With the new year well underway, predictions for 2019 are still coming thick and fast – especially in the world of technology. What tech trends in 2019 are going to take the world by storm? Here’s a look at five top predicted trends for the year to come.
Cryptocurrency
What is it? A cryptocurrency is a digital, encrypted currency. Encryption methods are used to regulate how units of this currency are generated, and to ensure secure transfers of funds. These digital currencies operate independently of central banks. Bitcoin, Ethereum and Zcash are all popular examples of cryptocurrencies.
Why is it trending? Cryptocurrency uses a system called Blockchain, where records of the transactions (these records are called “blocks”) are kept across several computers linked in a peer-to-peer network using cryptography. Blockchain is an extremely secure way of maintaining records, and those in FinTech are realising how useful it could be elsewhere.
The coming year will see new, experimental blockchain applications in banking, business and media. Blockchain systems could be the future of record-keeping in a world where security concerns around digital data are very real.
Screen time services
What are they? Screen time services are apps designed to monitor how much time a user spends online – and reward them for the time they spend logged off. Examples include Apple’s iOS Screen Time, Android’s Digital Wellbeing Dashboard, and third-party apps such as Hold. The aim is to help people develop a healthier relationship with technology.
Why are they trending? Social media, which was everyone’s favourite way to waste time online in the early 2000s, is out of vogue. Facebook especially earned itself a big “dislike” from users last year, after a major data mining scandal. Plus, many of us are waking up to the fact that all that scrolling simply isn’t healthy.
2019 is set to be a big year for “digital detoxing”. Jaded users are stepping away from their screens, using “screen time service” apps to put controls in place and keep their online time low. Soon, instead of measuring how many people liked our latest profile pic, we’ll be comparing screen times and seeing how low we can go. Time to ditch that feeling of FOMO for good!
Regulation
What is it? Now more than ever before, our privacy is under threat. Regulations are being introduced in some parts of the world, to help protect private information online. Europe’s latest General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in May, 2018.
Why is it trending? The demand for regulation is spreading. Americans can expect some movement on data protection regulations in 2019. A collection of bills from the US House and Senate, aimed at officially regulating the tech industry, could eventually be combined into one comprehensive Personal Data Privacy Act. This would make it harder for companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon to use customer data without explicit consent.
5G
What is it? 5G is fifth-generation wireless – the latest iteration of cellular technology, designed to make wireless networks even faster and more responsive.
Why is it trending? The first 5G-ready mobile CPUs should become available in 2019, alongside improved infrastructure that makes widespread 5G technology a reality. It takes time for this sort of infrastructure to become widely available, so it’s expected that we’ll start to see 5G gaining traction from 2020 onward.
Robotics
What is it? Robotics is the branch of technology, science and engineering that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots. Once the stuff of science fiction, robots and AIs are now very much a part of our daily lives.
Why is it trending? Robots are advancing in leaps and bounds. In 2017, the world welcomed its first robot citizen, Sophia – this Hong Kong-made robot became the first of her kind with legally recognised personhood. The era of truly agile, realistic humanoid robots has arrived, and we should expect more fascinating advances in this field in the next few years.
Augmented reality
What is it? Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a layer of computer-generated content over a user’s view of the real world, creating a composite view. Users can interact with the digital elements. We’ve seen some really innovative applications of AR in recent years, from advertising campaigns that turn everyday objects into something remarkable, to next-level mobile gaming like the wildly popular Pokémon Go.
Why is it trending? Augmented reality will have a big year in 2019, with many flagship phones now supporting it. More AR tools for business and personal use will start to make an appearance on the market, as consumers look for more ways of using technology to enrich and simplify their day-to-day lives.
If you want to find out more about AI and software engineering – the type of skill set that could land you a job working on one of these big tech trends in the next year – check out a HyperionDev online bootcamp, and enter the exciting world of code.
