When talking about technological advances, the development made by the millennial generation stands out. Although there is no consensus, they are normally considered to be born between 1980 and 1996. Millennials represent the future workforce and many of them are known to be the first “digital native” generation. This term, coined by educator and writer Marc Prensky, describes people born in the digital age who grew up with computers and mobile phones at their fingertips. While many of the millennials did not have access to this technology in their childhood, they learned from it as they grew up. They grew along with technological advances. The centennials, all those born from 1997 to 2010, consider technology as something natural and essential to their lives. Many of the young people and teenagers today make up this generational group. As technology advances more rapidly, the Alpha generation, or the children of Millenials, also mature.
But technology continues to evolve by leaps and bounds and a new group is born. The Alpha Generation will continue to define the future and development of our society. According to experts, more than 2.5 million Alphas are born every week worldwide. By 2025, it is estimated that this new generation could be more than 2 billion people.
Roberto Balaguer, psychologist, teacher, writer and expert in social networks, said in a BBC interview that “what used to take 25 years to define and build, today has been reduced to a decade. That accounts for the permanent changes to which we are subjected to as a culture. ” The Alpha is the first 100% digital group worldwide and has experienced and knows the world through technology. They are the little ones who grew up with screens and various digital gadgets in the home.
What technologies will be driven by the Alpha Generation?
Marcelo Rinesi, Data Scientist and member of the Baikal Institute, declared for Infobae that “(…) the typical consumption of the Alpha generation will be superficially analogous to those of other generations, but very different in terms of economy, patterns of use, and the relationship between the consumer and the product “. Riseni observed several technologies that would be the most used by this group. Here are the technologies he sees as being the most prominent in the years to come:
Wearables
Clothing accessories with embedded technology, such as smartwatches or Bluetooth headphones, will grow exponentially in the coming years. According to IDC data, in 2019 198.5 million gadgets will be sold and this figure is estimated to grow to 279 million by 2023. Smartwatches, smart bands and smart clothes will move from novelty items, to essential over the next years.
Autonomous vehicles
Currently, the automotive industry is making extensive advances in designing and building autonomous vehicles. While there is a steep learning curve and the industry is still making adjustments, one of the exciting advantages of this innovation can be a reduction in the number of deaths. According to academic figures, one million people die each year from road accidents and 90% of these cases are due to human negligence. A study by Allied Market Research estimates that by 2026 the autonomous car market will grow to 39.47% and reach an annual value of 556.67 billion dollars. The Alpha generation will grow up with vehicles without a steering wheel and that can be programmed with smartphones or wearables.
Artificial Intelligence and Robots.
Smartphones are the main devices that drive Artificial Intelligence today. Complex assistants such as Siri, Alexa and Bixby learn from and react to the tastes and requests of the users to offer solutions to improve their lives.
In the future, Artificial Intelligence will be prominent in tasks such as facial recognition, productivity improvement, data mining, product identification and classification, and cybersecurity.
A study by McKinsey Global Institute estimates that by 2030 some 800 million employees will be replaced in their jobs by robots. But this change will also allow for the creation of new jobs and create growth in new industries. The Alpha generation will have to learn new skills in order to work in their jobs, depending less on physical strength and more on cognitive ability.
Although the oldest of the Alpha is currently 9 years old, it is certain that they will be involved in the new technology, and also will shape and transform society with their new technology.
