In our fast-paced society, technology is constantly changing and advancing. It is and has been such an important part of many of our daily lives, to a point where some may not remember being without the latest devices. As the decade comes to an end, here are some of the most cutting edge and game-changing advancements in technology when it comes to gadgets and apps of the 2010s. 

 Social Media

Social media has been a part of the internet scene for almost 30 years, but these apps created in the early 2010s have gained popularity from users all over the world. Apps like Instagram (October 2010), Snapchat (September  2011) and Tik Tok (September 2016) have brought in a brand new way to take and share pictures and videos with your friends or family. 

“To me, social media is a way I can communicate with my family and keep up with them even though they live in a different state,” said freshman Imani Boyd. 

These apps have also brought in a new marketing tactic where you can easily promote yourself or your business to users across the globe.

 Playstation 4 

Playstation 4 was released on Nov. 15, 2013, and forever changed the world of gaming consoles. Its initial release came with new and improved features, such as Community Creation, Media Sharing, Live Streaming and Share Play. On it’s first day, Sony announced that the company sold over one million units in the first 24 hours and as of Dec. 2018, over 91 million units have been sold. PlayStation 4 remains as the world’s most popular gaming system, but that may change with the release of PlayStation 5, that is scheduled to release at the end of 2020.

The Apple Watch Series 

The first Apple Watch was officially released in April 2015, with the watch being geared towards its fitness attributes. The first Apple Watch had the ability to make wireless payments, as well as accept calls and send texts at the comfort of your wrist. With recent releases, the Apple Watch Series has often shared release dates with the brand’s latest iPhones. 

With the release of Series 5 of the Apple Watch, came better Bluetooth, improved movement and location meters, and more advanced health and fitness tracking.  It also included electrocardiogram testing, known as ECG,which is a test that records the timing and strength of the electrical signals that make the heart beat.With the app, a doctor can gain insights about your heart rhythm and look for irregularities. 

The new watch also features improved GPS, always-on retina display, a 30% larger screen than previous models, electrical and optical heart sensors, a built-in compass, emergency SOS, and fall detection.

Ride- and Scooter-Sharing Services

Ride-sharing apps are the new wave in transportation, which began to gain popularity in the late 2010s. Companies such as Lyft and Uber have promoted their companies to be quick and safe ways of commuting from anywhere in the nation. Ride-sharing apps have become quick and easy alternatives of transportation that can have you on your way to your destination within minutes of ordering your ride. 

In 2018, Uber and Lyft introduced their own Ride-Sharing scooter services, Jump and Lyft Scooters respectively. The scooters are available to use for short-term rentals and can be accessed by downloading an app. Like their parent companies, they offer an alternative commute for short distances. 

Self-Driving Cars

Since 2008, the idea of a self-driving car has been in the works by many manufacturers. In 2009, Google launched its first self-driving project, and in mid-October of  2015, a software enabling Autopilot was released through Tesla, but was only available for its first time buyers. Over the years, updates have been made to modify the Tesla Autopilot system. In an article released by CNBC, Auto and tech industry experts predict it will be at least 12 years before self driving cars could be sold to private buyers. When you buy a self-driving car, it will include adaptive cruise control, self-parking, the ability to automatically change lanes, and the ability to summon the car to and from a garage or parking spot.