If you’re like most people, you’ve probably wondered where the freight train that we call “Technology” is headed. We live in the most technologically advanced time in history, and the developments we witness on a daily basis are nothing short of whiplash-inducing. From flying cars to smartphones and hover boards, it’s easy to ask where we’re going from here. Fortunately, we have some ideas about where the future of technology is likely heading.
The Future of Global Tech
According to business strategist Michael Wolf, consumer tech and media is projected to grow by over $500 billion in the next five years. Right now, most Americans spend more time on tech and media than they do at either work or sleep. With numbers like these, it’s not hard to understand how drastically tech is ballooning, but many people still wonder what, exactly, it is we’re going to see.
The Future of Data
The future of data is inexorably linked to the future of tech. From banking information to transactional information, big data and cloud computing have been major topics of conversation throughout the last year, especially in light of high-profile events like the Target data breaches. According to Jason Pontin, the editor-in-chief of MIT’s Technology Review, data is quickly becoming one of our country’s biggest commodities.
This is due, in large part, to the fact that the smartphones and mobile devices of today can collect data without a user even noticing. This data includes everything from location to financial information, and while data collection is designed to help companies gain a competitive edge over their competitors, it can also place consumers at heightened risk of identity theft. Because of this, we can expect to see future trends in data that involve encryption, more secure storage services, and an insistence on higher levels of privacy. As data becomes more and more prevalent, more agile and secure tech will be necessary.
An Increased Focus on Data Responsibility
Another facet of the ongoing data debate is corporate responsibility with data. In other words, how corporations are allowed to use the data they collect from consumers. While mass data collection helps evaluate consumer trends and capitalize on them, technologists across the world are calling for an increased focus on data protection rather than data exploitation. While the future of this is still a little muddy, it’s likely that we’ll see it manifest in the form of more secure cloud computing storage systems and potential limits on what types of information companies can and cannot collect.
Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage
Artificial Intelligence is no longer the stuff of sci-fi movies and fantasy novels. Rather, it’s becoming an increasingly integral part of our daily lives. A fantastic example of this is Google’s recent introduction of the RankBrain system, an AI computer-learning system designed to help the search giant process and interpret its millions of daily searches. Right now, Silicon Valley is in the midst of what some researchers have described as an “arms race” to produce the best artificial intelligence systems in the world. While AI may still seem a little too far out for many people, it’s likely that we’ll see it pop up more frequently in the coming year for applications like voice search and virtual assistant services.
In addition to all of the wearable tech and mobile tech advances we’ll see in the coming year, it seems that the most notable changes will take place in data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. These systems are becoming increasingly important to consumers and, within the next year, we will see them gain increased prominence and enter our daily lives on a more noticeable level. To learn more about tech trends and to stay up to date on current tech news, contact Allied Telecom.
