The digital world is no longer a separate entity from the person that uses it. We are seeing that come full circle with the array of new products and services available that intertwine themselves in our lives to (hopefully) make them easier.
Here is a look at tech trends to focus on right now:
1. Information Sorting
As the digital world grows, so does the amount of information within it. This information is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, it allows us to know more, but we are also faced with the challenge of making sense of hundreds or thousands of times more data.
Knowledge may be power, but being faced with too much of it would leave anyone overwhelmed. The trend of information sorting will continue to grow and improve, as new algorithms are introduced that allow companies to figure out which findings are treasure and which are trash.
2. Defense Against Digital Criminals
The hacking industry isn’t slowing down as corporations both small and large continue to be hit by digital criminals after money and information. In 2015, big organizations like the IRS and Target were subject to huge data breaches.
To keep things secure, those in information technology will need to find better ways to identify weak spots in systems, block against uninvited network visitors, and build methods for protecting information when hackers do slip through the cracks. For the security of their resources and to maintain trust from their customers, companies will continue to prioritize and advance in adaptive security.
3. Wearable Devices
Our mobile devices want to be closer (because being in our pocket or next to our pillow is too far away) to us – and we’ll see an increase in wearable tech this year. Google introduced Glass, then we received the Apple Watch, and in 2016 we will continue to see the emergence of even more wearable devices, such as smart clothing and even a smart helmet.
4. Virtual Reality
What if you could try a product out before you bought it, without having to move from where you are at this very moment? That is the future of online shopping, and we are already seeing it come to life through services like Rukkus, a ticketing app that gives shoppers a 360 view of the seat they are considering purchasing. As virtual reality expands to new avenues, buyers are going to have more power, and competition among retailers will heighten as the fight for the most user-friendly shopping experience continues.
5. 3D-Printers
The popularity and diversity of 3D-printing makes it a top technology trend for 2016. This product is crossing industry borders, becoming as relevant to the cosmetic industry as it is the medical field. From eye shadow you can pick, print and wear, to the likely possibility that we will soon be able to begin biological printing, 3D printers have and will continue to completely disrupt the tech world.
6. Machine Learning
The sci-fi idea of machine intelligence is now far from fiction. Machine learning is here, as technology has led to the reality of machines actually adapting and learning. Just look at how Google’s AlphaGo algorithm beat a world-renowned Go player. Keep in mind that Go is notorious for being one of the most complex board games around. How did AlphaGo win? Its advanced ability to learning the more it plays.
