2020 was far from predictable so it is strange to anticipate trends to happen in 2021. But one thing is clear from this year, technology use has increased and assisted in our changing way of living. Tech trends that happened this year will play a big role in helping us adapt with any challenges that could be ahead of us.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI during 2021 will become a more valuable tool as the world shifts to an online base. The amount data collected on healthcare and businesses itself will benefit the world to get the answers we need much faster than previous years. This means that machine learning algorithms will become better informed and increasingly sophisticated in the solutions they uncover for us.
2. Robotics, Drones, and Vehicle Automation
As the volume of passengers using public transport fluctuates from week to week, depending on local conditions, initiatives around self-driving vehicles will continue at an increasing pace. Driving efficiency across public transport networks will be a priority for service providers as well as civic authorities, where reducing human labor costs will help balance the uncertainty around customer demand.
3. The As-A-Service Revolution
“As-a-service” – the provision of services that we need to live and work through cloud-based, on-demand platforms – is the key that has put the other tech trends we talk about today in reach of anybody. It’s the reason why AI and robotics are a possibility for just about any business or organization, regardless of their size or budget. Thanks to cloud offerings from companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and an ever-growing horde of startups and spinoffs, innovators in all fields can deploy cutting-edge tech with little upfront investment in tools, equipment or specialized people.
4. 5G and enhanced connectivity
Faster and more reliable internet doesn't just mean we can load webpages more quickly and spend less time waiting for videos to launch on YouTube. Each successive advance in mobile connectivity from 3G onwards has unlocked new use cases for the internet. 3G made web browsing and data-driven services useful on mobile devices, 4G led to the growth of streaming video and music platforms as bandwidths increased, and 5G, likewise, will open more doors in terms of what is possible.
5. Extended Reality (XR) – Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/MR).
These terms cover technology that uses glasses or headsets to project computer-generated imagery directly into the user's field of vision. When it is superimposed over what the user is viewing in the real world, it is AR. And when it is used to place the user into an entirely computer-generated environment, it is VR.
