Emerging Technologies Terms

Quantum computing is a type of computation that harnesses the collective properties of quantum states, such as superposition, interference, and entanglement, to perform calculations. Instead of bits, it uses quantum bits or "qubits."

A blockchain is a distributed, immutable ledger that is used to record transactions and track assets in a business network. Each block in the chain contains a number of transactions, and every time a new transaction occurs on the blockchain, a record of that transaction is added to every participant’s ledger.

A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology.

A smart contract is a self-executing contract with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. The code and the agreements contained therein exist across a distributed, decentralized blockchain network.

Web3 is a concept for a new iteration of the World Wide Web based on blockchain technology, which incorporates concepts such as decentralization and token-based economics. It aims to be a more user-centric, decentralized web where users own and control their own data.

A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is a unique digital identifier that is recorded on a blockchain and is used to certify ownership and authenticity. It cannot be copied, substituted, or subdivided.

A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is an organization represented by rules encoded as a computer program that is transparent, controlled by the organization members and not influenced by a central government. A DAO's financial transaction record and program rules are maintained on a blockchain.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a blockchain-based form of finance that does not rely on central financial intermediaries such as brokerages, exchanges, or banks to offer traditional financial instruments, and instead utilizes smart contracts on blockchains.

The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects—"things"—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet.

Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the sources of data. This is done to improve response times and save bandwidth, rather than sending data to a centralized cloud for processing.

Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), education (such as medical or military training) and business (such as virtual meetings).

Mixed Reality (MR) is the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations, where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time.

The metaverse is a concept of a persistent, online, 3D universe that combines multiple different virtual spaces. It is a hypothesized future iteration of the internet, allowing users to work, meet, game, and socialize together in these 3D spaces.

5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019. It is the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cellphones.

A digital twin is a virtual model designed to accurately reflect a physical object. The object being studied — for example, a wind turbine — is outfitted with various sensors related to vital areas of functionality. These sensors produce data about different aspects of the physical object’s performance, such as energy output, temperature, and weather conditions.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a form of business process automation technology based on metaphorical software robots (bots) or on artificial intelligence (AI) / digital workers. It is used to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks.

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that enables scientists to make precise changes to the DNA of living organisms. It acts like a "find and replace" tool for DNA.

Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.

Synthetic biology is a multidisciplinary area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. It combines principles of engineering, biology, and computer science.

A qubit, or quantum bit, is the basic unit of quantum information—the quantum version of the classical binary bit. A qubit can be in a superposition of both 0 and 1 states simultaneously.

In quantum mechanics, superposition is a fundamental principle which holds that a physical system—such as an electron—exists partly in all its particular, theoretically possible states simultaneously; but when measured, it gives a result corresponding to only one of the possible configurations.

Quantum entanglement is a physical phenomenon that occurs when a group of particles are generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in such a way that the quantum state of each particle of the group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, even when the particles are separated by a large distance.

Quantum supremacy or quantum advantage is the goal of demonstrating that a programmable quantum device can solve a problem that no classical computer can solve in any feasible amount of time.

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a transformative approach to industrial production that enables the creation of lighter, stronger parts and systems. It is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file by building them up layer by layer.

Generative design is an iterative design process that involves a program that will generate a certain number of outputs that meet certain constraints. It uses AI and machine learning algorithms to mimic nature’s evolutionary approach to design.

Explainable AI (XAI) refers to methods and techniques in artificial intelligence that enable human users to comprehend and trust the results and output created by machine learning algorithms. It aims to answer the question of "Why did the AI make that decision?".

Neuromorphic computing is an approach to computer engineering in which elements of a computer are modeled after systems in the human brain and nervous system. The goal is to create chips that process information in a fundamentally different way from traditional hardware.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a direct communication pathway between an enhanced or wired brain and an external device. BCIs are often directed at researching, mapping, assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions.

Homomorphic encryption is a form of encryption that allows computation to be performed on ciphertext, thus generating an encrypted result which, when decrypted, matches the result of the operations as if they had been performed on the plaintext.

