Upcoming Trends in 2018
Tech Trends
CES 2018 is where the world looks for trends in the upcoming year and is where “next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace,” as they say. The event took place in Las Vegas from January 9 – 12, and with over 184k in attendance and 4k exhibiting companies, here are a few interesting tech predictions to watch for in 2018:
7 Top Tech Trends – Hubspot
5G – Fifth Generation Network Technology
“One reason why it’s such a big deal is that it will result in higher wireless speeds, capacities, and lower latency — which generally means that there will be far fewer delays or “technical hesitancies” in some of the things it powers, like wireless VR or autonomous vehicles,” says Amanda Zantal-Wiener, Sr. Staff Writer, Hubspot Marketing Blog.
AI
Amazon reports “tens of millions” of Echo devices were sold for the Christmas season. Autonomous driving capabilities, with sensory perception being a key piece in the industry forecast, predicts a 6% growth, or $15.9 billion revenue. Two new things? AI carrying on conversations with humans and the ability of AI to build trust with users – so it can explain why it makes certain recommendations. Channeling Hal.
Of course I would be remiss without mentioning that artificial intelligence hackers are now a thing, and according Gizmodo, hackers have already started to weaponize AI. An experiment was done using AI vs. a human sending phishing tweets – no surprise AI won handily. And Wired reported in September that AI cyber security could stop hackers – we know firewalls don’t. Could?
Robotics
Of interest at the event was Kuri, “a robot that was described as a ‘family friend’ that can ‘capture life’s moments automatically using face recognition.” So … moving, speaking computers with feelings. I think I’ve seen too many movies where this didn’t end well.
Voice: The Fourth Sales Channel
Apparently 1 in 4 shoppers used voice assistants in their holiday shopping in 2017. With the growth of smart speakers, it would be a smart marketing move to merge your brand with voice assistants. If I start writing about that, I’ll pen a novel.
Facial Recognition on the Go
Face ID technology is something we’re becoming more comfortable with, so not only is the technology being used for medical information, but also by smart vehicles to unlock doors, open trunks and expect much more.
Virtual Reality
Not like a Virtual Assistant (human) at all. Virtual Reality is defined as “the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment.” VR isn’t new, but how it will be used for more brand awareness is. Think shopping. Or what helps a business run and create its products or services.
Not to be confused with AR (Augmented Reality). Augmented reality is defined as “an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something.” Ikea and Wayfair have been dabbling in the technology for things like home décor – and Apple and Google are showing how it enhances a gaming experience.
Think self-driving pizza delivery vehicles. But more importantly (yes, more important than pizza) is energy usage and environmental improvements. Stay tuned for this!
Social Media in 2018
AR
Look for AR to make advancements into social media as well supplying, for example, filters that will allow you to take a selfie with, say, a celebrity. Talk about fake news!
VR
Look for Facebook to roll out Spaces which would allow friends to connect in VR. That should be interesting.
Instagram is doing quite well and has overtaken Snapchat by a lot (which makes me happy, honestly). But you need to learn to master Instagram stories. Think content on-demand. So annoying to see an overload of info from someone that you don’t want to see.
Messaging Platforms
With all of the attention on AI, expect to see more communication across messaging platforms like Messenger, Kik and WhatsApp.
Live Streaming
Not new, but in 2018 expect to see an increase to build personal brands. There are definitely some strong do’s and don’ts to live streaming, so make sure you understand how to best do it, come up with a strategy for your brand, and learn the 7 top successful strategies to keep people engaged.
Digital Hangouts
It makes sense that digital hangouts would increase with the increase of live streaming, and it’s a strong possibility that Facebook is planning to launch a clone to Houseparty in 2018. I can think of several ways this can be used by companies, but first things first.
10 years ago I was in love with Twitter. The past few years, not so much. And I’m not alone. In 2018 they’d better come up with something new / different / better, or we’ll be saying ‘remember Twitter?’ (remember MySpace?)
Stronger Governance Policies
Thankfully, social media platforms are embracing a more ‘hands-on’ approach to overseeing conduct across their platforms. Hopefully codes of conduct and policies will role out strong in 2018.
Seem like a lot to take in? It is! Finding what works best for you and your brand are contingent upon a lot of factors. If your eyes glaze over every time you think about keeping up with new technology, consider giving us a call to talk about what’s best for you!
Nickey Hollenbach
Personal Touch Concierge Service
ptconciergeservice.com
as seen in the Bucks County Women’s Journal
Nickey Hollenbach
Personal Touch Concierge Service®