It’s a few weeks into 2015, and some amazing things have already started to happen the technology sphere. The Detroit auto show unveiled some of the coolest new cars and concepts. Supercars such as the Acura NSX and Ford GT are faster than ever before. Electric and hybrid models were present as well, as many auto companies seek to improve their standing with customers and offer “green” options. CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2015 also introduced the biggest and brightest upcoming technical innovations. Realistic robots, new TV models and loads of wearable tech were showcased in Vegas to give the nation a glimpse of what the industry has in store. In this post, I’ll do my best to summarize what I think the top trends for 2015 might be.
Wearables
Continuing from 2014, wearables will continue to dominate the tech market. Especially with Apple’s new smart watch premiering later this year; their market influence will surely have an impact on wearable sales. And with new sensor technology that will be able to more accurately read and collect data, people may be willing to spend the money in order to obtain quality data.
Internet of Things
With more devices flooding the market, from watches to cars to home automation, I think in 2015 we can expect to see more and more of our devices connected and talking to each other. It’s all in the name of being able to see and control all the data we have wherever we are. We want to be able to monitor our homes when we drive off to work or catch our email on our wrists. The internet of things offers a more streamlined future for the enormous amount of tech we have. Expect more companies to talk to each other and open up cross platform/device communications.
Virtual Reality
Will 2015 finally be the year of virtual reality? I hope so. Oculus Rift has been teasing us with its virtual reality headset for years, but it seems like 2015 could be the year where it finally hits the market. Other companies are also in the virtual reality game, such as Samsung, and are poised to splash into the market as well. Developers have had enough time to create some amazing simulations, and consumers are ready to give VR a try.
Better Voice Integration
Sure we have Siri, Cortana and Google Voice. Our phones have some limited voice integration, but I think the rest of the tech world will soon aim to include voice activation in their products. For example, there are rumors that Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system will include Cortana (Microsoft’s digital assistant) built into the platform. Talking to our laptops, cars and maybe even our wrists could soon be commonplace.
Cybersecurity
Perhaps not for the reason we want, cybersecurity will continue to be a big issue in 2015. With the hacks in 2014, the tech world needs to invest more into its security efforts. It’s not just an issue of personal security, but national security as well. If you have experience in cybersecurity, expect a ton of job openings, because no one wants a repeat of the North Korea Hacks.
These are just a few examples of possible tech trends in 2015. These may come into fruition, or may not. 2015 could be the year of awesome tech, but it could easily just end up being a year of half-baked ideas. We’ll have to wait and see.