The fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us. The first one made use of steam and water to mechanize production. The second revolution made way for the creation of mass production through the power of electricity. Midway into the 20th century, we saw the third automate production with electronics and information. The fourth Industrial Revolution builds on the third—bringing at rapid speed technological advancements that will benefit every one of us on the planet.
From transportation to web browsing to progressive health care, tech for 2020 will bring growth across many industries. Those who can understand and keep up with the trends won’t risk being left behind because they will be prepared and can grasp opportunities. This article will look at the technology sure to make waves this year.
The introduction of 5G
Even with it being in early development, nearly all carriers have launched a form of 5G cellular network. Much of the rollout is happening throughout the year. The fifth generation of mobile internet connectivity will bring to the table three new aspects.
There will be an ability to connect to many more devices at a single time, which is useful for smart devices and sensors. 5G will have lower latency, which means it will be more responsive. Lastly, there will be larger channels that will speed up data. It’s not only the ability to stream on the go with higher quality that will come with super-fast data networks.
The increased speeds will mean mobile networks will become even more usable than wired connections in businesses and homes. Machines and robots will be able to transfer and collect more data, which implies further advancements for the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices.
More of AI and ML
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) came along way in 2019 and affected many industries. At the start of this new decade, their impact will continue to reverberate even more across many verticals—including digital marketing and SEO when it comes to websites ranking on search engine page results (SERPs).
SEO is here to stay and businesses all over the globe want to rank high at least if they can’t get to No. 1 by using the helpful SEO tools offered by such authorities as Moz and Semrush. But search engine optimization in 2020 will require more than it did in the last few years with proficient inventiveness of Google’s machine-learning algorithms. If a business wants more sales traffic and conversions, then it’s going to take more than impeccable keyword placement and backlinks.
Considering 92% of the search engine market is gathered in Google’s backyard, the AI tech used in its search products will likely become more comprehensive, like quickly detecting quality, authoritative content and valuable links on sites. Also, fueling more AI and ML in 2020 and beyond is the increasing use of voice and mobile search, which prompted Google to create mobile-first indexing for sites that are mobile-friendly.
AI and ML will also especially beneficial in cybersecurity. continue to be used extensively in 2020, especially in cybersecurity. Data is like a new currency that is an essential resource that organizations must protect. According to a poll administered by Computerworld, almost 44% of people are looking for AI-enhanced cybersecurity this year. This year, the data collected, backed up and archived by companies will be the same data contributing to privacy risks for 70% of companies.
Last year, data breaches exposed 5.3 billion records of credit card numbers, phone numbers, and home addresses. Considering there is a limited number of professionals in the field of cybersecurity, AI and ML can bring much-needed protection by bridging the gap. With the integration of these tech tools, the people charged with monitoring threats can respond to risks in real-time to get ahead of threats and understanding the evolving nature of them.
Autonomous Driving
One of the most climacteric developments for autonomous vehicles is the advent of 5G. This tech lets cars communicate with other vehicles in a collaborative way that would otherwise be unfeasible for human drivers. You shouldn’t expect it to be a usual thing for entirely autonomous cars to dominate the roadways in 2020. But major companies like Tesla, General Motors, Ford and Daimler are working on products.
Still, this year you shouldn’t be surprised to see more vehicles with the capacity for operating with a lesser degree of autonomy, like cars with autonomous emergency braking. Waymo, Google’s sister company, did a pilot trial transporting thousands of passengers with autonomous taxis in California. Now, the self-driving hailing service is currently of assistance in the Phoenix East Valley area. This year the emergence of robotic vehicles will likely extend beyond cars as trucking and shipping become more autonomous.
Extended Reality
Extended reality (XR) is an inclusive term that covers new and up-and-coming technologies adding to immersive digital experiences. It includes virtual, augmented and mixed reality. XR is expected to increase in market size of over $209 billion, according to Visual Capitalist, in the next four years. Compared to 2018, which had a forecast of $27 billion, that’s 800% growth.
Most people have experienced haptics when using their phones or playing a video game. The rumbles or vibrations connect users with the action on the screen. In 2020, XR designers will be looking to go beyond visuals to include more of the senses. Even in health care, the immersive tech of XR can enable the development of improved training applications to provide consummated learning for surgeons and dentists or help physicians give medical diagnoses and treatment. Other examples of how you could see XR tech in use this year, is in the areas of real estate and retail. Homebuyers could view properties without stepping foot inside a house, and shoppers could try on virtual clothes.
It is an exciting time for individuals and businesses as the journey continues from the previous decade. In 2020 and beyond, technology will continue to take the way we live our lives to a whole new level, by making more things accessible and giving us more pathways that are easier to navigate through for an existential richness in as many ways imaginable.