Heading into 2021, there is little precedent for projecting the future. The economy is showing some signs of stability, but there are lingering fears in the wake of a new wave of Covid-19 reinfections. Add in uncertainty around the U.S. political landscape, and we are left with more questions than answers.
2021 will be a rebuilding phase, with little opportunity to return to the old way of doing things. The technology industry will doubtlessly take a new shape in the coming year with most trends being shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects.
These are some of our predictions to watch out for:
- Digital Health innovations are no longer a choice but a necessity.
- Videoconferencing is set to evolve further with the past year changing it from being a slightly stigmatized form of work communication to our everyday standard.
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AI will undoubtedly become an even more valuable tool for helping us to interpret and understand the world around us. Computers are becoming exponentially better in understanding the world.
- Robotics, Drones, and Vehicle Automation will be vital in reducing human labor costs to help balance the uncertainty around customer demand.
- The As-A-Service Revolution which is the provision of services that we need to live and work through cloud-based, on-demand platforms – will take shape.
- 5G development and adoption will continue and the vulnerabilities of IoT as a net effect.
- Extended Reality (XR) – Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/MR) will thrive in the education sector and reduce the need for us to work in crowded classroom conditions.
- Blockchain Technology And Cryptocurrencies will fight for its relevance.
- Mobile money will continue its pervasiveness.
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Ongoing autonomous driving innovation will accelerate self-driving technology growth. As of 2018, the first self-driving cars were already here. This year, the entire industry will start to be disrupted.
- Online education and e-learning as part of the educational system is here to stay.
- Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can now see the burgeoning impact. And it’s just getting ramped up.
What will continue:
Continued expansion of remote working and videoconferencing will flourish, with Contactless delivery and shipping remaining as the new normal.
What will be challenged:
With humans as the weak link in the cybersecurity chain, cyber crime, identity theft and additional data harvesting will be on the radar. Various regulatory bodies are determined to combat social engineering.
What will be on the rise:
Sustainability: Taking the concepts of Green IT to a new level, tech companies are placing a high priority on ensuring that their products and their operations have minimal impact on the environment.