Driven forward by improving technologies and increasing demands, the lab of the future could be markedly different in appearance from the laboratories we work in today. From incorporating 3D printing technology to changing the way that lab data is recorded, we take a closer look at how the next generation of laboratories might evolve.
The paperless lab concept is not a particularly new one, and many laboratories currently operate without physically recording research and development. Tablet devices allow laboratory teams to record their findings electronically, reducing physical waste and optimising storage organisation.
However, Cloud storage tools have made it simpler for laboratory workers to save their findings in a safe and accessible location. This allows laboratories around the world to help and assist each other in real time. The commercial science lab of the future could incorporate Cloud-connected devices to alert the team of relevant updates and developments. Increased connectivity could help ensure less of the budget and less time is wasted, and more is invested in genuine progress. This momentum towards a paperless research laboratory will require labs to obtain access to trusted servers, data centres and secure network connectivity.
The increasing power and availability of 3D printers have made it possible (not to mention affordable) to create pieces of hardware in the laboratory. Specially designed nails, screws and other important components can be created to fit specific requirements. A number of design companies offer open-source hardware printing services, which enable labs with access to 3D printers to immediately develop their own hardware essentials.
Read more: Visualizing looks of the future lab
Source: shutterstock
