Tech Trends
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7 technologies that we predict
will make the leap
2016 holds some great developments in its pipeline. With the past year’s buzzwords (wearable gadgets, AR, personal medical care and more) coming of age, they possess a real chance of sticking and interacting with our daily lives. Here are our careful predictions of trends that should evolve to sustainability.
1. Data-driven design
When customers start shaping the things to come
The flux in Big Data hype is a classic case of “evolution to revolution.” Companies are not only taking it one step forward to more profound and meaningful engagement with their customers, but are taking it one step backwards to the blueprint and product design phase. And that is exactly the big bang: top-down traditional product development procedure is being challenged by a more collaborative and two-directional exercise where customers’ insights are being taken into account and translated into features.
Herein also lies the challenge of data-driven design: to combine both quantitative data that shows the numbers of ‘who, what and when,’ with qualitative data that demonstrates the ‘why and how.’
Revuze is addressing that point with its "analyst in a box" platform, identifying product feedbacks in unstructured content to reveal what consumers really think about the entire experience with their products or services.
2. Predictive healthcare
"Hi doc, the computer just told me I should come to see you. Are you online?"
The medical field is going through some tectonic changes in adopting proactive, predictive and preventive healthcare services based on predictive analysis technologies.
Predictive analytics (PA) uses technology and statistical methods to search through massive amounts of information and then analyze it to predict outcomes for individual patients. Not only can PA help with predictions, but it can reveal surprising associations in data that our human brains would never suspect.
One of the pioneers in this field is Medial Research. Using advanced, proprietary technology, Medial analyzes large patient databases and develops multidimensional predictive models that accurately evaluate personal risk levels for early detection of cancer.
Soon enough, our blood and bacterial samples will lead to a personal set of recommendations regarding food, drinks, sports habits, and to checkups that we will be summoned to automatically.
3. 3D printing
When 3D printed parts are used to fly jet fighters and build space rockets, you know that we are past the point of no return.
Quick production cycles, versatile raw materials, micron-level precision and extra durable outputs open 3D printing up to an abundance of uses. This change will influence companies’ engineering and production mindsets as well as business models.
One breakthrough in the metals segment is expected to take place in 2016 with the launch by Israeli company XJET of the world’s first direct, 3D metal jetting system. The next applications to take center stage will be in the fields of biological material printing, implants and prosthesis.
4. The new mobility era
The car industry is driving the most interesting breakthroughs in IoT and M2M.
One much talked about implementation of IoT is in the car industry, which is viewed as the crusader of other IoT verticals being integrated. The autonomous self-driven car will defiantly keep on grabbing attention, but the true prospect will be what experts call “the new mobility era.” Under that concept, the cars, drivers, public transportation, roads, and communities are unified into one connected eco-system.
Under that vision, global companies such as STARHOME MACH are developing platforms to attend M2M connectivity, roaming, security, and billing issues.
5. Virtual reality
Watch out for people with headsets — they know more than you think!
2016 is going to be a year to remember for VR enthusiasts. It is the year in which 3 major headsets are about to be released: The Oculus Rift headset, HTC Vive headset and Sony's VR headset compatible with the PlayStation 4 console
Nonetheless, VR does not boil down to gamers’ treats. Cutting-edge VR development will have an impact on countless other fields, such as military, medical care in aspects of simulations and treatments, education, and more.
6. Contextual marketing
Improving the way you engage with your customer and understanding the ways your customer is engaging with you.
Contextual marketing has been the prodigy of the internet for years, but only recent advances in semantic tools, such as IBM’s Watson machine-learning and cognitive technology capabilities, together with emerging data classification and information analysis techniques, will bring meaning to the often chaotic deluge of information.
Pontis illustrates this direction with sophisticated, real-time, multi-factor recommendations targeting up-sale existing customers.
7. Location-based applications
Here’s the deal: you'll let us know your location and we’ll show you how wonderful this world can be. OK?
To an increasing extent, location-based applications will not only be able to collect location-based information and offer us concrete propositions (navigation routes, coupons, or friend proximity detection), but will enhance our spontaneous experiences. In a nut shell, location-based apps will continue to evolve in fields of physical experiential activities such as in tourist sightseeing, online real-life gaming, events, and so on. Such is Knoze, an app that will allow you to discover, share, rate, and see clips and comments of events that take place around you.
As the branding agency of the technological world, we witness these trends evolve and mature and accompany them from their early stages. With all these developments already in the pipeline, we are excited to look at 2016 and beyond!