Navigation

The technology trends of 2018 point to a brave new world in automation and productivity

The technology trends of 2018 point to a brave new world in automation and productivity

A brave new world
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 By

Imagine waking up to a new day. A smart alarm clock nudges you awake at the optimal time, as you check your smartwatch to see how the quality of your sleep was. As you ready yourself for work, the virtual assistant on your smart speaker reads you the news, and weather and traffic conditions as you brush your teeth.

Freshly brewed coffee from the automated coffee machine awaits you as you grab a cup before work. Just as you are about to head out of the door, a drone from the logistics company drops off a package just in time. You are scheduled to reach the office at 9am and you get some work done on the commute, thanks to your self-driving car.

All this sounds like science fiction, but the foundation for this scenario to happen is here today. Here are some tech trends from 2018 that are making the above a reality.

8 of 14

INTERNET OF THINGS

The barrier between physical and virtual things is slowly being broken down, thanks to intelligent sensors that are all around us. These devices are all connected to a unified network called the Internet of Things (IoT). Tech companies, big and small, are trying to make their mark on the IoT field, including Intel, Qualcomm, IBM and Microsoft.

Statistics from Statista estimate that there would be over 75 billion IoT devices by 2025 and the market is estimated to be worth more than USD1 billion annually from 2017 onwards. While IoT can easily be associated with smart consumer devices, it promises to bring greater efficiency and productivity to businesses. Companies like Zebra Technologies sell trackers that use radio frequency to tag items in warehouses, offering real-time visibility of inventory.

Other unique applications include helping sports teams improve their performances – American football players in the National Football League (NFL), for example, using radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips to track their movements across the field and help coaches formulate better strategies.

8 of 14

TEXT CHONG JINN XIUNG

, , , , ,

You Might Like
Type keyword(s) and press Enter