No matter how you think of it, technology is a fantastic thing. With new inventions helping those in need and making life so much easier than it was, there are also downsides to creating such technological breakthroughs.
For one, talking to your family is now through text, and not through voice. On Instagram, we only show the highlights of our lives, and not when life takes a shit on you. We can agree that apps and innovations are here to stay, and will look to make our lives easier whether you like it or not!
Shaping the Future with Futuristic Apps
1: Forward
Healthcare is one of the most confusing, and disappointing categories of any purchase you’ll make. Prescriptions are too much for what they are; waiting rooms are filled with…well, waiting too long, and medical billing is an overly complicated system.
One new app is looking to change the way we act in a healthcare environment. Forward is a new concept where you’ll have a comprehensive exam made through the latest tech, along with a doctor that spends more time with you than you are waiting in the waiting room (dungeon). You’ll be able to see the doctor unlimited times, have an app that continually monitors your overall health, and much more!
Price is a Factor
We all know health insurance is also shit. It’s like being sent out into a Best Buy, and you’re shopping in the open box department because all of the other devices are overpriced but offer the same thing. It’s confusing, it’s broken, and that’s an issue that doesn’t seem to be fixed unless someone looks at…Forward.
Forward offers a subscription-based service (surprise), and you’ll be able to see the doctor as much as you’d like as long as you pay the subscription, which is $199 per month.
What’s Holding Forward Back?
It’s pretty clear the Forward concept is badass and should be the norm. As you know, however, there are politics of health insurance, and perhaps other factors delaying the production of Forward from going full force. They are available in NYC, San Francisco, and a few other places.
The likelihood that this will be a norm in 10 years: 50% certainty
2: OpenDoor
Another industry that is in dire need of an overhaul is Real Estate. With the economic crash of 2008, many houses soon after that double in price and made homes unaffordable to many (*cough Millennials*). The house that cost $150,000 just ten years before would now be $300,000, and we would not expect it to be a fully updated house. Expect it to be a crack house next to a beautiful shopping plaza.
Either way, if you’ve searched and purchased a new house these days, you’ll find that, while there are so many neat search engines for homes, they don’t offer a way to cut time and money spent on listings and purchasing.
Enter OpenDoor
Buying on OpenDoor
OpenDoor keeps what is good about searching for a home online, while also applying traditional e-commerce concepts to its model. For example, you can visit homes using your phone and punch in a security code at the door without having an agent nearby. This function alone is something that all Real Estate companies should keep an eye on.If you want to see a home that looks nice online…why do you need an agent nearby?
One of the questions I get right away when mentioning OpenDoor is the whole negotiation of offers concept. For most in-person transactions, particularly Real Estate, you can negotiate a lower cost or fee negation as part of the deal. With OpenDoor this function doesn’t exist, at least not yet. Although you can still offer whatever price you want to, and it’ll be up to OpenDoor to take the deal or not.
Also, you get a 30-day guarantee, so if your house is falling apart within 20 days, you can get a full refund on your home purchase!
Selling on OpenDoor
Another pain in the ass is selling your home. Traditionally, as a seller, you’ll have to find a Real Estate Agent host multiple showings and shell out a significant amount of cash to the agent when you sell the house. Also, you might have many deals fall through due to financing.
OpenDoor differs by offering no showings, and they’ll make a competitive offer outright. Once your home is sold, they’ll host showings and you’ll have nothing to do with it!
The likelihood that this will be a norm in 10 years: 75% certainty
3: Western Governor’s University (WGU)
Student loans are getting out of hand…and why? We have the technology to teach people remotely, conduct courses through any given location, and conduct testing from anywhere in the world! The cost of this shouldn’t be in the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The truth is, if you dig deeper, you probably should be able to get a college degree under $2000. Few would argue this with all the technology available.
The one argument youdo make is that fact you’ll eventually need hands-on experience or labs. This is where the Western Governor’s University’s model comes into play.
College Tuition Based on Time Spent to Complete
Here’s a neat concept:If you can complete a course, why not do another one the next day. That’s what separates WGU from other online educational concepts. You could, theoretically speaking, complete a college degree in only a single semester. If you do so, you’ll only pay for a semester!
People head to college for theexperience, and many schools will still be around for the traditional costly, party heavy, drawn out and non-guaranteed way. The concept of completing your degree quickly at a single cost appeals to adults who can commit a year into getting a degree without getting into much debt at all.
Sure, some kinks can be ironed out to save even more money over time, but this concept is a substantial first step!
The likelihood that this will be a norm in 10 years: 45% certainty
4: Fair
Car ownership isn’t as pretty a choice as one can make. For one, cars are machines that are certain to break down at any given time. If you can pull it off, paying for a car outright can save you a sizeable monthly expense, but there’s still no guarantee the vehicle will be reliable. Plus, insurance is another significant expense that people tend to overlook. In all, you can expect to payat minimum$200 per month on a car.
That’s Not Fair
Fair is a complete turn on car ownership. In fact, with Fair, you’llneverown a car, but instead lease a car for each month. You can also pick options that are premium, to economic, based on pricing. Let’s call Fair, the Netflix for car ownership. One anonymous car expert says:
“Leasing is ideal: you get maintenance included, and you know exactly what you’ll be paying each month.”
Fair can be found in most states, and even offers insurance and maintenance on its cars. Plus, some areas may also deliver and pick up your car (when the lease is over).
While financially speaking, continually leasing a car isn’t always the best decision, with Fair you won’t be locked into a long term deal, plus you’ll knowexactlywhat you’ll be paying every month!
The likelihood that this will be a norm in 10 years: 60% certainty
5: Basic Cell Phones (Like Relay)
One of my friends made a prediction that blew me away and made total sense.
“Smart Phones are the Cigarettes of today’s’ generation, one day people will see that screen time is a way to separate themselves emotionally.”
An unspoken truth in today’s world is precisely this: Smartphones are addicting, and no one seems to care. At least, those who control most of the decisions we make. The newest and latest generations could be rebels and start their alternative take on Cell Phones with One Concept: Voice Communication and that alone.
There’s a company called Republic Wireless that is using this technology already in their Relay Device:
Kid-Focused for Now…
This particular Relay device is aimed at children. Could it be that a device like this becomes a staple in our children’s lives so much that they make this kind of tech the new norm? *Mind Blown*
The likelihood that this will be a norm in 10 years: 20% Certainty (Probably 20+ Years)
