Technology: the top trends of 2018
What will the top technology trends of 2018 be? Here is a complete list of expected new trends for the current year.
Artificial Intelligence is being used more and more in a variety of applications; in 2018 it will also be present in a range of devices, apps and platforms. Meanwhile, the digital centralisation of devices and apps for managing a growing number of activities from minimal locations will spread.
By the year 2019 an expansion of 5G and an internet network 10 times faster than 4G is expected (preparations for this are currently underway). The widespread sharing of data and personal information, resulting from the largescale use by individuals of devices connected to the web, is also expected.
Another phenomenon which could emerge is the automation of many jobs, which will be start to be managed more by computers and machines created ad hoc. The continuing improvement of voice recognition technology will enable devices to communicate without problems.
The transformation of user interfaces will make devices more intelligent and more easily interactive, while the change in virtual reality from a solitary to a group experience while playing, working and interacting with others, will radically transform interaction between individuals and the way in which actions are carried out.
As the spread of blockchains reduces the risk of fraud and manipulation by third parties to a minimum, there will probably be changes in the intellectual property of artistic works, due to the changes which consumers and users of virtual reality (ever more widespread and undergoing continuous improvement) will be able to make.
Among the technology trends of 2018 will be a greater accessibility of technology, which will have as its main objective the aim of being available to all. Furthermore, the use of audio-visual sensors able to provide information on users’ behaviour without revealing their sensitive data or identification will prevail.
Another trend could also be the use of micro-robots, capable of improving the population’s health, via direct intervention into health problems or ailments. An ever-increasing number of electric vehicles are expected to be launched in the car market, which will lead to significant market changes.
Greater exploitation of information about consumers by companies, to improve their purchasing experience and the use of products in shops as in daily life. There will be more research into solutions to reduce or eliminate the problem of fake news on Social Networks.
Thanks to Apple, it is expected that during 2018, facial recognition technology could be used more widely to un-block devices, but also to pay for products and to carry out other operations. It is also likely that online advertising will see exponential growth, to the detriment of traditional TV advertising.
In addition to the above-mentioned trends, there could also be a gradual increase in sales via e-commerce with a consequent reduction in purchasing limits from European Community countries and a transformation in privacy laws in order to protect the most sensitive consumer data and information.
Finally, the focus on Bitcoins (and more generally on cryptocurrencies) will probably grow, as we find out whether virtual currencies will actually be used in daily life or if they will lose the visibility they have so far gained.
These are the main technological trends of 2018: tendencies which are not yet certain, but which we are likely to see during the current year.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
