Book excerpt: Have you ever wondered how the technology that is shaping our world works?From mainstream technologies such as computing and the Internet, to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, it is no secret that the world is heavily influenced by technology. Yet, the technology that we depend upon is often not fully understood by those not specialized in the field.Books about technology can intimidating. This book has been written to be approachable and easy to understand. It provides an introduction to a host of technologies and trends that explain our technological present and our technological future. It attempts to strike a balance between providing educational content, but in plain language with a little bit of prognostication thrown in for good measure.There is a constant barrage of new technologies but the plain language that describes them as well as their implications is often illusive. And, with these new technologies come new questions. Will there be a robot uprising? Will we be able to grow enough food in the future? Should I be worried about my privacy? What is artificial intelligence anyway? Will we ultimately merge with technology?While this book touches on many of the technical aspects of these technologies, it has been written to be approachable and does not presuppose a deep technical background on behalf of the reader.The book starts with a day in the life of Sally, who lives a few years in the future. It then goes on to explain the technologies that brought us to this point as well as those that will create that future. Set against the backdrop of two colliding technologies - artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, this book explores and educates the reader on a host of technologies that are transforming the world.From the background and history that brought us to this point, to the technologies driving this transformation, to the implications it will have for humanity and the opportunities it will provide, this book explores this coming era.About the author: I have spent my career in the technology field and have traveled the globe talking to executives, organizations, students, and the press about technology trends and their impact on our lives. A consistent question is always posed - where can I learn more about these topics? I decided to write a book that I could not find. One rich with information about the technologies that are shaping our lives, but most importantly, a book that was approachable, and easy to read. I have lived in Silicon Valley most of my life and have worked in large technology companies as well as start-ups. I have worn many hats, from engineer to CTO, entrepreneur to professor, programmer to CIO, and even a futurist. I love technology and hold numerous patents in fields such as the Internet of Things (IoT), connected cars, networking technologies, virtual people, mobile phone technologies, virtual spaces, and more. But, most of all I care about how technology is used to improve the human condition. My views have been shared by Forbes, Fortune, CIO Magazine, Financial Times, The BBC, CNN, Tech Crunch, Politico, San Jose Mercury News, Computer World, New York Times, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Nikkei Business, Silicon Valley Business Journal, Business Insider, MSNBC, Discovery Channel, History Channel, InfoWeek, Gigaom, MarketWatch, ReadWriteWeb, Mashable, TMCnet, and countless others as well as through a very active social media presence