Top 10 tech trends to watch in 2021

Technology unlocks numerous innovations and this is happening faster and faster nowadays. if there is something COVID-19 has done is accelerated technology uptake like never before. We can’t even compare it to the dot-com boom, this time around, people have been forced to adjust out of necessity, not by choice. 

Local restaurants had to go on either UberEats, Postmates, or GrubHub. Others onboarded all three. Businesses that had never considered working remotely had to get on board either partially or fully remote. The pandemic made a decision for businesses and employees to invest in their tech infrastructure. 

We can say 2020 has been a year of major technology disruptions. For instance, video conferencing went from being a stigmatized means of work communication to the daily standard of work. Technology shifts that were underway before the pandemic have accelerated. 

Now we are in 2021. What tech trends should we look forward to embracing? 

Revolution in the field of medicine

The year 2021 is a year that will involve a lot of activities in the field of medicine. Most health care institutions will continue to invest in telehealth and telemedicine to reduce Covid-19 exposure. There will be more doctor-patient video chats, AI diagnostics, and no-contact medicine deliveries.  In 2021, let’s expect more biotech and AI advancements in medicine. 

Improved remote working experiences

The pandemic accelerated remote work uptake thanks to the lockdowns. Businesses had to embrace remote work for their continuity. The reason behind this is to ease congestion and overcrowding at the workplace. Videoconferencing has now become more popular, unlike other years before. Zoom became a household name in 2020. 

So many startups are coming up in the remote work sector. Some of them include Slab, Figma, Tandem, and so many more that will come up in 2021. Businesses want to collaborate and communicate better in 2021 so they’ll invest more in remote work infrastructure. 

Online shopping

Well, queuing in your favorite supermarket in the year 2021 might be more of a memory than reality. Things have changed, and so should we. The aim is to avoid contact with other people as much as possible. Online shopping and delivery work just magic, and it will be improving this year. All you need is only a phone call or application away. Contactless delivery is also becoming more and more seamless. This year, let’s expect the development of more online shopping platforms.

Learning online

Years ago, only a few people would have believed that learning can successfully be online. Today, everything has been done online, including education. Many learners across the world during this pandemic period have had to study online. Online classes will not stop in 2021. Classes through video conferencing will become the new normal. Institutions have been encouraged to conduct some part of their curriculum online. Online learning platforms will continue to be developed in 2021. 

Development and improvement of 5G infrastructure

As the world is going digital every minute, there is a need for a more robust network.  A reliable network keeps people together and helps businesses achieve their targets while working anywhere globally. This year, the 5G infrastructure should improve as so many people will rely on it for efficiency. We’ll have 5G and even 6G infrastructure to support autonomous connections and mobility in 2021. 

Rapid growth in automation technology

The manufacturing industry has been severely affected during the pandemic. With people not reporting physically to work, business continuity wasn’t possible. As a result, more and more companies are moving to automation. More robots are being manufactured and they will continue to be a necessity in easing things in the manufacturing industry. Countries like the US, China, Canada, Britain, and Japan are among the countries which have already enabled industrial automation.

Absorption of AR and VR in communication

There is expected tremendous growth in AR (argument Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality). Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the two forms of communication remain useful. Most companies, businesses, and entertainment sectors have adopted them. We have had virtual sports events, remote assistance, facial expression recognition, avatars, among others.  Microsoft, Scanta, and Chetu are among the companies that are flag bearers of the virtualized technologies. AR and VR will further are going to be a big contribution to the 5G acceleration. 

Micro-mobility growth

E-bikes and e-scoters are now mostly used. This is because they are perceived to be of great help when obliging in social distancing protocols. Countries like the UK promoted micro-mobility since it announced the ban on cars that consume petrol. San Francisco, Milan, New York, and Montreal are among the towns that have developed more cycle paths over the last few months. 

Progress in autonomous driving

There will be more autonomous vehicles that don’t need a driver's intervention. The Honda company has promised massive autonomous car production this year. Tesla's Autopilot had initially offered lane changes, and lane centering will detect speed signs and detect green lights. Many other companies are actively competing in producing autonomous cars. Mercedes Benz and Ford are some of the companies thriving to come up with such machines.

A.I and Internet of Things growth

A lot of IoT and A.I. technology is going to come in handy in health care, remote asset monitoring, and smart offices. With remote work being the new normal, people are embracing A.I. powered P.As like Alexa at home. More and more applications will come up in 2021 to help us be more productive. Logistics, manufacturing, and industrial sectors will also embrace IoT to monitor processes more effectively.