Life is changing, and so are we. The world of technology is evolving at a rapid pace, with innovations being introduced every day. The future holds many exciting possibilities for the way that we live our lives. As this year draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead and consider what will be happening in the coming years. Here are some of the most important technology trends you can expect to see in the next decade.
- Virtual Reality Will Be A Part Of Everyday Life
Virtual reality (VR) headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are finally starting to become affordable. This means that VR could soon be something that people use regularly. It might seem strange today, but think about how much VR tech has improved over the past few years. We started with bulky headsets that didn’t even work properly. Now we have sleek devices that offer high-quality experiences.
- Self-Driving Cars Will Become More Commonplace
Self-driving cars are one of the biggest promises of the future. Google has invested heavily in autonomous vehicles, and several car manufacturers are working hard on developing their versions. While it may take a while before all cars are fully autonomous, we can expect to see semi-autonomous features hit the market within the next five years. Driverless taxis are also a possibility for the future.
- 3D Printing Will Take Off
3D printing was once used mostly by hobbyists, but it’s now possible to buy kits that allow anyone to create their custom objects. Homeowners are using 3D printers to build houses, professionals are creating medical equipment, and artists are making incredible works of art. With this kind of widespread adoption, 3D printing will continue to grow. By the end of the 2020s, we should see 3D printers become cheaper and easier to use, which should lead to even wider adoption.
- AI Will Continue To Improve
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades now, but its impact on society hasn’t taken off until recently. There have only been two breakthroughs in AI since the 1980s: speech recognition and natural language processing. However, these technologies are still far from perfect. They aren’t able to understand everything humans say or write, and they don’t always get things right. But as AI continues to improve, we should start seeing more and more applications emerge. For example, self-driving cars are already becoming commonplace, and it won’t be long before we start seeing them everywhere.
- Augmented Reality Will Get Better
Augmented reality (AR) has come such a long way in just a few short years. From smart glasses to smartphones, AR has reached an impressive level of maturity. And it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. There are currently dozens of companies working on improving AR, including Microsoft, Magic Leap, Facebook, Apple, and others.
- Wearable Tech Will Keep Getting Smaller
Wearable tech is continuing to shrink. Smartwatches are getting smaller and smarter, fitness trackers are getting sleeker, and even hearing aids are getting better. The technology behind the wearable tech is also growing more powerful. So, if you’re looking for a new watch, fitness tracker, or pair of headphones, keep your eyes peeled for smaller, smarter products that do more.
- Voice Recognition Will Continue To Improve
Voice recognition has made huge strides in recent years. Just a couple of years ago, most voice assistants were unable to recognize simple commands. Today, however, many digital assistants can handle complex requests. As a result, voice recognition will likely continue to improve.
- 5G Will Speed Up Mobile Connections
The next generation of wireless networks, known as 5G, will provide faster mobile connections than 4G LTE. That means downloading movies and playing games will be quicker than ever before. In addition, self-driving cars will need less time to communicate with traffic lights and other road obstacles. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any videos from YouTube, download them early!
Benefits of Technological Advancements
The above tech trends as well as others will have great benefits to how we live and interact. Here are some ways they could change our lives:
- Health Care Costs Will Decrease
As people live longer, healthcare costs will rise dramatically. However, technological advancements mean that we’ll spend less money on healthcare overall.
- Transportation Will Be More Convenient
Self-driving cars will make transportation much safer and more convenient than it is today. Not only will accidents decrease, but so will traffic jams. People will no longer have to sit in gridlock trying to find parking spots. Instead, they’ll simply summon a driverless taxi right to their front door.
- Homes Will Become Smarter
Smart homes will get even smarter over the coming decades. They’ll be able to control lighting, heating, air conditioning, appliances, and security systems all without human intervention. Eventually, these homes will be able to monitor residents’ vitals and adjust their settings accordingly.
- Workplaces Will Get Even Better
Technological advances will allow us to work remotely at times when we’d otherwise be stuck in an office. We’ll be able complete tasks while sitting on a beach or hiking trail instead of in a cubicle.
- Education Will Be Improved
Virtual classrooms will become more immersive and engaging thanks to augmented reality. Students will learn about history, science, math, and geography using holographic images and 3D models.
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to imagine life without technology. It’s changed almost every aspect of society. But, there are still plenty of things left to invent. Technology trends like those listed above will help shape the future of everything from medicine to education to transportation.
