2020 Vision

Can it really be 20 years ago we greeted the new millennium? It was a moment when we anticipated great advances in technology and how it might affect our lives and the homes we live in – but just how much has changed?

The first heart monitor worn on the body appeared in 1981. It was used initially only by top athletes, but it was only a matter of time before such devices became mainstream, and in 2007 the ‘Fitbit’ came onto the market. Now a high percentage of the population wear them to monitor sleep and activity levels, finding them a motivating force towards a more active lifestyle.

The concept of the driverless car developed not long after the invention of the car itself, but only relatively recently has it become a possibility. In 2019, 29 states of the United States permitted autonomous cars and many other developed nations are making plans to operate similar systems or are already testing them. Any predictions about flying cars however, have not been realised – except in the world of teenage wizards!

Although many of us choose to read on a tablet or e-book, the ‘real thing’ still very much exists and shows no signs of disappearing altogether. In fact, many people still choose the paper version, loving the feel and smell of a book and the whole experience of the book shop.

Technology has the potential to change the way we live in our homes. AI technology in the form of smart speakers can now respond to our commands and complete tasks; heating and lighting can be controlled from our phones.

In the world of construction the biggest changes are being seen in the materials used to build houses. For instance, carbon intensive cement is being replaced by more sustainable alternatives and steel is popular for its recyclability. Solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps are becoming more mainstream and with sustainability never far from the news, structural engineers will be working with these new technologies as we move forward into the next decade.