Ravi Kumar
Perhaps the most predictable thing about the digital age is that technology is constantly evolving. Once, tech progress took years to happen. These days, it is advancing in the blink of an eye. Thus, it can often be rather tricky to keep track of the major developments.
Well, 2019 is already proving to be a rather exciting year for technology. So, let’s take a look at some of the top tech trends you can expect to see both this year as well as beyond.
An Increase in Smart Spaces
According to the tech trend news, the integration of modern tech into private and public spaces has already begun to take place. Such areas are becoming known as “smart spaces”. Essentially, these are environments where individuals are able to interact with various devices.
While this is something you see more and more of these days, such spaces are going to become more commonplace in the future. What’s more, they will be more collaborative than ever before. As devices are able to connect with each other more easily, smart spaces will also become more linked. In fact, this could soon lead to the emergence of smart cities as well.
Improved Immersive Experiences
People have been interested in immersive technology for decades. However, it is the increase in digital device use that has allowed these ideas to really take shape and grow. As such, there is a good chance that there will be a sudden surge of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality in all sectors.
What has really pushed immersive technology in the right direction, though, has been business interest. According to reports, over 80 percent of major companies are testing out such tactics with impressive results. This means that the general public is sure to have these tools in their hands fairly soon.
The Reemergence of Blockchain
While blockchain has serious potential, 2018 was not the best year for this technology. While there was a great deal of investment in it, the end results weren’t quite as impressive. This is all poised to change in 2019.
For one thing, market leaders like Goldman Sachs and Visa have embraced blockchain, causing a slew of other major companies to do so. For another, enterprises are now beginning to consider more appropriate uses of blockchain, ensuring that it is being utilized effectively. Not to mention, as people gain a better grasp of the technology, they are more likely to use it as well.
Amended AI
There is no denying that AI is the future. Even today, AI has evolved by leaps and bounds and is able to handle a number of tasks, in virtually every industry. However, while it may seem as though this technology has been perfected, it still has a long way to go before it can benefit humankind in the way that has been predicted.
This is why there is a good chance that the next generation of AI will be more collaborative with humans. To a large extent, this means a division of control over the same task. AI will be responsible for calculations and analytics, while people will focus on the creative, biological, or social elements of the same problem.
Upgraded Automation
Automation in various devices certainly isn’t new. In fact, these days, you are probably used to seeing the following automated devices:
- Robotics
- Vehicles
- Appliances
- Drones
There is a good chance that these devices, along with others, will get a different kind of upgrade. For the most part, automated devices have a singular function, especially the unmanned types.
In the future, though, these devices may be set up to connect with similar forms of tech so that they can work together. This will allow these devices, combined, to complete a greater number of tasks.
A Closer Look at Quantum Computing
As you learn about the digital age, it becomes increasingly apparent that the world at large is becoming more complex. This means that the problems that come along with it are also becoming more difficult to solve. It is this, plus a greater demand for faster processing, that will usher in the age of quantum computing.
Now, the concept of quantum computing can be rather difficult to grasp. The most important thing to know about it is that, unlike traditional computing, quantum computing can exist in a state of superposition of zero and one. That is, there are probabilities for each qubit to exist in either a state of zero or one until it is measured.
The main thing to take away from quantum computing is that it opens up a great deal more potential for analysing and processing in general. However, due to the advanced technology, it may take a decade or so before manufacturers actually begin tapping into its potential.
Increased Cooperation between Healthcare and Technology
Believe it or not, tech companies do care about healthcare and the aging population, albeit from a purely financial point of view. Increasing healthcare costs threaten to saddle younger generations with greater expenses and debts. This, of course, means that they will not invest in technology as much.
This is why some of the biggest names in the industry are working on merging healthcare and technology. One of the first steps was the introduction of fitness trackers . Still, these devices have quite a way to go in terms of accuracy.
This is what major tech companies are working and creating a gym software with the help of real doctors and medical professionals. In just a few short years, the average fitness tracker or smartphone could become a more formidable diagnostic tool. This could bring healthcare into the homes of the average person.
The Languishing of Cryptocurrency as a Mainstream Currency
If you were to believe the hype just ten years ago, cryptocurrency was poised to take over as a leading, mainstream currency. Of course, years have come and gone and even Bitcoin, the most popular venture is still languishing in relative disuse.
Now, there are a number of issues plaguing cryptocurrency, particularly legal. However, one of the biggest obstacles faced by this digital currency is that a majority of the global population are hesitant to use it. Considering the recent fluctuations that cryptocurrency has faced, it is unlikely that mass adoption will take place in 2019 either.
So, at the moment, the future of cryptocurrency remains uncertain.
Smartphones Reach Saturation Point
When smartphones first came out, people were willing to make upgrades on a bi-annual or annual basis. This happened for two reasons. The first, of course, was social prestige – everyone wanted to be seen with the latest phone. The second, though, was out of necessity.
What a lot of people fail to remember is that earlier phone models were rather primitive by today’s standards and had their fair amount of problems. These were fixed with every new model that came out. Not to mention, the newer phones were also fitted out with more innovative features.
These days, though, the upgrades aren’t all that significant. In fact, there is very little difference from one model to the next. To add to this, most smartphones these days are durable and have great staying power. As such, the market has reached a stagnation.
People are sticking with the phones they own for longer rather than investing in newer models. This has a direct impact on all major phone manufacturers with iPhone and Samsung sales being greatly affected.
The Embracing of 5G Networks
While 5G networks are here, they still need to gain traction with the general public. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that this will happen very quickly. After all, this technology boosts connection speeds to new heights. This is something that is sorely in demand in this digital age.
When it comes to smartphones and similar digital devices, the rollout may take a little time. Therefore, people may only be able to use 5G on their phones in 2020. Still, it is quickly going to become one of the must-have technologies of the year.
Better Regulation of Tech
Last but certainly not least, one of the biggest tech trends to look for is regulation. This is an issue that the government, general public, and major corporations are all interested in. Of course, this should come as no surprise, considering all the fallout from recent data dumps and privacy violations.
Of course, it isn’t just about the laws that need to be written to protect people’s privacy. The relationship between major players in the tech game and users has been soured quite a bit. This means that companies, in general, have to work on winning back people’s trust.
Therefore, it will be interesting to see the self-imposed regulations that these various corporations will place on themselves. This will set the tone for how the internet and device security will proceed in the foreseeable future.
It is clear that there are many exciting changes just around the corner. In fact, some of them have already taken place. There is no denying that this year – and the following years – are sure to be filled with amazing experimentation and progress.
