What you can do to be ahead of the 90% Technologically in 2024

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Global Technology Statistics and Adoption Rates
3. Steps Needed to Get Ahead of the Curve
   1. Get a 5G-Ready Phone and Service Plan
   2. Adopt an AI Assistant and Smart Home Technology
   3. Leverage Productivity-Focused Apps and Services
   4. Enhance Technical Skills with Advanced Training
   5. Closely Monitor Technology Trends
4. Assessing Your Chances of Being Ahead
5. Game Plan for Closing Gaps
6. Conclusion and Call to Action

Introduction

Technology's exponential growth leaves little time to stand still. Each month brings new innovations, as researchers push the boundaries of what is possible. Early adopters race ahead to integrate advancements into their daily routines. Yet the majority of everyday consumers and business professionals lag behind these leading-edge use cases by months or even years.

Recent surveys of technology readiness levels confirm this bifurcation. An elite slice of the population, perhaps 15-20% globally, maintain an intense focus on tracking emerging developments, acquiring capabilities ahead of the curve and maximizing productivity through tools less tech-savvy peers have no exposure to.

The remainder, and clear majority percentage, fall significantly behind this group. They often cling to comfortable but outdated habits around workflows and communication. Upgrades only occur when forced - say after a job change or device failure. This reticence to proactively advance one's technology skill set opens substantial capability gaps from those embracing change.

Fortunately, developing genuine technology fluency requires no special qualifications. Core building blocks key to unlocking major advantages over the average adopter by 2024 take the form of universal communication tools and easy to access online education.

This blog post will highlight recent adoption statistics, outline required focus areas, and provide a clear action plan for closing skills gaps in order to position yourself firmly ahead of 90% of people technology-wise within the next 12-24 months. Bolded section headers help guide key discussion topics and recommendations.

Global Technology Statistics and Adoption Rates

Recent survey data and market research firm statistics reveal startling digital literacy divides persisting today:

• A 2021 Gallup poll found 57% of Americans admit needing someone else's help when setting up or operating a new digital device. This confirms widespread spin-up friction.
• Microsoft research on soft skills gaps discovered less than half of global office workers can spot phishing cyberattacks. Such fundamental security practices remain unmastered.
• Gartner's 2022 personal technologies survey indicated merely 7 to 8% of people had even modest exposure to breakthroughs like virtual reality and brain computing interfaces. Adoption of cutting-edge use cases drastically trails hype.

Drilling down, Deloitte's global 2023 digital trends research does segment out more encourage engagement statistics:

• 37% of those polled classify themselves as technology pioneers - actively seeking to learn and leverage emerging solutions ahead of peers
• 53% represent aspiring adopters open to but not fully embracing new capabilities
• 10% admitted laggard status - typically last to adopt only when necessitated

So based on these adoption rate insights, roughly 15-20% of individuals apparently lead the pack as early adopters while 80%+ follow behind due to some blend of indifference, intimidation or obliviousness regarding technology's exponential growth.

Clearly though, emulating the voyager mindset by surveying digital landscapes, exhibiting a growth mentality, and continuously working to expand one's toolkit offers a proven formula for staying ahead technologically versus ceding progress to happenstance.

Table A showcases currently estimated adoption rates for some noteworthy emerging technology solutions:

Technology	Global Adoption Rate	Lead Country Rate
Smartphones	~75%	South Korea 98%
5G Connectivity	15%	South Korea 93%
Artificial Intelligence	~15% Enterprise	N/A
Internet of Things	10%	N/A
Blockchain	<5%	N/A

Table A - Global Technology Adoption Rates

So in practically all cases, over 85% of the world's population has yet to incorporate these advances. This data highlights the ever-widening gap between digital natives those lagging.

Steps Needed to Get Ahead of the Curve

Given these realities around broad technology usage versus niche adoption ahead of mainstream integration, what strategic moves should drive focus over the next 12-24 months to ensure you crossover firmly into the top 10% of tech savvy professionals globally?

The following 5 commitments encompass critical building blocks:

Get a 5G-Ready Smartphone and Carrier Plan

Fifth generation cellular networks, known as 5G, represent the connectivity foundation driving the next decade of mobility experiences. Over hyperspeed WiFi, 5G enables revolutionary applications across areas like self-driving vehicles, augmented reality collaboration, cloud gaming, IoT infrastructure management and more.

Most leading Android and iOS phone producers now offer 5G models including excellent choices like:

• OnePlus 10 Pro 5G
• iPhone 14 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Additionally, wireless carriers such as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile actively expand their 5G coverage footprints monthly.

