Technology is all around us, just like air. Whether it is our phone, our cars, our houses, or even our watches, everything is a tech gadget these days. The presence of nifty features make these products ‘smart’, with the focus on improving our lives. These gadgets, products and other smart devices dictate our lives in the 21st century, which is why today we will dive in and explore the top technology trends of 2022.
Words like ‘AI’, ‘machine learning’ and ‘cloud computing’ get us excited, as they give us a glimpse into the future. We may not read or see these new advancements happening every day, but that doesn’t mean that we should completely ignore or forget about them because these tech innovations can become an integral part of our lives in the future.
Top technology trends 2022
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
As the name suggests, artificial intelligence is the ability of a machine to learn and think. Similar to a brain in humans, artificial intelligence gives machines a way to mimic human cognition and provides machines with the ability to process the interpreted data to achieve user-specific goals efficiently. We can see the use of artificial intelligence in our devices for small yet significant tasks. For example, smartphones running Android and iOS possess virtual assistants like Siri and Google Assistant which are powered by AI to execute simple and complex tasks initiated by the user.
Augmented & virtual reality
Augmented and virtual reality refer to the extended reality technology which creates/replaces a simulated environment with a real world environment using 3D elements and graphics. This technology has multiple applications across various industries and is touted to be one of the most promising technology trends of 2022. Companies like IKEA have been using augmented reality to assist their customers during furniture measurements and placements, which makes the decision process smooth and efficient.Moreover, companies like Apple have been adding LiDAR sensors in their latest offerings to make the portable devices capable of 3D mapping the environment in seconds.
Datafication
Simply put, datafication is the process of converting tasks and processes into quantifiable and usable data. These tasks, once converted in data form, can help us reassess them giving us the ability to improve, amend and change the outcome. Any form of data can help us gain insights and create new processes of our own. The possibilities are endless and with the digitisation of everything around us, you’re sure to see data as the building blocks of a new world really soon. Though, an example of datafication in our present times is how the new Apple Watch collects data about our sleep pattern, sleep quality and heart activity via health sensors on the device itself. This data is then collated, interpreted and presented in a graphic form to all the users right on their wrist within minutes.
3D printing
3D printing does what it says on the tin. A 3D print is essentially the mechanical construction of a three-dimensional object obtained from a digital CAD model. 3D printing has a vast number of uses like creating in the health industry, manufacturing industry, research, etc. and opens a host of opportunities for people to innovate. It also helps in reducing the manufacturing bottlenecks by providing fast, sustainable and efficient processes. A bit closer to home, you may have noticed that some of your friends have invested in 3D printers for building models (think Warhammer, DIY parts, prototype ideas, jewellery, crafts).
Quantum computing
Quantum computing is a type of computer science which solves extremely complex problems (unsolvable by computers) using the principles of quantum theory. A trend on which many engineers, scientists and professionals are currently working upon, quantum computing takes advantage of concepts like quantum entanglement and superposition to solve computational problems. Analysis, monitoring and interpretation of data becomes extremely easy due to quantum computing, and this trend will bring a big change in computational abilities of tech devices that are used across industries. For example, in the meteorological departments, use of quantum computers will improve pattern recognition, which would result in accurate prediction of extreme weather conditions. This could save thousands of lives.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things is a collective network of appliances, devices and gadgets which enables many capabilities for our ordinary devices thus making them ‘smart’. This is one trend which we use quite often in our lives, as most of the appliances and gadgets we own have some sort of a smart feature to it. People can now watch videos on their refrigerators, remotely control the lights in their home, turn on and off cars via their mobiles and so much more. All of it was made possible because of IoT. This trend is here to stay and will extend its reach to many more analog things we own.
Blockchain
When you hear the word “blockchain” chances are you instantly think about Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and other cryptocurrencies. But that’s not the whole story. Blockchain is a decentralised way of recording information online. It is a digital record of transactions that is incredibly secure as it’s very difficult to hack. The applications of blockchain have only been observed in conjunction with cryptography, giving rise to cryptocurrencies. However, blockchain is bigger than this, and can be used to create anything which requires a safe data structure. An example of this could be NFTs. The future of blockchain is bright (but not orange)!
What’s the next big trend?
We believe that fields like genomics, sustainable energy solutions, edge computing, cryptography and encryption all look quite promising. Hope we could tickle the inner tech geek in you. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like our take on ‘Is an iPhone worth it in 2022?’. Feel free to name drop other technological trends and advancements on our socials!
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