As Covid-19 vaccinations increase globally, life is
getting back to normal. However, it's no longer the world we experienced before
the pandemic. The long-term nature of this global crisis has changed customer
needs and daily lifestyles. This will, in turn, change what I expect the world
to look like in 2022 and beyond. Let's review the top 10 technology and
business trends that we'll likely encounter in the coming year.
Momentum in Life Science Technologies
The life science industry comprises pharmaceuticals, biotechnology,
environmental sciences, biomedicine, nutraceuticals, neuroscience, cell
biology, and biophysics. Partially because of increased investments in
mRNA vaccine technology and high-performance Covid-19 testing, 2021 has driven
great innovation in life science technologies.
Examples of this innovation include the mRNA-based
vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and by Moderna. Recent Covid drug
developments by Merck have also pushed the life science industry forward
rapidly.
Looking ahead, I expect we'll see strong movement in
the several life science sectors, including advanced research; application of
robotics technology; artificial intelligence (A.I.) tools; use of cloud
technology; the improvement of drug testing speed; integration of genetic
information; and usage of gene technology. I also foresee the development of
personalized medicine through advancements in genetics technology. The startup
23andMe, for example, helps people access, understand, and benefit from the
human genome.
Networking and Interconnectivity: Expansion of 5G-6G
and Satellite-Based Internet Usage
As remote working becomes commonplace, internet
reliability becomes more vital than ever. The internet of things (IoT) makes
the internet a more integral part of our lives, and developments at all network
levels will continue to drive research and push the internet economy forward.
According to Cisco's
Visual Networking Index forecast update for 2018, there will be 1.4 billion more people using the
internet by 2022, compared with 3.4 billion users in 2017. This equates to
almost 60 percent of the global population, assuming a population of eight
billion by 2022. By then, internet users are expected to consume 4.8 zettabytes
of data per year, 11 times the amount of IP traffic generated in 2012, with 437
exabytes.
While 5G may be in its infancy, we'll see an increased
focus on 6G in 2022. China started research into 6G in 2018. By late 2020, the
country had launched a satellite to test terahertz signal transmission. Huawei
and ZTE were involved. The U.S. also started 6G research in 2018 with the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opening higher frequency spectrum for
experimental use. A Next G Alliance was started in 2020, with companies on
board including Apple, AT&T, and Google. Korea, Japan, and some European
countries have started looking into 6G seriously, and we expect to see more
announcements in 2022.
High-Performance Computing Becomes Mainstream
Given the recent growth of big data-based research and
analysis and cloud-based computing, I expect high-performance computing usage
to surge in 2022. From drug discovery to cancer research to space exploration,
high-performance computing will become increasingly important, and quantum
computing technology needs to keep up with business demand.
We've already seen massive development in quantum
computing space by players including Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and
Alibaba. Startups such as Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Systems, ColdQuanta,1QBit,
Zapata Computing, and QC Ware have exceeded the industry expectations in their
technology and their growth.
I expect rapid progress in quantum computing during
2022, because the high demand for larger machine power is going to accelerate
development in this sector. We'll likely see announcements of large qubit
developments in the new year. Commercial quantum computing will soon be within
our reach, and new breakthroughs will occur at an accelerated pace.
Continued Growth in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data
Analytics, and Cloud Computing
A.I. has become an integral part of our lives. From
improvements to personalization, ranking search results, recommending products,
and understanding and controlling devices to building better models
of the environment to automating industry, we see the application of
artificial intelligence everywhere as we look toward 2022.
Organizations are using predictive analytics to
forecast future trends. According to a report published by Facts & Factors,
the global predictive analytics market is growing at a compound average growth
rate of around 24.5 percent and is expected to reach $22.1 billion by the
end of 2026.
We will also see massive growth in cloud computing. By
2022, the cloud will be more entrenched and more computing workloads will run
on the cloud. The internet of things will push this space in a bigger way, for
sure. According to predictions from Gartner, global spending on cloud services
is expected to reach over $482 billion in 2022, up from $314 billion in 2020.
Internet Security and Privacy Dominate
As the world becomes more digital, we're seeing an
increased number of personal and organizational cyberattacks around the world.
Several corporations have been the target of major cyberattacks in recent days,
and businesses have become more vulnerable to destructive attacks, in part
because of increased remote work given the pandemic.
During 2022, I expect that we'll see cyberattacks
across sectors, and we will see the industry take a variety of counteractive
measures. Defending against cyberattacks will include educating individuals so
they can identify and avoid network assaults, thereby safeguarding their
company's image.
Applying A.I. will make robust cybersecurity protocols
easier and less expensive to create and more effective than ever. Use
of A.I. can enable cybersecurity to spot risks and learn the behaviors of
cybercriminals, thus preventing prevent future attacks. It can also help cut
down on the time it takes cybersecurity specialists to do their daily tasks.
The Metaverse Will Shine in 2022
The metaverse is a digital reality combining social
media, online gaming, augmented reality, virtual reality, and cryptocurrencies
to allow virtual user interaction. The metaverse may refer to anything on the
internet, including all of AR's offerings. Virtual space of the future
describes the metaverse, providing access to all kinds of entertainment and
projects, including the opportunity to work.
We expect the metaverse to be immersive, ubiquitous,
and free to access. It will be digitally focused, and potentially involves
entertainment, social connection, work productivity, and behavior modification
at scale. It will create an entire ecosystem for developers, apps, ads, and new
digital innovations. The metaverse will facilitate convenience, consumption,
and a frictionless access to services.
