2022 is almost upon us, and as we move forward, we want to look ahead at the technologies that are set to shape the new year.
2021 (and 2020) has been one of the most fast-paced years for tech in a long time. As the world continued to adapt to the pandemic, we all found ourselves spending more time online than ever before. This led to certain trends in tech (like remote working, video calls and RPA) to accelerate far faster than previously expected.
As we turn our attention to 2022, we don’t see a slow-down hitting anytime soon. Instead, we’re predicting that three technologies are going to take centre stage in a way they haven’t yet.
Below are our three predictions for tech trends in 2022 and the impact they’re poised to have.
Three technologies you need to keep an eye on
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR has been around for several years and it’s been a mainstream technology since the mid-2010s. Even so, we haven’t seen true market penetration for VR yet. In 2022, this might change.
As people spend more time indoors, technologies like VR present a unique value offering, similar to that of video calling. Namely, it allows people to leave their homes without stepping outside.
Opportunities for VR
The largest opportunity for VR has been and will likely continue to be gaming. Younger generations are growing up with virtual reality in gaming as a staple, not a novelty. And older generations are increasingly getting on board with this style of gaming.
VR could also present a unique opportunity for education, travel, and real estate. It can be used to not only bring imagined places to your bedroom but real places as well. This can give you the feeling of seeing another time or place with a new level of immersion.
Blockchain
Another technology that has been around for several years is blockchain. Blockchain has been a massive buzzword in the tech industry for several years now, posing a versatile solution with a myriad of applications.
The challenge with blockchain, however, has long been its blackbox nature.
Similar to the cloud in its infancy, businesses know that blockchain should be useful to them, but they don’t understand how or when to implement it.
Opportunities for blockchain
Recently, blockchain education has been expanding in the marketplace. Additionally, more service providers are arising that can build blockchain solutions for businesses.
As a result, blockchain is beginning to see the versatility that it’s been promised for years. That includes pairing it with IoT solutions, using it to verify purchased goods, and tracking the quality of sensitive goods like food and vaccines.
Cryptocurrency
Each time it seems cryptocurrency has hit its peak, it reaches another high. Even still, we’re not even close to seeing the full impact cryptocurrency is likely to have on the world at large.
While that impact has so far largely been tied to investing, “stablecoins” are becoming increasingly popular, especially with businesses. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies whose value doesn’t fluctuate, making them more usable and reliable.
Opportunities for cryptocurrency
There are a plethora of opportunities for cryptocurrency in 2022. These include more businesses accepting cryptocurrencies as a means of payment and regulators opening up gateways for cryptocurrency transactions.
Additionally, solutions like Ethereum, which change the way we would normally consider using cryptocurrency, are gaining traction. These options allow for goods to be exchanged directly without the need for an exchange medium (i.e. candles for footballs, no currency required) and contracts to be signed in the blockchain, respectively.
Stay ahead of the latest tech trends with Thunk
Want to stay ahead of these tech trends and more? The team at Thunk can help. You can partner with us today and start building cutting-edge solutions that will keep your business modern, productive, and competitive.