Tech trends that will define the future
Nipun Paleja
Marketing professional dedicated to bringing brand stories to life by leveraging creativity and strategic insight to develop impactful campaigns that connect with audiences and drive business growth
From space tourism to electric cars and the rise of virtual reality, technology will transform our world faster than we can imagine.
No one can predict how the future of technology will shape up, but we can make some informed guesses - streaming services will expand and businesses will continue using AI bots and machine learning systems to run efficiently. Here are some trends in tech that are set to become more pronounced in the next year and beyond:
- VR and AR will become communal experiences
Right now, VR is an isolating experience. you put on a headset and immerse yourself in a world that only you inhabit. Going forward VR and AR will allow people to explore untold worlds together.
2. Democracy will cozy up the blockchain
The rise of blockchain technology won't be limited to limited to cryptocurrencies in 2018. It will move to much larger arenas of society, including government. Because it changes how votes are collected and minimizes the risk of manipulation, the tech will be able to help more voices get heard in government matters.
3. AI will inspire how products are designed
Companies like Airbnb and Netflix already infuse AI into their products into host of ways, generally to customer's benefits. Tech insiders believe 2018 will see far more companies focusing their product design around best use of AI.
4. The first space tourists will get to orbit
Space tourism may finally get off the ground in 2018. Not only does Jeff Bezos' Blue origin hope to take the first space tourist into orbit in its Crew Capsule 2.0 aboard its New Shepherd rocket, but Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is also counting down to the first commercial trip into orbit for its VSS Unity spacecraft.
5. Electric car tech will reach its tipping point
Self-driving cars are still in the labs, so forget about them for a few years, and embrace electric cars. In 2018 we will see new electric cars promising ranges of 200 miles or more, including the Tesla Model 3 and the second generation Nissan Leaf.
6. Business will use data and Machine learning
There are companies that already cater your shopping experience specifically to you, including Amazon's re-order feature and subscription services. This customization trend will increase in 2018. Companies will look to combine user data with technologies like AR and machine learning systems to help customers better engage with products and services.
7. We'll use Facebook (and our phones) less
Criticised for hosting fake news, violent videos and hate speech and even ripping apart the social fabric, Facebook is suddenly on the back-foot. In 2018, we will care less about Facebook than we used to. Deloitte also predicts that almost half of adults today are worried about using their phones too much, could try to limit their usage in 2018.