By Julius Choudhury
Traveling hasn't been the same since ancient times, and that's something to be grateful for. Globally, the transport industry continues to grow at breakneck speeds. Technological innovations have seen the 2.5 trillion-dollar industry serve billions of consumers who demand nothing less than amazing traveling experiences. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic has brought international-traveling to a standstill, here are some top innovations that are revolutionizing our journeys.
1. Airplanes
The invention of airplanes has created a lot of conveniences in traveling. If you look back 200 years into the past, the idea of a flying vehicle was highly inconceivable. Fast forward to today, over 16 million flights are handled by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) each year. Air transport brings the convenience of faster and relatively safer traveling experiences. Even though the costs may be higher, flying is quite more reliable than driving. In 2008, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported zero fatalities per 100 million miles of flight, compared to 1.27 for road vehicles. The safety improvements in air transport can be attributed to the advances made by aerospace manufacturing companies such as RapidPSI. RapidPSI designs lighter-weight airplane parts without compromising strength. These allow aircraft to take-off faster and fly faster.
2. Smartphones and mobile apps
Though they have no mechanical engines, smartphones are powerful tech tools that are changing how people book flights and road vehicles. When Uber launched its revolutionary taxi-booking app, it gained popularity almost instantly. Mobile phones present consumers with everything they need to plan for their trips. Also, if you install apps such as Skyscanner on your smart mobile device, you can book flights, hotels, and even rent a car without traveling far.
3. GPS technology & google maps
Known in full form as the Global Positioning System, GPS is a location-tracking technology that uses signals from satellites to show the precise location on a mobile receiver. Transport operators, fleet managers, and passengers are now well-equipped with GPS trackers. When companies install GPS trackers and video surveillance systems on their commercial vehicles, they can monitor and remotely track the locations of drivers, and also caution them against dangerous driving. All in all, this reduces the risks of accidents. Using GPS technology, Google Maps, in particular, has been a handy tool for travelers. With these apps on their smartphones, travelers can navigate their ways through busy cities, even if they are there for the first time.
4. Wearable technology
Smart wearable devices are becoming more common by the day. Tech giants like Apple Inc, are making huge marks on traveling. For example, Apple Watches are smartwatches that combine fitness features with health monitoring functionalities. As wearable devices gain more popularity and intelligence, the transport sector is expected only to get better. It's a dream-come-true for travelers to walk with smart wearable devices that can track their heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs.
Technology has had a very positive impact on travel. And it will continue to do so as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and virtual reality (VR) continue to advance.
