The genome sequencing has kept getting faster and cheaper. 10 years ago it took a few months and a million $, today you can have your genome sequenced for 399$ in a week and price keeps going down. It will likely be below 100$ by 2020. Besides, if what you need is sequencing just a piece of your genome the cost may compare to a normal blood test.
Hence it is not surprising that genome sequencing is being exploited in several areas, including … personalising pizza!
Nestle Japan has started a project involving 100,000 people that are given a DNA kit to have their genome (partially) sequenced. The plan is to use that information to design a better diet with the aim of improving health and prolonging life. Japan is already the nation with the highest life expectancy, 83.7 years,
People participating in the trial are encouraged to use an app, developed for this trial, to upload photos of what they are eating and Nestle will provide advice based on their specific genome, advise that can be as specific as suggesting the right toppings for the pizza!
I think this is an example on how much technology can permeate every day, including aspects that one would have considered alien to technology intrusion. The fact is that the digital transformation is blowing across all paths of life and it will eventually change habits.
Today uploading a photo requires a specific action, but think about tomorrow when your very dresses can detect what you are doing and pick up photos of what’s around you and what you are doing. Everything may happen below our level of perception. One might consider this as ugly, intrusive. Or, one might come to take this for granted, as we take wireless infrastructures a given, and an essential part permeating our daily life.
Electronics has change our lifestyle, in the coming decades genomics and AI will have even greater effects.