Only a few companies today have a real stake in the
metaverse. They include ByteDance, Tencent, Facebook, Spotify, Zoom, Amazon
(Twitch), Alibaba, Roblox, Bilibili, Snapchat, Kuaishou, and Huawei. Apple's
wearables also point to the metaverse with AR glasses coming soon. Microsoft
with Microsoft Teams and gaming is perhaps the most advanced company in the
world regarding the metaverse. WeChat's ability to facilitate payments and
access to a variety of services is the start of the metaverse super apps.
As the metaverse ecosystem grows in 2022, I expect it
will have a direct impact on the future of many technology sectors. These
include gaming, wearables, VR and AR, collaborative productivity (Canva,
Slack), consumer tech products (including AR glasses or smart speakers), social
networks, educational technology, health technology, communication technology
(Zoom), digital currencies, and convenience mobilization and on-demand
consumption (Amazon, Meituan, Alibaba, JD.com, Shopify).
NFT Platforms Will Boom
A non-fungible token (NFT) is a digital object:
computer code and data that conveys ownership of something. The property may be
online: for example, virtual real estate in the digital world or special
equipment in a video game. Or it could be real: real estate, a painting, or a
seat at a concert. An NFT can also be a hybrid: for example, the right to
decide who can rent a room in a cooperative living space. A baseball card,
Ronaldo's first ball, a vintage car, or a piece of land in Central London: All
are one of a kind and can be transferred to the NFT.
In 2022, we are likely to see NFTs everywhere; this
includes in movies, TV shows, books, and more. NFTs are part of the
digital economy and are becoming mainstream because they allow people to own
something that represents a part of something bigger than themselves -- a piece
of art or a character, for example. The digital economy is made up of a variety
of online markets, including game economies, virtual real estate, and even
social media platforms like Facebook.
Our society has changed rapidly over the past decade,
especially because of the 2008 to 2009 economic crisis and the pandemic. These
trends are coming together to shape a world where NFTs will beat traditional
collectibles, making 2022 a tremendous year.
The Robotics Sector Will Become More Prevalent
We expect to see an increased use of robotics in everyday life during 2022. Usage will include
the health care, agriculture, automotive, warehousing, and supply chain
management sectors, and we will see more robotics-based automation that will
continue to progress.
The Covid-19 pandemic presents both problems and
opportunities for robotics companies in the logistics and supermarket
industries. Unexpected strains on supply systems and product shortages have
highlighted the need for better supply chain efficiency. It's also become
obvious that robots and automation provide a safe means for
manufacturers to keep employees socially separated yet allow the business to
continue operating.
The use of robotics process automation (RPA) helps
automate activities that are performed repeatedly; we expect RPA to grow in
2022 and become a standard technology for business. CIO reports that chief
information officers are using RPA to free workers from boring, repetitive
tasks and allow them to do more fulfilling work. Finally, we're seeing a rise
in nanorobotics, tiny sensors with limited processing power. The first useful
applications of these nano-machines may be in nanomedicine. Biological
machines, for example, are used to identify and destroy cancer cells or deliver
drugs.
Increased Urgency in the Renewable Energy Technology
Sector
Climate change and dramatic news headlines are driving
rapid growth in sustainable energy adoption. During the pandemic, this has been
the only energy sector that has grown. According to the International Energy
Agency (IEA), 40 percent more green energy was generated and used in 2020;
the agency expects continued growth in 2022. The falling cost of
generating sustainable energy also helps ensure that mass adoption is likely.
While newer energy technologies like nuclear fusion, biofuel, and liquid hydrogen
might take longer to come full circle, we look forward to serious advancements
in 2022.
I also expect to see massive growth in the production
and usage of solar and wind technology. Storage (battery) technologies are
playing a larger role, since there will be an increased need to store renewable
energy.
Blockchain Technology Prevails
Blockchain, an innovative breed of distributed ledger,
enables companies to track a transaction and do business with unverified
parties -- even without the assistance of financial institutions. This new
capability significantly lessens business conflicts; it also adds other
benefits such as append-only data structure, transparency, security,
immutability, and decentralization.
Blockchain technology has enjoyed massive adoption and continues to
disrupt many industries, from gaming and governance to finance. According to
the International Data Corporation, companies will spend almost $6.6 billion on
blockchain solutions in 2021, a 50 percent increase from the previous
year. This number is expected to grow beyond $15 billion in 2024. With the new
rise of NFTs and the metaverse, blockchain will become more important in
2022.
Businesses are encouraged to start studying blockchain
technology, since it is expected to generate significant business
opportunities; Statista reports that global blockchain technology is predicted
to grow to more than $23.3 billion by 2023. A notable existing blockchain
deployment is that of Walmart's supply chain database application, allowing the
monitoring of individual products directly to their very source, effectively
elevating food supply standards. Amazon is rolling out its blockchain
initiatives for 2019, which allow its Amazon Web Services clients to benefit
from distributed ledger solutions.
Looking Ahead
There's little doubt that 2022 will see rapid progress
in these and other technologies, as the world emerges from the Covid-19
pandemic. I see a prime opportunity for smart startups, corporations, and
investors to capitalize on these emerging technology and business trends to
become more successful than ever. Let's hope that the resulting innovation
makes the world better for people and businesses.
Quelle: https://www.inc.com/anis-uzzaman/the-top-10-technology-business-trends-of-2022.html