Technology trends you should expect to see in 2018

The forecast of technology for 2018 is bright and shiny with a few interesting bumps we will welcome along the way.

2017 was the year of monumental technology breakthroughs. From 360° videos and pictures to AI technology and we can’t forget about AR, VR, and MR. With the amazing products and research we did in 2017, what does that mean for 2018?

Here are 7 technology trends you should expect to see in 2018:

1. Video Content
2017 was undeniably the year of video. According to various statistics, videos made up 80% of all internet web traffic. Which means that it will only increase this year. With video becoming one of the number one ways to communicate. We will see various types of video i.e. (VR, 360°, Live Streaming) being shared.

2. 3D - Printing
3D-printing will be more than hype technology in 2018. The State of 3D printing, claimed that last year 72% of companies used some form of 3D printing. Companies like HP, have already put into motion strong developments in technology to continue their growth in the 3D printing manufacturing sector.

3. Global Internet Traffic increase
It is predicted that smartphone traffic will exceed PC traffic this year. In 2017, PCs accounted for 52% of total IP traffic, but according to Quantumrun by 2021 PCs will make up only 25 % of internet traffic. Last year alone, smartphones accounted for 52.1% of total IP traffic, up from 33% reported in 2016.  Traffic from wireless and mobile devices will account for more than 63% of total IP traffic by 2021.

*Think about how this will affect your events...

4. It’s all about Big Data
By this point, most companies have realized the power and bandwidth of consumer data, and in 2018, data collection is going to become an even higher priority. From social media platforms to the digital footprint we leave as we stream videos on Netflix or track our steps on our Fitbit, etc. Every second, over 900,000 people actively use Facebook, 452,000  tweets are posted on Twitter, and 3.5+ million of us search for something on Google. Each day we are adding to data and that data is being tracked and used to make more breakthroughs in technology.

5. AI infestation
We no longer have an internet of phones and computers, with the introduction of AI,  machines are increasingly being built to communicate with each other with less need for human input. Alexa, Siri, Cortana, Google Assistant, and more will be added this year. AI is starting to make an appearance in almost every new platform, app, or device, and that trend is only going to accelerate in 2018. From your home to the workplace, our cars ,and your events.

6. IoT becomes BIoT
Don’t be that person that procrastinates and gets left behind. With everything being connected to the IoT “Internet of Things”, it was only in due time that cryptocurrency would make its way into it. Blockchain will transform the way we record and access certain types of data. Blockchain, one of the underlying technologies for the trendy cryptocurrency (Bitcoin), can make IoT devices even more useful. When blockchain combines with the IoT it creates a digital record across hundreds or thousands of computers, which can reduce the risk of hacking

7. 5g
1G, 2G, 3G, 4G...now we will have 5G. 2018 will be the year of phone carriers preparing for 5G. 5G internet has the potential to be almost 10x faster than 4G, making it even better than most home internet services. The reason why this is such a big deal is that it will result in higher wireless speeds, capacities, and lower latency.  Which in a nutshell means that there will be far fewer delays or "technical issues" in some of the things it powers, like wireless VR, smart devices and mobile devices.

Each day technology will find a way to make our lives easier. Grab your umbrellas, because we have technology storm heading our way!