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2018 tech trends and inspiration

CES 2018

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The place to be for the latest in electronics, CES 2018 was no exception. You’ve probably seen the highlights – a rollable OLED TV from LG, Casio’s G-Shock solar-powered smartwatch and HTC’s Vive Pro VR headset to name a few – however, the overarching theme of 2018’s event was Artificial Intelligence (AI). The majority of exhibiting companies demonstrated their AI-infused tech, featuring a plethora of voice assistants designed to make our smart devices even smarter.

 

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As indicated by this year’s CES, all signs point to AI and Machine Learning (ML) as the key trends for 2018 and beyond. Elements of machine learning and artificial intelligence will permeate more deeply into a wider range of devices and systems. This year we can expect to see more action and less hype with the arrival of AI that is truly useful.

 

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A multitude of apps, cloud drives and locations are confusing users like never before. People want a way to manage everything conveniently using as few devices, apps and central locations as possible. Designers need to think about interoperability wherever possible.

 

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The latest test of Microsoft’s voice recognition software gave it a 5.1% error rate making it as good at recognising speech as human transcribers. This lends weight to expectations that voice-search will account for 50% of all searches by 2020 (ComScore).

 

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Following on from the above, improvements in voice search and smart speakers, along with a continuing reduction in the use of desktop-type devices and the increasing take-over of mobile, will see new generation UI for consumers.

 

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Users and consumers are becoming savvier about protecting their data and are nervous about trusting even the big corporations to look after their data securely. New platforms and apps are gaining funding and traction, such as Brave, the open-source web browser from Brendan Eich, the creator of JavaScript, which removes ads and blocks website trackers. Eich believes that the less data individuals share, the more privacy they will have online. A line of defence against mobile vulnerability is the cloud-based Appthority which grades mobile apps in terms of risk and scans apps before opening and installing.

 

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Subsequent to the introduction of pay-per-second-billing by Amazon Web Services, Google was quick to follow suit, setting a precedent that could become a wider trend this year.

 

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Diagnosing from the inside out: smart pills are making their way to a digestive system near you! Abilify is already one of the best selling drugs in the US for bipolar and schizophrenia and Abilify MyCite has the smarts to track whether users are taking their medication correctly. Furthermore, smart pills with built-in cameras are currently being tested.

 

3D printing comes of ageMetal_3D_Printing_02a60e9f69ac88578b2c71d9a2cb23c629096cab.jpg

As 3D printing comes of age, the dream of reducing supply chain costs and complexity by printing objects where they would be used is getting closer to reality. An excellent example is GE Additive, GE’s dedicated 3D printing group, which recently revealed what is thought to be the world’s largest metal 3D printer that is capable of printing parts up to 1 metre in diameter.

 

2018 – The Year of Engineering (UK)2018_The_Year_of_Engineering_4ee7723a6987c9814d6039a255be4641f222dc90.jpg

With the skills gap in the UK still very much in evidence, the UK Space Agency is joining forces with partners across government and industry to give thousands of young people inspiring experiences of engineering to encourage them to consider it as a career option.

With so much going on in the world of electronics, this brief snapshot merely constitutes an overview of some of the key developments – I’m not suggesting that there isn’t an awful lot more going on by any means. In fact, I cut various topics out of this list for concision, including holographic tech, the US Tax Reform Bill, smart pet care, Geopolitics in cross-border M&As, blockchain and IoT – or ‘BIoT’, quantum computing, APIs, chatbots, AR and VR, and even gym-free fitness! Feel free to comment below with your own ideas about what 2018 might bring.

DesignSpark Community Manager and all-around geek girl.
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