As one of the leading app development agencies in the UK we often get asked our opinions on what the main technology trends are, and what the hottest areas of tech are. We talked to many vendors, manufactures, service providers and mobile operators at CES 2016 and wrapped up what we think are the top 10 2016 technology trends.
1. Information of EVERYTHING (IOE)
With tech moving towards interconnectivity where everything in your household will be connected to the internet, the main challenge for the industry will be how and who can harness the massive amount of data that will become available. With a predicted 25 billion devices by 2020, data will be generated and mined across almost every topic and niche out there. The real trick will be who can harness this data and how it can be turned into meaningful insight.
2. Autonomous agents
One of the most exciting start ups we saw at CES was the Autonomous one man drone which won Best off Beat product of 2016. The rather un-catchy named EHANG 184 has a top speed of 60 MPH and a maximum altitude of 11,000 feet and can be programmed to fly to and from specific GPS locations. First autonomous cars and now autonomous drones. This is an area of massive development with the ability for robots to understand and surpass people in their ability to perform human tasks. The real challenge for governments and regulating authorities is to control the transfer of autonomous vehicles from controlled environments to uncontrolled environments (Like airspace).
With tech moving towards interconnectivity where everything in your household will be connected to the internet, the main challenge for the industry will be how and who can harness the massive amount of data that will become available.
3. 3D Printing materials
Another sector that continues to grow at pace in 3D printing. Although some technologists are already calling 3D printing old hat, the ability to print car engine parts (like Tesla have started doing) and printing rocket parts that have historically been exorbitantly expensive to create, suddenly industries are able produce material and significantly lower costs. Take this technology forward ten years and we can see 3D printing extend to biological material, including food.
4. The Device “Mesh”
Another key 2016 key technology trend will be the device Mesh. As devices gets smarter and more relevant, the ability to start tracking patterns from sensor arrays is becoming much more prevalent. These device sensors will increase in number and when grouped together can begin to start gathering data on our daily patterns.The results will ultimately lead to even greater insights about our daily patterns.
5. Advanced Machine Learning (AML)
With trends like the device mesh, technologies can collect meaningful patterns of data but with advanced Machine learning the technology will not only be able to collect the data, but learn from in as well. We are really seeing very early advanced Artificial intelligence (AI) where much of the initial analysis typically that requires a human, will be replicated by technology thereby elevating the analysis in the process. Anyone else have SkyNet jump to mind?
6. Personal Home computer to personal home helper
Mark Zuckerburg recently posted one of his new resolutions was to personally research and code a personal home helper that can do everything from set the temperature of his house to order his groceries. He cited Jarvis from Iron Man as the ultimate in home helper and from what we saw at CES there are several companies far down the line in this field of tech and this will be a key 2016 technology trend.
Another key 2016 key technology trend will be the device Mesh. As devices gets smarter and more relevant, the ability to start tracking patterns from sensor arrays is becoming much more prevalent
7. Smart Security also known as Adaptive Security Architecture
One seriously hot area of tech right now is the adaptive security architecture. Ask any FTSE 100 CTO what his/her biggest concern of 2016 was and I guarantee they will say security. With some massive companies being hit in 2015 and this trend likely to continue a huge amount of R&D has gone into smart security where predictive modelling will allow systems & infrastructure to detect and launch automated counter measures on attacks. Not only will they defend themselves from attacks Like DoS (Denial of Service) they will attack back.
8. Mesh Apps
This is one we have seen coming for a while. Rather than building apps to cover all parts of a given product/service, Mesh Apps are plugging together several technologies into a single app. This approach can massively speed up deliver times as well as making scalability much easier to manage.
9. Ambiant UE (User Experience)
The device mesh creates the foundation for a new continuous and ambient user experience. Immersive environments delivering augmented and virtual reality hold significant potential but are only one aspect of the experience. The ambient user experience preserves continuity across boundaries of device mesh, time and space. The experience seamlessly flows across a shifting set of devices and interaction channels blending physical, virtual and electronic environment as the user moves from one place to another.
10. Next Generation Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality Headsets were in full force throughout CES. Modern day virtual reality (VR) varies, but for the most part it involves a headset with a 360-degree virtual view, powered by a gaming computer and handheld controllers that enable the wearer to move around and interact with the digital world they see. Big players in this field were HTC with their vive headset and of course the Facebook owned Oculus Rift.
However, despite so many high-end devices on the verge of launching – as well as Samsung’s more smartphone-centric Gear VR already on the market- many are predicting that low-cost virtual reality will garner the most interest at this year’s CES. Alternatives to Google Cardboard – the device made of said material, and for which building instructions can be downloaded free online – are set to be widespread, as the public’s growing understanding of virtual reality fuels new interest.
About Keith De Alwis
Keith is Chief Technical Officer of Creation Application and a lover of all things digital. Having spent 18 years working in high-end technology leadership roles he has extensive experience at leading technology teams and taking Products & Services to market.
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