Top 6 Tech Trends to Shape the World in 2016

A New Year means a new beginning; this acquires more value for the tech world. Technology not just shapes the life of an individual but that of the nation too. Regardless of whether it is at home or at work, technology can be life changing in nature as it adds comfort to life. While the connected home appliances empower as well as enable personal space, smart technology boosts efficiency as well as productivity in the professional environment.

In 2015, the Internet of Things made its presence felt and wearable technology came of age. As things appear now, 2016 seems to be a year when IoT will develop further. We also saw huge advancements in the ability, speed and the quality of 3D printers last year. Though this has not yet become mainstream till now, it appears quite inevitable that the new technologies used in 3D printing will allow producing things: right from prescription drugs to foods.

Medicine

Medicine is a field where we are seeing rapid strides in technological advancement.

“In 2016, medical technology is going to be handheld, cheaper, and more mind-blowing than ever,” pointed out Meskó, a physician with a PhD in Genomics. He pointed out that the inventions that are taking place in the industry today are reflecting broader shifts, taking place across the industry.

Imagine the impact of virtual reality in teaching students pathology and anatomy. They can dissect anything virtually without being bothered by the smell of formaldehyde. This will also stimulate hospital issues as well as procedures before their skills are tested on real people.

Apart from virtual reality, artificial intelligence will also play a significant role in the hospitals. The cognitive computing system is already in use to help doctors and make treatments significantly more efficient. This will be chiefly helpful in radiology. It aims to make radiology better by allowing the radiologists focus on the significant questions that demand attention; rather than go through hundreds of images every day.

Image By John Abella

Another prime medical innovation is 3D bioprinting of tissues and at times, complete human organs.

Device Mesh

The device mesh refers to a set of endpoints people use for accessing applications and information; it is also used for interacting with businesses, people and social communities. The device mesh comprises of mobile devices, home and consumer electronic devices, wearables, and environmental and automotive devices like the sensors in the IoT.

“In the post-mobile world the focus shifts to the mobile user who is surrounded by a mesh of devices extending well beyond traditional mobile devices,” pointed out Mr. Cearley, Vice President and Gartner Fellow.

Though the devices are connected to the back-end system through different networks, they operate in isolation at times.

3D Printed Materials

Advancement in 3D printing has enabled usage of a wide array of materials. The list includes carbon fiber, advanced nickel alloy, electronics, pharmaceuticals as well as biological materials. These innovations are increasing user demand; the practical applications for the 3D printers are expanding to different sectors including medical, aerospace, energy, military and the automotive.

“3D printing will see a steady expansion over the next 20 years of the materials that can be printed, improvement in the speed with which items can be printed and emergence of new models to print and assemble composite parts,” states Mr. Cearley.

Augmented and Virtual Reality

This year, virtual reality will get the opportunity to shine on a consumer level while augmented reality will prove itself in the workplace.

46 gaming and virtual reality exhibitors will be there at CES in 2016. The figure is up by 68% as compared to the previous year’s.

The Internet of Healthy Things

Mobile health is presently entering its golden age. Fuelled by the advanced sensors and the low-power chips, a whole new generation of devices is going to make its presence felt to track health in real time. The devices monitoring sleep patterns, glucose levels and body chemistry will be there at CES 2016. All these devices are not wearables.

Smart Cars

Though it may be some time till we see the completely autonomous vehicles, a movement has begun both from the regulatory as well as the technological standpoint. Reports suggested that Ford Motor Co. and Google could join forces for creating a venture to develop self-driving vehicles using Google’s technology.

Image By Robert Hextall

Though it will take a few years for cars to be completely autonomous, 2016 is quite likely to be a year of partnerships between auto manufacturers and tech companies.

Hope that we will know more of these technologies in the coming months. Let’s wait and watch these technologies unfold.