Technology is a rapidly evolving industry that only continues to expand with time. Its influence accelerates other industries to grow alongside it and has allowed for groundbreaking innovation. A lot has changed over the past year due to COVID-19, making IT professionals realize that technology will continue to change no matter what.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked a lot of buzz throughout the last few decades. Some of the conversations may have been thanks to the movie The Terminator. However, AI is much more than the prospect of cyborgs and the end of the world. Artificial Intelligence plays a role in almost everything we do. In our day-to-day life, we may recognize its benefits through speech recognition, navigation apps, or smartphone personal assistants, but the limits of Artificial Intelligence are only continuing to grow.
AI will be used to continue to analyze interactions that allow for better predictions, such as speeding up the diagnostic process in hospitals, while simultaneously absorbing the changing patterns of consumer behavior. Ultimately, AI will analyze data to provide us with better solutions when it comes to the way we use technology.
Artificial Intelligence isn’t new, but it is still in the beginning phases of its learning. As such, it will continue to spread its wings across all industries to create new development, programming, testing, support, and maintenance jobs. It will allow for many new jobs, and also typically offers high salaries, making it one of the best technology jobs at this time.
A subset of AI, machine learning, is also being used throughout different types of industries. Machine learning and automation will create thousands of jobs over the next few years.
Robotic Process Automation
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is another up-and-coming technology. This process uses software to automate otherwise manual business procedures such as processing transactions, handling data, and even replying to emails.
While RPA automation can sound like a threat to job security, it can also create new jobs or even simply alter existing jobs. Most occupations cannot be fully automated, leaving any reason for someone to lose their job. Instead, it allows for employees to focus on other tasks, and increases the productivity of many companies.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) puts the user in an environment while Augmented Reality (AR) enhances the said environment. For example, VR can make you believe that you’re in a video game or even on a beach, while you’re actually sitting on your couch. AR is responsible for the ability to visit a website and see how something like a pair of glasses looks on you before making a purchase.
In 2021, these technologies will be further integrated into our lives. They both have the potential to be useful for training purposes, entertainment, marketing, and even education. AR and VR can be used to train doctors to do surgery and can vastly improve our lives as a whole.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) can be confusing to those who don’t have a background in technology. Many devices are now being built with WiFi connectivity, which means that they can connect to the internet and to each other. The IoT is simply the connection between devices, the internet, and each other.
Everything from home appliances to cars can be connected and exchange data through the web. As an everyday consumer, you’re already benefiting from IoT. We can do everything from locking our cars while we’re inside to preheating our ovens on the way home from work.
When it comes to businesses, the IoT can improve efficiency and decision-making using data that can be analyzed. It can also improve customer service and may eventually provide benefits that we can’t even imagine.
5G
3G and 4G have allowed us to browse the internet, use data, and increase bandwidths for streaming services. However, 5G services are expected to change our lives completely by using services that rely on advanced technologies, including augmented reality.
All telecom companies, including big names like Apple and Verizon, are working on 5G applications with services that have already begun to launch.
Moving Everything Online
This trend is a lot easier to understand, especially if you’re a business owner. In recent years, you may have begun the process of moving everything online. This can include using cloud-based software to store your data and files, uploading paper copies of documents or photos, and more. Additionally, you may also have opted to move operations online, including the way you do business. For example, a business that sells towels by the beach may have left its storefront behind to sell towels online and reach a wider audience.
Moving everything online has also allowed for remote work opportunities to give candidates who don’t qualify because of their geographical location an opportunity to apply for a position. This type of work can help diversify your business and can help you find the best possible candidate since you’ll have such a large pool of potential hires.
Consumers already expect you to have an online presence, but even more so, they’re more likely to work with companies and buy products from brands that offer the convenience of doing everything online. Consumers can shop, use professional tax software, communicate with customer support, and even make a will online. Simplicity is a growing benefit in the business world.
Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is not new, but it’s becoming increasingly important as many businesses move completely online. Just like all other technologies, cybersecurity is consistently evolving. Threats are always changing which means that cybersecurity has to stay up to date in order to protect your business and its customers. Hackers who illegally access data will not give up, and they’re always going to try new ways to breach your security.
As long as there are these criminals, cybersecurity will continue to be trending and evolving topic, in order to protect internet users.
Final Thoughts
Technology is important to our daily lives. Almost everything we do involves the use of some kind of tech, from talking on the phone with your friends to ordering your favorite food online. As we continue to use technology for more tasks, and can even automate tasks, technology will continue to expand indefinitely.
The trends you’ve just read about are not all new, but they won’t be going away any time soon. While virtual reality is still at its beginning stages, we expect that technology professionals will continue to work on it until the average person can use it for more than just playing video games.
