The 6 tech trends are here to stay

Everything is constantly changing in the tech world, but we’ve had a look at some of the most interesting and influential tech advancements in recent times and narrowed them down to a few we think are here for the long run.

3D Printing

3D printing has become a hobby for many over the last few years, especially during Covid. However, building little models isn’t the only application for the technology. In the medical sector, 3D printing is being used to help doctors prepare for fetal surgeries, by combining ultrasound and MRI scans the technology can allow surgeons to visualise where the problem is to eliminate as much risk as possible. 3D printing is also being used to create prosthetics for amputees, a low cost and custom fitting solution. Another 3D printing technique using large scale concrete printers is being used to create low-cost housing at a faster rate than traditional building techniques.

Crypto

Cryptocurrencies have blown up over the last few years, with major companies such as Tesla accepting various cryptocurrencies as alternate payment methods. Bitcoin is perhaps the largest and most well-known crypto, with a market cap of just under $580B, with El Salvador adopting bitcoin as their national currency. As well as crypto, NFTs are getting bigger and bigger. However, be warned. A recent crash in the crypto market has caused some currencies to drop massively in value. Luna, for example, had a market cap of $40B, however, has now dropped to $200M.

VR, AR and The Metaverse

The Metaverse is a relatively fresh concept, which is effectively a virtual world for work, gaming and your social life. Meta (previously Facebook) has invested $10B in metaverse technology, 5 times what they paid for Oculus in 2014, and 10 times what Instagram cost the company. As well as this, VR sales are predicted to reach 43.5 million by 2025, with the VR market projected to be valued at $72.8B by 2024. As well as this, the metaverse as a whole may be worth up to $800B by 2024. Perhaps now is the time to start investing in what seems to be the next big tech platform?

AI

AI is everywhere these days, even on your phone. But that is just scratching the surface of what is possible with artificial intelligence. To help accelerate the development of vaccines for Covid, AI was used to help scientists and doctors process large amounts of data in a relatively short period, in order to create a data model to help create the vaccines. As well as this, companies such as Tesla are using AI to create the first fully self-driving cars. With recent breakthroughs in quantum computing, AI could soon become even faster than it already is, allowing for much more impressive developments.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a key issue across the world and in many industries, but what is the tech industry doing to help? Recent tech innovations have allowed us to be more creative with our eco practices. For example, a lab based in Finland has recently created a process to turn a by-product of wood into a bio-degradable soft plastic that can be used for food packaging. As well as this, a Norwegian startup has developed an efficient, durable and low cost floating solar panel farm, and a Spanish firm is employing Mediterranian fishermen to collect plastic which is then recycled into products such as phone cases and 3D printer filament. Whether it's recycling waste into brand new products, or finding eco-friendly alternatives to products we already use, companies that are tackling sustainability will be the ones to watch.

5G

5G was first introduced to the UK in May 2019 to selected areas, with the major networks aiming to expand coverage to the majority of the UK by the end of 2022. While 5G isn’t available to most of the country, most new mobiles come with the ability to use the next-generation network. 5G has many benefits when compared to its predecessor, 4G. Firstly, the speed. 5G has a max speed of 20GB/s with an average speed of between 100-200MB/s, with 4G’s theoretical maximum speed being only 300MB/s. As well as this massive speed increase, 5G has a feature called network slicing. Network slicing allows certain connections to be prioritised over others, for example, communications equipment used by emergency services could take priority over regular network usage during a large-scale emergency.

What up and coming technologies are you going to be keeping an eye on during the year?