Information Technology (IT)

We're not far from a future when we'll all have devices like these that translate languages in real time. Several companies are working on earpieces that will transform the way people think about international business forever. Imagine a world with no language barriers at all – that's the goal for such companies as Pocketalk , Waverly Labs , Mymanu and ili , which are all currently pioneering wearable auditory translation technology. Google Translate has been an invaluable tool for translating language over the web, and with Google's Pixel Buds , it brings that technology to a near, instant translation device.

You can't talk about futuristic travel without talking about flying cars. One of the earliest renderings of a flying car (technically an aerial steam carriage) is from 1841. It seems that, as soon as man could move with ease on the ground, he wanted to abandon it for the sky. The dream of a future with flying cars is still alive thanks to such innovative companies as Urban Aeronautics , AeroMobil , PAL-V , Moller International and Terrafugia . While most of these are just in the concept stages, there are a few working prototypes like the Volocopter , which was shown off at the 2018 CES . Just think – instead of sitting through rush-hour traffic on your way to work, you could be soaring through the sky as you listen to podcasts and burn your tongue on overpriced coffee that you bought from a surly robotic barista with lug nuts for gauges.

Facebook quietly launched a video channel, Watch , on August 2017. On the desktop, you'll see a little TV that says, "Watch." The suggested videos on the Watch main page are based on a person's interests, likes and other activity on the social network. Like Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, and, recently, Apple, Facebook has sought high-profile producers to create original shows for them. It's been reported that the company has paid anywhere from $10,000 to $500,000 per episode for such exclusives, and may invest up to $1 billion this year on this endeavor. Facebook signed the WWE for a 12-episode wrestling tournament that premiered on January 16 on Facebook Watch. The social network is adding scripted shows, having signed actress Kerry Washington to produce a high school drama, and the producers of "True Blood " to produce a series. For now, Facebook Watch doesn't broadcast videos made by individuals. But the company plans to roll ...