)
It seems that no sooner have we come up with the next greatest thing at CSIRO, than we’re turning it into a reality. So for me, the most exciting digital disruption is just beginning, and it’s the way we’re using the unique power of CSIRO to collaborate like never before. One recent example is a new method we’ve developed for early detection of malaria, just by testing the breath of people who might be carrying it without displaying symptoms. Not only has it brought together the vast expertise within CSIRO, but we’ve partnered with the Gates Foundation as well as Australian and US medical research institutes to test our new approach in malaria hotspots around the world, bringing together other organisations to tackle a global humanitarian issue. That doesn’t just rock my world, it rocks the world.
Digitally linked transport systems
At Boeing we always strive to “build something better”—and for 100 years we’ve done just that. From commercial aircraft, to defence, to space, we have an amazing legacy of aerospace leadership to build upon long into the future.
When I think of disruption, I think of a future where manned and unmanned land, sea, air and space vehicles are not only transporting people and cargo—they’re continually trading information with each other and their ground stations through sensors and data links. We already live in a connected world, and we already enable aircraft to communicate, but when you see Boeing’s glimpse into the future, communication and the ability to sort through massive amounts of data will certainly be crucial to make quantum leaps forward in how we live, travel and transport.
Fully integrated, easy access to healthcare data
Leonie Walsh, lead scientist, VictoriaThe digital disruption I would like to see happen sooner rather than later involves fully integrated and personalised healthcare particularly as it relates to the aged or the chronically ill.
We are living longer and the elderly want to maintain their independence for as long as possible but in-home services are still out of the reach of many.
Remote control and autonomous robots are starting to emerge, but are out of the price range of most pensioners. eHealth systems are too complex for most elderly people to access and use. Complex medication management is also not easily accessible as medications are added over time.
I would love to see fully integrated, user-friendly, multi-dimensional, multi-media digital resources available for individuals and families to access, that will give all family members peace of mind and the choice of a healthy and independent life for their parents and grandparents for as long as possible.
This may not necessarily "rock my world", but it would make a lot of people on the planet a lot less worried and stressed.
Wireless electrification
Richard McIndoe, executive chairman, Edge ElectronsFor the first time, we now have the affordable ability to control voltage and power quality at each house and business. This allows us to improve the quality and reliability of power supply for everyone, reduce everyone's electricity costs and significantly lower the CO2 emissions from our industry. It allows us to control electricity usage over large areas, use the IoT to manage appliances and machinery across multiple sites and make people significantly more efficient without them having to lift a finger or change their lifestyle.
Driverless systems, jobs and the marketplace
Jeff Sharp, group manager, technology & innovation, Downer GroupDriverless cars, drones, and autonomous robots will change the way we live and work. I have a large part of my focus on the transport sector and can see that these new modes of transport will massively change the way we operate and/or maintain roads, rail and public transport. We will see changes to our workforce as drivers are replaced by driverless systems. Blue-collar workforces will be supplemented by automated robots. Drones and autonomous delivery robots will utilise footpaths and airspace, in contrast to the roads-only approach we have today. Not only will workforces be transformed, but the economy will transform as delivery costs drop dramatically, creating whole new business models.
Top image: Larry Marshall, chief executive, CSIRO. Courtesy CSIRO.