As an IT company, it’s our job to research new technologies and trends. As technologies advance, general tech trends have the capacity to change how we live and interact with each other. So, what will the biggest tech trends of 2018 be? And how will our lives change accordingly?
At MRW Systems, we have spent the last several weeks looking ahead to the possible trends that will unfold in 2018.
The Big Tech Trends of 2018:
Data Overload.
With consumers talking to smart speakers through their day (hello Alexa!), companies will soon have access to practically unlimited amounts of personal data. This has many implications, including reduced privacy and more personalized ads. On a positive note, more personal data means better predictive algorithms in healthcare.
White-Collar Automation.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been advancing enough to replace at least some white-collar jobs. For example, there are algorithms that can write basic news articles when given sufficient inputs of data. Is 2018 going to be the year all humans are finally replaced by robots? Heck no, but you expect more automation throughout the workplace in 2018.
IoT (Internet of Things) becomes BIoT.
Today’s innovations rely on existing infrastructure for mobile devices. One of these existing infrastructure is the Internet of things (IoT), which allows Amazon’s Alexa to turn off the lights through smarts sensors and Bluetooth. But blockchain, the underlying technologies for cryptocurrency, can make IoT devices more useful. Combining IoT with blockchain (BIoT) will usher in a whole host of new services and businesses in 2018. With BIoT manufacturers, retailers, and transportation companies have real-time data from sensors imbedded on products, trucks and ships. As a result, everyone in the distribution chain can benefit from insights from each other.
Smarter Cars & Trucks.
While we might not see autonomous vehicles in 2018, we can expect to see smarter cars. Tech and car companies will demonstrate in 2018 new features for internet-equipped cars, like the ability to pay for parking and gas through a dashboard. Late 2017, Tesla revealed their electric semi-trucks and world got very excited by the possibilities. You can bet Tesla and carmakers will revolutionize our transport vehicles for the better in the coming years.
5G Wireless Broadband.
Back in 2017, AT&T and Verizon began testing wireless 5G broadband. Both companies say that in 2018, they’ll launch limited commercial availability for the new service. 5G will be faster than 4G and LTE. It’ll also provide multiple-gigabit speeds via wireless connections to homes. For comparison, 1 gigabit speed is 15 times faster than the average home broadband connections in the US.
Augmented Reality goes Mainstream.
Augmented reality or AR just keeps getting better. In 2017, tech giants allowed developers to create their own AR apps, like IKEA’s Place app, which allows users to scan rooms in their homes and add virtual furniture. We’re not at sci-fi levels of AR, but by the end of 2018, AR will become even more of a mainstay in all forms of technology for all sorts of users, not just gamers.
While it’s hard to say how fast these tech trends of 2018 will manifest, we are bound to see an increased in developments on all six of these fronts. 2018 will be an exciting time for new gadgets and infrastructure.