It seems everything is moving at the speed of light. Just when you get comfortable with one new app or technological leap forward, another is on the horizon. There are few areas in our life where technology is not changing rapidly – from how we drive our cars, to how we cook our food and order our favorite products.
With so many new technology advances appearing on a daily basis, it may seem overwhelming to stay on top of the changes. To help you out, here are 5 of the top trends we see which are positioned to affect your life in a positive way.
Technology Advances and Trends to Watch
As with all technological advances, these innovations can be used with both good intentions – and nefarious ones. One of the challenges of new technologies is to get the best out of the new tool while remaining cognizant of the possible abuses which can occur. Here are some technology advances which seem to clearly indicate that the good will outweigh the bad.
- Facial Recognition: The ability to scan someone’s facial structure in order to identify them is currently being used most publicly by phone companies. Still, this exciting innovation has seemingly limitless applications, as facial recognition is being used to identify and recover missing children, prevent thieves from driving off in a stolen car, and making traffic stops safer by identifying dangerous criminals before approaching them.
- Advances in Security: Although not new, cloud computing technologies and blockchain will be increasingly utilized to keep data safe. Experts are expecting the hand-wringing about data breaches to finally translate to real solutions that protect people’s privacy. Through governance and enhanced cognizance regarding the need to balance productivity and privacy, industry leaders are expected to (finally) tackle the problem head-on.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Although many see the proliferation of AI as a futuristic doomsday scenario, most AI application which is actually in the marketplace is nothing scary. The AI we see is the lowest form of AI, known as ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence). An ANI-enabled computer can handle one skill exceptionally well – but that is all it can do. For instance. Google search is powered by ANI, as are self-driving cars, smartphones, and chess-playing computers. Expect to see ANI increasingly utilized in products we use every day, but don’t expect AI to conquer the world just yet. Experts are finding it exceptionally difficult to create AI that can operate based on anything but mathematical calculations – meaning that visual perception and emotional response are likely a long way off.
- The Internet of Things (IoT): The IoT represents the ability for different devices to collect and exchange data. Devices embedded with software, sensors or electronics (such as vehicles, buildings, appliances, and computers) can all communicate to enhance productivity. For example, some insurance companies now offer the chance to install a device in your car to monitor your driving; the best drivers are then rewarded with better rates and discounts. The IoT is poised to revolutionize marketing, product development, and safety in 2019.
- 5G Networks: There was 3G, then 4G, then 4G LTE – and 5G is now close to nationwide implementation. This fifth generation of wireless connectivity is promising download speeds estimated to be as much as 50 times faster than current capabilities. Wireless networks will be able to process and move massive amounts of data quickly and reliably, making the proliferation of IoT and all other applications not only possible but practical.Call the team of IT professionals at Alliance IT to discuss if any available tools and technologies can help you to streamline your business or maximize your productivity. From cloud computing to managed services, we are here to help your business to grow and thrive in 2019.