Where available currently, upgrading to both a 5G handset and cellular plan should be priority one. Doing so future proofs mobility needs for years while lagging on 4G or 3G networks will increasingly hamstring capabilities relative to early adopters leveraging 5G's multi-gigabit speeds, ultra-low latency, and connection density.

Adopt an AI Assistant Plus Smart Home Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) encompasses perhaps the most disruptive modern wave of compute power enhancement. Practical AI manifestations continue rising to the mainstream through:

• Virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
• Autonomous self-driving car tech
• Hyper-personalized recommendation engines on streaming platforms
• Chatbots handling customer service inquiries

Integrating an AI assistant like Alexa into one's home via an Echo Dot smart speaker allows immediately benefiting through hands free information lookups, environment automation, reminders, digital concierge services and much more.

Getting comfortable interacting via voice commands builds critical familiarity with AI principles that will only grow more pervasive. Extending environment manageability simultaneously through networked smart lighting, thermostats, doorbells and other Internet of Things gadgets unlocks next generation efficiencies.

On the business front specifically, Salesforce's recent State of Service report found 95% of customer inquiries now involve digital channels. Yet just 15% of service professionals leverage AI currently to handle surging chat/message volumes, representing massive opportunity.

Leverage Productivity-Focused Software-as-a-Service Apps

The average professional juggles an overwhelming array of critical workflows daily across:

• Communication channels
• Project management
• Content creation
• Administrative tasks
• Customer relationships

Historically, untenable demands emerged to manually track and execute all essential responsibilities exclusively through legacy tools like email, phone calls and spreadsheets.

Fortunately the software-as-a-service (SaaS) revolution now offers specialty web apps with intuitive interfaces that interoperate to automate huge swaths of previously tedious manual efforts.

For example:

• Asana streamlines team project coordination
• Zapier connects disparate applications to share data
• Calendly eliminates email tag for scheduling meetings
• Otter.ai generates automated meeting notes and transcripts

The breadth of productivity accelerators available today eases previously insurmountable workloads. Evaluating and incorporating solutions purpose built to boost output in your unique role allows massive gains versus the majority lacking equivalent tools.

Enhance Technical Skills via Targeted Web Education

Simply using modern applications does not necessarily translate into genuinely understanding the incredible capabilities unlocked by technologies like artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies or quantum computing.

Actively working to demystify through accredited web education how these and other cutting-edge innovations fundamentally reshape society represents critical priority four.

Many traditional educational institutions like Harvard and MIT now offer amazing online learning options across highly technical subjects including:

• Machine learning
• Data science
• Programming
• Bioinformatics
• Autonomous transportation

Investing 200-300 hours per year into guided, graded coursework to expand technical skill sets pays untold dividends distinguishing you from 90%+ of peers who prioritize entertainment over enrichment.

Certification completion further validates specialized expertise that roles requiring increased interaction with innovations like blockchain or robotics now demand.

Closely Monitor Technology Trends and Industry Signals

Finally, the road from early stage research concepts to proven end user functionality across revolutionary technologies like quantum computing spans many years filled with uncertainties.

Rather than randomly stumble upon the next big thing, actively curating a personalized information pipeline around targeted emerging technology domains and market signals allows anticipating developments years ahead of mainstream reporting.

For example, subscribe to niche publications like Quantum Computing Report while bookmarking curated news aggregators on virtual reality. Follow vocal thought leaders on Twitter, while bookmarking subcriber reddits like r/selfdrivingcars to monitor enthusiast commentary.

Attend regional tech conferences, signup for pilot programs, closely track early stage startups and consider joining Listserves that debate bleeding edge ideas. This immersive monitoring outside general awareness streams fuels unique foresight and conviction surrounding what is hype versus high probability around disruptive innovations soon altering industries.

In total committing as little as 5 hours per week towards intentional technology scanning and analysis revealed through the methodologies above empowers forecasts vastly exceeding conventional wisdom. Compounding knowledge gains over years produces disproportionate mastery.

Assessing Your Chances of Being Ahead of 90% by 2024

Given accelerating technology progress across all fronts from 5G infrastructure and connectivity devices to artificial intelligence capabilities and quantum computing milestones, the next 1-2 years represent absolutely pivotal times for separating from stagnant adopters.

