While technology has become indispensable in today’s world, touching lives in every which way, the past two years in a pandemic lockdown has catapulted the reliance on technology to a whole new level. Without technology, the world would probably shut down, businesses would collapse and day-to-day living and social relationships would undergo an unbelievable strain. People, today, cannot fathom a life without technology. And with rapid advancements and new innovations to help the world stay connected and ever-productive, it is safe to say that technological trends are here to stay. Here are 25 technology trends that are likely to be around for the next decade.
Going Smart: Everything is going smart. From smartphones to smart tablets to smart speakers and to even smart air conditioning. Your daily needs can be facilitated with smart technology, with a command or click of a button. Groceries and utilities can be purchased on Amazon.com, payments can be made on Google Pay, and deliveries and pickups can be done by WeFast. Even doorbells can be connected to smart technology to inform you someone is at the door. It is only a matter of time that everybody starts living in ‘Smart homes’.
Wearable Technology: It started with FitBits that charted your heart rate and other health parameters, while you exercised. But now technology has gone as far as sleep monitoring, earbud technology, holding meetings and conference calls on wristwatches, and even ‘smart’ eyewear that one can use to view their news and posts online.
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AI: Artificial Intelligence and machine learning is probably the driving force of many technological trends. Whether it’s predicting text on your phone, or it’s curating advertisements based on your preference, artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly and teaching machines to adapt to consumers’ needs.
Internet Connection: With smart devices on the rise, everything is forming a connection to the Internet. Thanks to their usage, information is collected and processed for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to function better.
Smart Spaces: This trend refers to the conversion of entire spaces, offices and homes into a ‘smart’-technology-driven space. It is likely to spread to entire cities, running on smart technology.
Blockchain Gang: The system of storing, protecting and verifying data has become a huge success in securing businesses, services, and personal information like credit cards, banking, identification documents and such like.
Working in Clouds: Since the pandemic has forced everyone to start working online, users have become heavily dependent on Internet clouds, for storage of information, business collaborations and fast connections. One can run an entire office just by working on Google Drive. This opens up business opportunities because you no longer require physical data, or office space to conduct work. Edge computing i.e. processing data on smart devices, will push this to the next level.
Stretched Realities: Virtual reality has been a fascinating phenomenon for ages. Now, with augmented and mixed reality interfaces and technology, digital experiences are likely to be even more immersive.
Twinning Digitally: Finding a way to tweak a document but afraid to mess up the original? Enter Digital twinning, which allows the user to make a digital copy of an actual physical object, and make alterations and modifications, without affecting the original object. This could be groundbreaking in researching medicinal ingredients, engineering particles and creative solutions.
Natural Language Processors: Technology trends like Natural Language Processors have adapted beautifully and efficiently to human interactions, with the umpteen number of languages, dialects, speech imperfections and personalized speech styles that are prevalent all around the world. Thanks to this ability to process communication, artificial intelligence is able to create personalized interactive experiences.
Chatbots: Chatbots help users feel like they are having a personalized experience with their smart device or AI interface. Chatbots like Siri, Alexa, or Cortana cater to your needs specifically, with their ability to adapt to your voice and predict your needs based on the data collected by your usage.
Face Recogs: Face recognition is another level of data privacy security that can ensure that only recorded facial markers can access locked information. Identification processes using eye-recognition are something already popularised by sci-fi films in the past. Looks like they’re here to stay.
Collaborative Robots: While robots have steadily evolved over the years, they have reached a level of efficiency where they can facilitate processes without any human interference or assistance. Now, businesses and industries can expect robots to work seamlessly with other robots (or colleague robots known as ‘cobots’).
Vehicular Autonomy: It is likely that the automotive industry – including cars, taxis, trucks and ships – will become autonomous and commercially feasible.
5G: 5G has arrived, providing faster, stabler and more efficient wireless networking. This, in turn, facilitates the existence of several other trends.
Gene Pool: Thanks to the advancement of computing and analytics, we are in a better position to have a greater understanding of the human genome. We are now able to make alterations and adjustments to the human gene pool, and possibly create a new and superior genetic coding (which can, in turn, avoid diseases like cancer).
Machine Co-Creativity: Artificial Intelligence has made it possible for machines to achieve enormous feats. Creativity truly knows no bounds now, thanks to digital art and design work made on machines, which will take other technology trends and businesses to a whole new level.
Digital Platforms: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Uber, AirBNB, Zomato, Swiggy and many more, are synonymous with everyday living, whether it’s socialising, booking transport and vacations or ordering food. Digital platforms create connections and exchanges between people and businesses, which is a big plus point for any capitalist economy.
Drone Life: Remotely or autonomously piloted vehicles like drones serve as a great tool for conducting more efficient military operations as well as enhancing security in any area, including rescue missions and law enforcement.
Cyber Security: While everything is going online, there is an increased threat of hacking and hijacking crucial information and thus, affecting businesses. Cybersecurity combats these threats, by doubling the protection your businesses and personal information need online.
Quantum Computing: While quantum computing has been restricted to labs all this while, solving the seemingly unsolvable problems, it is possible that we will soon see the first commercial quantum computer technology trends.
Robotic Process Automation: This is part of a much bigger shift towards automation that has been happening over decades, decreasing the need for human hands or brains, for that matter, in step-by-step processes across industries. This will facilitate faster production, homogenous superior quality products and services, and quantifiable business outcomes.
Personalized Digital Experience: Thanks to AI and Big Data, consumers are able to enjoy a very personalised digital browsing experience, wherein their personal information and preferences help the AI curate ‘micro-moments’ or heavily personalised interactions, either for social platforms or for purchasing.
Printing Processes: 3D and 4D printing have come a long way, and are likely to stay in the running for technology trends in the coming years, with mass personalizations creating another level of product and service quality.
Nanotech and Material Science: Things like bendable displays are now a possibility, because of our increased ability to understand how matter can be controlled and altered on a micro level.
Conclusion: While technology advances, it is understandable that there will be more technology trends on the way that will change the way we interact with the world around us for the better. These are definitely exciting times to live in, if you are working in the technological or digital space.
Reference: These 25 Technology Trends Will Define The Next Decade | Bernard Marr, Forbes | April 20, 2020
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