As we enter 2021, technology continues to change and develop at an unprecedented rate; the growth and development of technology are among the most significant industrial sectors we have. It is an exciting time to be working in IT as there is an incredible number of newer developments on the edge of something big. Somethings are driven by user demand like gaming trends while others are driven by industry and the need to advance. So, what are the top 10 new technology trends for 2021?
- Artificial Intelligence
Although artificial intelligence is not new as such, there is undoubtedly plenty of expansion to come. It is expected that by the year 2025, this will be a sector worth over 190 billion. Artificial intelligence will generate jobs in every area, from programming and development to support testing and maintenance. Many of us already have artificial intelligence in our homes, and industry can be transformed by machine learning and automation. As well as automating processes one of the most significant uses of artificial intelligence will be data analysis which can be processed at high-speed rates that a human could never achieve.
- Robotic Process Automation
This is another arm of artificial intelligence and a process whereby software is used to streamline and simplify business processes. Things are like payment services, replying to emails, analysing applications, and handling data. It is possible that this introduction will see some jobs become obsolete and passed to robot handlers, but it will also create many prospects for developers who are looking to work in areas of project management, consultants, solution architects and more.
- Quantum Computing
Given that quantum computing is so much faster than the previous incarnations of computers, it is no wonder that mainstream manufacturers like Microsoft, Honeywell and Google are all interested in being involved in the quantum computing revolution. Quantum computing has been heavily involved in the global pandemic and assisted with tracking and analysing data, allowing us to limit the spread and helping when it comes to developing the vaccinations we are now using. This is another area that will generate job growth in algorithm design, quantum mechanics and machine learning.
- Edge Computing
No sooner have we started to get used to the concept of cloud-based computing than things have begun to move onto edge computing. There can be some delay when using a cloud-based system, and edge computing has been designed to ensure this doesn’t happen. So, if you are in a remote area away from centralised data storage, the edge computing revolution can create mini data centres where needed. By 2022 it is set to be a $6.7 billion industry, but don’t worry if, as an end-user, this doesn’t make a lot of sense as it’s a background type process.
- Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Again, this is not brand-new technology; we already have many uses for augmented and virtual reality. Virtual reality involves some form of a headset and places the user virtually into a computer-generated background. Augmented reality brings a piece of computer-generated software, for example, in the game Pokémon Go, into the real-world surroundings using the camera on your mobile phone. Both technologies have been used extensively in things like the fashion industry, virtual tours of museums, and many other things. Still, they do have other uses that can be harnessed by industry. It is thought that education will be enormously enhanced by including these technologies.
- Blockchain
If you have heard of the term blockchain, it is likely to be in relation to cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin. But it does have other uses and is going to expand over the next few years. Once a data block has been created, it cannot be altered, which adds a level of security that we have not seen before. A blockchain developer will be very much in demand over the coming years. People hoping to move into this industry will need to have programming experience, understand database structures and be familiar with mobile applications.
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- 5G Mobiles
The 5G network has been in development for a few years now and has gone live in several places. It has also been incorrectly blamed for causing the global pandemic or altering people’s minds. It is just the next incarnation of 3G and 4G, which allows us to get onto the Internet when we are not connected to a Wi-Fi network. One of the critical issues that they needed to overcome was the sheer number of users wanting to access the Internet in one location at any one time. So 5G was created with that in mind.
- IoT
There is also predicted to be significant growth in the area of the Internet of Things. Again, this is something we are already using with various apps, home security, and other devices. But with more developments set to come, we can expect it to provide many advantages that we have not yet thought of, including enhanced medical treatment, better customer services, and condition monitoring.
- DevOps
Dev Ops is the name given to the development of enterprise software and is a concatenation of the terms. This is going to be another area of growth when it comes to jobs with DevOps engineers on target to earn nearly $100,000 a year.
- Cybersecurity
Finally, with all these technological advancements, it is no surprise that cybersecurity will also be significant this year. It has to advance to keep up with all of the technical changes.