Executing against the 5 commitments outlined here positions any motivated individual within the top 10% technology readiness bracket globally by end of 2024. The strategic areas of focus again are:

1. Adopt 5G mobile devices and network plans
2. Integrate AI assistants into daily environments
3. Leverage specialty software apps to enhance productivity
4. Pursue accredited technical education online
5. Monitor technology ecosystem news and research

Contrast this targeted effort to majority consumers who randomly upgrade electronics only when essential, use smart speakers narrowly for music, rely exclusively on office suites like PowerPoint, lack any guiding personal development plan and suffer general news outlets for uneven tech coverage.

The gulfs around technological preparedness and forward thinking approach become massively apparent comparing these two trajectories.

To gauge current baseline adoption status across the key areas in order to highlight gaps requiring dedicated improvement, benchmark yourself utilizing Table B below:

Focus Area	Target Adoption Mark	My Current Status
5G Smartphone + Carrier Network	Yes
AI Assistant Integration	Yes
Specialty Software Apps Usage	5+ apps
Technical Online Education	200+ hours per year
Technology Trend Monitoring	5+ hours per week

Table B - Personal technology adoption tracker

Be fully transparent around strengths as well as deficiencies requiring attention. Plot a 12-24 month roadmap addressing identified needs through incremental milestones. Maintain relentless drive towards excelling across all items. Avoid diversionary entertainment temptations that easily distract less motivated individuals from putting in the work needed to distance themselves technologically.

Commit to the journey ahead. Significant individual effort separates the tech savvy pioneers from the lagging majority by conscious choice alone. Position yourself firmly in the former group!

Game Plan for Closing Gaps Between Tech Leaders and Laggards

For those currently self-assessed as中间 technology adopters based on Table B, daunting capability gaps arguably appear relative to specialized practitioners fully leveraging innovations across 5G, AI, SaaS apps, online education and bleeding edge R&D.

The key is viewing technology literacy development as a multi-year journey demanding one's own long-range roadmap. Steady daily progress cumulatively produces major results over years - exactly as pioneers consistently extend leads by intellectually staying on the offensive.

Formulate a realistic timeline through 2025 to address current shortcomings. Commit funding where necessary to acquire foundational tools like 5G smartphones or AI assistant hardware for home integration. Signup immediately for that introductory course on Python programming or quantum computing through edX to spur momentum.

Begin gradually integrating the following powerful habits to accelerate shedding laggard status:

• Carve out 2 weekend hours for visiting specialty technology publication sites, podcasts and niche video creators. This scanning fuels valuable perspective and often free education.
• Let autonomy and efficiency needs guide smart home gadget adoption. Once experiencing personalized benefits, skepticism fades as capabilities become indispensable conveniences.
• Alternate entertainment and leisure to include enrichment activities. Casually browsing social media could easily convert to completing a digital marketing course module for example.
• Establish a distraction free space. Blight out outside influence through noise cancelling headphones while tackling an online JavaScript course after the kids go down.
• Talk technology relentlessly! Every water cooler conversation and dinner party chat steers towards latest apps, innovations, solutions, trends spotted. Become that fanatical technology nerd.

Through these tactics and others, shed former passive follower tendencies that enable 90%+ of people to race ahead technologically. After a mere 3-6 months of persistently applied effort huge perception shifts occur. Core competencies cement permanently. Digital literacy advances exponentially. One day very soon mastery clinches firmly to recognize "I have clearly separated now as a technology leader intrinsically ahead of the masses".

Conclusion and Call to Action

In closing, astounding technology progress continues marching forward at unprecedented pace. From exponential advances around silicon photonics computing to rapid manufacturing innovations like 3D printing, no professional can afford disengagement from common tools soon requiring fluency.

Yet rat race mentalities dominate water cooler talk. Mere survival on the hamster wheel suppresses the intense focus needed to proactively enhance technical skills. Overwhelming majority percentages of the population default towards playing defense professionally while seeking consolation through entertainment and convenience during personal time.

Break this vicious cycle! The roadmap outlined across 5G networks, AI assistant integration, leveraging specialty software apps, pursuing supplementary education and monitoring research directions offers proven formula to surge ahead. Squeeze every minute possible from the next 24 months.

Turn anxiety over stagnant skill sets into inspiration towards attaining new certifications and capabilities confirming leading adopter status. Set goals, formulate plans and generate unrelenting drive through incremental progress. Commit both mind and spirit until crossing the technology literacy finish line to look back proudly at mastery attained.

Then enjoy exclusive access to the powerful tools and possibilities 90% of people simply do not understand enough to leverage meaningfully in their own lives for years still. You slayed the beast through proactive personal development!