Drones also made a big mark in 2015. Pilotless floating and flying vehicles have started exploring marine hydrology and biology, fighting big-game poachers in Africa, helping farmers survey and analyze their crops, and even inspecting large aircraft for possible damage.

Meanwhile, software developers are finding more and more practical uses for smartphones.

Samuel K. Sia, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, helped develop an inexpensive accessory that can detect several infectious disease markers from a droplet of blood in just 15 minutes.

"Instead of doing a blood draw and getting that sample sent to a lab, you can actually [analyze] it on the spot with just a finger prick of blood and you get the result in 15 minutes with a very similar quality as doing the test in a lab," Sia said of the device. A pilot model is being used to test for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and syphilis.

Virtual reality also made big splash in the gaming industry and beyond with sophisticated headsets that transport users to different worlds.

"Virtual reality is definitely the most exciting technology in the industry right now," said Jon Hicks, a journalist working for the Gamer Network.

Also worth noting: In 2015, Microsoft introduced the newest version of the most popular operating system, Windows 10. For the first time, the company made the OS available for download free of charge.

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