The Innovation Daily - Ideas for 2017

Your dose of daily innovation in one place. Here are some ideas to kickstart 2017 and what we might expect...

Mass Production of Driverless Cars

We are getting closer than we thought, faster than we imagined, to having mass production of safe and reliable driverless cars. Many people have heard about this innovation, but not many realise how fast it is coming and how dramatically it is going to change society.

In 2016, it is estimated that worldwide automobile accidents claimed the lives of more than 1.1 million people, while more than 31 million people were injured. Once this technology is commonplace and driverless cars are ubiquitous, those numbers will shrink to a tiny fraction of what they are today. Read more...

Virtual Reality Will Hit the Mass Market in 2017-18 - Retail Trend

Samsung and Facebook's investment in Oculus VR is culminating in the consumer release of the Virtual Reality headset device. At $99 a set, it's not a hugely expensive investment, but its success will be dependent on the quality of the content that will be available through the device. Already, streaming television and movies and gaming platforms are set to be available through Gear, but there's also an opportunity for retailers to use the platform to show off products, or to allow product purchase through games and other content relationships.

Now virtual reality headsets, including Google's Cardboard device, have actually been around for a while. But development of a standard for quality of 3D experiences, as well as refining the comfort of a headset device has moved in leaps and bounds over the past 12 months. There is still a matter of queasiness being reported after extended use of headsets among some users, but for the majority, the immersive experience of virtual reality engagement with content and ideas is compelling. And as the headsets themselves have improved, the likelihood is that we'll see more and more of these wearable headsets in the marketplace. Read more...

Mixed Reality Will Be Most Important Tech of 2017!

2016 has been a remarkable year that’s brought continued growth and awareness to the worlds of Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality. Set to become a $165 Billion dollar industry by 2020, there’s still a common question that lingers among many newcomers trying to understand this fast moving digital phenomena we are just beginning to watch evolve: What’s the difference between them and how will it impact the digital world as I currently know it?

Before we jump into the mind-blowing future Mixed Reality is set to usher in over the course of 2017, let’s first discuss the distinctions between Virtual & Augmented Reality. Their technologies are very similar but have some fundamental differences. Read more...

Authentic Voices and Undiluted Stories

The great thing about living through such a turbulent year as 2016 is that all bets are off in terms of what people will want to read in 2017. All we thought we knew about how people think, receive news and trust authority has changed. This must, and will, have a direct impact on what stories we want to read. Will it lead to more escapism? Or, conversely, will we seek complexity and disruption to make sense of the new order? After the first world war, modernism sprang up, and after 11 September there was an explosion of superhero franchise movies. Big moments in history are reflected back on us through our culture. Read more...

The Rise of Technology Implementation Consultancy

Are you an expert in all things IT? Do your friends come to you when their computers breakdown or their networks are compromised? Well, tech consultations might just be the line of work for you.

Huge strides are being made in technology, whether it's in the realm of AI and machine learning, or big data analytics. And you can bet that means companies large and small will be looking to integrate new tech with their business operations.

But entrepreneurs already have a lot on their plate, and many don't have the time or energy to learn their new technology inside and out. A tech consultation service that could help businesses implement and operate their technology solutions should be in high demand and could prove highly profitable. Read more...

The Internet of Things

In 2016, we found our smart devices to be more efficient and capable than ever. Products like Nest allow us to change the environment in our home remotely through other smart devices.

In 2017, we’ll continue to see advancements in sensors, software and technology that will allow our devices to be interconnected and speak to one another. Read my post on this subject...

Chatbots

We will continue to see intelligent chatbots like Siri and Alexa who can perform simple tasks and pull information.

As the software improves, we’ll see artificial intelligence and human characteristics used to improve the quality of information provided. We may also see chatbots that are able to learn a user’s preferences and utilise those preferences when providing information.

Machines will keep getting smarter and new technology will increase productivity among businesses. Remote workers and virtual tours will allow businesses to connect with consumers and employees all over the world. Read more...

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Anthony J James was awarded LinkedIn's 'Agency Publisher of the Year' for Asia Pacific. Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this post maybe try one of these as well - see all posts.