Challenges for the tech world skyrocketed in the face of a global pandemic. Computer power, health initiatives, artificial intelligence, and the like required a level of real-time innovation previously unprecedented. Here are five tech trends to keep an eye on in the coming year.
Quantum Computing
Quantum ComputingThe use of quantum computers has grown during COVID-19, helping the manufacturing industry more accurately determine supply and demand on important products as well as anticipating trends.
Quantum industry leaders Google, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft are making big strides heading into 2021. According to Microsoft, their Azure Quantum platform is the world’s first full-stack open ecosystem, enabling access to diverse quantum software, hardware, and solutions that are both scalable as well as secure.
Connected Healthcare
The need for telemedicine is growing as the pandemic requires innovative solutions to manage and monitor patient conditions from home.
The adoption of wearables and sensors increased exponentially in 2020, making way for digital health devices to become more available and affordable. The World Health Organization hopes increased focus on digital health services will make proper care more accessible to larger populations heading into 2021.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Heading into 2020, AI was taking over innovation for marketing and data analysis. Focus on other industries has introduced the next wave of artificial intelligence, Natural Language Understanding (NLU).
Previously, computer vision was the main service that allowed AI to understand images and video. NLU is the next phase, giving computers the human-like ability to read, learn, and speak. Widespread use of NLU in artificial intelligence programs is expected as other industries adopt the technology in the coming year.
Cryptocurrency
CryptocurrencyDecentralized finance (DeFi) refers to an open financial system outside the government’s reach utilizing cryptocurrency or altcoin. The rise of cryptocurrency has led to traditional companies Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and even JP Morgan contributing banking systems and services to the growing trade.
With major players getting involved, Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the top cryptocurrencies to invest in heading into 2021. According to Yahoo Finance, 2021 will likely mark the beginning of the next big altcoin surge.
5G Devices
5G Devices5G got off to a slow start in 2020 after the pandemic brought phone sales to a near halt. With consumers getting back to normal, industry leaders expect 5G devices to thrive. 2021 will bring more affordable prices, compatibility, and a further crossover into IOS hardware.
5G has already doubled average 4G LTE speeds and is considered the fastest deployed mobile network to date. According to a report from Ericsson last month, 5G devices are expected to cover 60% of the global population by 2026.
