How Drones are Changing Our World for the Better

There is little denying that we live in an ‘Age of Disruption’. New technologies – many which were the stuff of science fiction just a few years ago – are transforming the world around us. If anything, the trend is just getting started as breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, and drone technology are coming at light speed.

While these disruptions have the potential to disrupt how things have been done in the past, many will change our lives for the better. With that in mind, here are some ways that drones are changing our world.

1. Real Estate

You might not think of the real estate industry as one which is primed for disruption but the fact is that technology is already leaving its mark. This includes the number of websites which have popped up to replace the MLS to the growth of drone photography of real estate.

The latter should not come as a surprise as the old way of searching for a home to buy is extremely costly and probably yields a result which is less than ideal. Think about it. To search for a home, you need to find a realtor, tell them what you are looking for, and then drive from house to house. This process could take weeks or even months – who has time for that?

By using drone photography, you can visit dozens of homes in different neighborhoods all from the comfort of your current abode. In addition, you can visit these homes anytime and you don’t need a realtor to help you. This means you can focus more on what you are looking for rather than being pushed into a purchase by a realtor who is hoping to cash in on their commission.

2. News

Another way that drones are helping the change the world is in journalism. Gone are the days of putting reporters in harm’s way during a hurricane or a protest. Sure, this makes for dramatic television but networks are increasingly relying on drones to help cover events from the relative safety of their office.

By doing so, the media companies can cut down on the cost of sending reporters around the world, allowing them to cover more stories at one time. Granted, they will probably need to combine drone coverage with on-the-ground reporting but in many cases networks can contract with freelance reporters who know the location being covered.

Another potential downside to using drones for news reporting are potential privacy issues. Think about it, unscrupulous journalists could use drones to impinge on someone’s privacy by flying over their home or buzzing their car as they drive. One example of this was the scene in the Emma Watson, Tom Hanks movie The Circle where a drone caused an accident by startling a driver.

However, this doesn’t mean that the technology is bad. Instead, it brings the light to have professional standards in place to govern their use.

3. Farming

Gone are the days where most people worked on farms and today less than 1 percent of the U.S. workforce is directly employed in farm jobs. In the future, that number could fall even further as drones take over many of the tasks done by humans today.

Think about it, tractors and combines could effectively drive themselves and drones could also be used to inspect crops or to check on irrigation and pest control. These uses would further transform the role of farmers and in many cases, they become a mix of livestock managers, data scientists, and commodities traders.

4. Sports

This is already happening as Fox has been testing the use of drones during NFL games. Not only can drones be used to enhance the television experience of live sporting events but they can also be used for crowd control and public safety. As such, the use of drones in sports could dramatically change the experience of not only watching a game but also going to see one live.

5. Fire and Rescue

While police departments and the military have been using drones for years another use which would make our world a better place is in fire and rescue situations – especially those which are too dangerous for firemen.
The could include rescues along treacherous mountain passes in the winter or in scanning burning buildings for survivors. As both would eliminate the need to unnecessarily put rescue teams in harm’s way.

This list just scratches the surface. For example, delivery drones are already being tested and it won’t be long before our cities are full of drones delivering everything from dinner to sneakers to us. While this might impact some jobs, new roles will crop up to take their place. Who knows what we will do with all the convenience – but it helping to make the world a better place.