A zero-knowledge proof is a method by which one party (the prover) can prove to another party (the verifier) that they know a value x, without conveying any information apart from the fact that they know the value x.

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. It is the building block of graphite, but graphene is a material with a unique set of extraordinary properties.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with structures sized between 1 to 100 nanometers in at least one dimension, and involves developing or modifying materials or devices within that size.

5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for cellular networks. It is designed to provide faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity than previous generations.

A decentralized application (DApp) is a computer application that runs on a decentralized computing system, such as a blockchain. Unlike traditional apps that run on a centralized server, DApps are censorship-resistant and operate without a central point of control.

Decentralization is the process by which the activities of an organization, particularly those regarding planning and decision-making, are distributed or delegated away from a central, authoritative location or group.

Centralization is the concentration of control of an activity or organization under a single authority. In technology, it refers to systems that are controlled by a single entity or run on a single server or cluster of servers.

In data security, tokenization is the process of substituting a sensitive data element with a non-sensitive equivalent, referred to as a "token," that has no extrinsic or exploitable meaning or value. The token is a reference that maps back to the sensitive data through a tokenization system.

Low-code/no-code development platforms are types of visual software development environments that allow enterprise developers and citizen developers to drag and drop application components, connect them together and create mobile or web apps.

Green technology, or cleantech, is a general term for any technology, product, or service that is environmentally friendly or aims to reduce the environmental impact of human activity.

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sources like power plants or industrial facilities and either reuses or stores it so it will not enter the atmosphere.

Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized digital currency that can be transferred on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network. Bitcoin transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain.

Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the platform. Among cryptocurrencies, Ether is second only to Bitcoin in market capitalization.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that includes mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

The Internet of Bodies (IoB) is an extension of the IoT and connects the human body to a network through devices that are ingested, implanted, or connected to the body. Once connected, these devices can be remotely monitored and controlled.

Self-sovereign identity (SSI) is a model for managing digital identities in which individuals have sole ownership and control over their personal data. It allows users to control what information they share and with whom, without relying on a central identity provider.

X as a Service (XaaS) is a general, collective term that refers to the delivery of anything as a service. It recognizes the vast number of products, tools, and technologies that vendors now deliver to users as a service over a network—typically the internet—rather than provide locally or on-site within an enterprise.

Digital nomads are people who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their life in a nomadic manner. Such workers often work remotely from foreign countries, coffee shops, public libraries, co-working spaces, or recreational vehicles.

Biohacking is a broad term that can cover a wide spectrum of activities, from performing science experiments on yeast or other organisms to tracking your own sleep and diet to changing your own biology by pumping a younger person's blood into your veins in the hope that it'll fight aging.

Transhumanism is a philosophical and intellectual movement that advocates for the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies able to greatly enhance human intellect and physiology.

Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term that encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). It covers all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables.

Federated learning is a machine learning technique that trains an algorithm across multiple decentralized edge devices or servers holding local data samples, without exchanging their data samples. This approach stands in contrast to traditional centralized machine learning techniques where all the local datasets are uploaded to one server.

Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are satellites that orbit the Earth at a relatively low altitude, typically below 2,000 kilometers. They are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, and scientific research.

Responsible AI is a governance framework for the development and use of artificial intelligence that is transparent, fair, secure, and accountable. It aims to ensure that AI systems are designed and operated in a way that aligns with human values and ethical principles.

Space technology is a broad field encompassing the technologies used for space exploration, satellite communication, Earth observation, and other activities in outer space. It includes spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, and ground control systems.

A digital identity is the online persona of an individual, organization, or electronic device. It is the body of information about them that exists online, which can include usernames, passwords, search history, social media activity, and online transactions.

Human augmentation is the field of technology that aims to enhance human capabilities through medicine or technology. This can include improving cognitive functions like memory and intelligence, or physical abilities like strength and senses.