10 Technology Predictions for 2016
By Don Douglas
With 2015 in the books, it’s time to take a look at trends, technologies and products that will come of age in 2016. How many creative ways will the channel find to monetize these techs? Let me know in comments.
1. Artificial Intelligence: AI will be incorporated into technology products, services and software at a rapid pace. More interesting is that the old 1950’s proclamation “Robots will soon be everywhere!” will finally be reality in 2016. Robots are already well accepted for basic tasks but will gain popularity as people see other uses, like Mark Zuckerberg’s J.A.R.V.I.S. project. AI will also be used behind the scenes to reduce fraud and loan delinquencies, improve support and compliance, enhance special education, help with security and link disparate but interesting research.
2. Drones: Despite being primarily targeted to consumers and known as a cool Amazon side project, drones will get a serious dose of commercialization in 2016 upon the FAA releasing rules for commercial flights. Consumers will also benefit from R&D investments as drones get smarter with more sensors along with the ability to play interesting games.
3. 3-D Printing: While investors and companies have been disappointed in the growth and profitability of companies involved in this space, much innovation continues to take place. Cost of ownership has come down and capabilities have gone up, meaning additive tech will go mainstream in 2016. The aerospace, automotive, energy and medical-device industries should lead the way in leveraging 3-D printing. We have only begun to see the tip of the iceberg in how this technology will disrupt industry.
4. Driverless Cars: While it will be some time before consumers can purchase a fully functional driverless car, the strides in this space will still be impressive. So will the hype. The good news is that some of this technology is creeping in now in the form of driver assistance, with the aim of reducing accidents. Ford recently showed a cool new sensor. The bad news is there are plenty more hurdles, both technical and regulatory, to be leapt before a truly autonomous car hits the market. The hype for a pilotless plane will be forthcoming.
5. Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality: VR really got going in 2015, with affordable gear now available from Google and Samsung, with Oculus Rift preorders opening almost as we speak. What is missing is software that fully leverages these platforms, as opposed to ports of current popular games. I have seen some fun and cool stuff in demo, but we are still in search of some games that will blow your mind. Call me a believer in the possibilities, but in order for this to really explode we need to see some killer apps to avoid the current generation becoming the equivalent of 3D television. Will it take haptic products to really make this go? AR still holds tremendous potential for business and gaming, but in 2016 we will just get more hype.
6. Age of Context: All of the pieces are finally in place and ready to be fully leveraged. The question for 2016 is, “Who will actually do context well?” We have had mobile, social media, big data, sensors and location-based services for some time now. The big difference now is the ubiquity of all of these elements. In 2016 we should see someone finally overcome the issues of privacy to fully leverage this phenomenon.
7. Data-Driven Design: Much like the age of context, 2016 marks the year that data-driven design benefits from all of the pieces finally coming together. Retail is a poster child for this tech, as data now allows retailers to have bidirectional relationships with their customers. This isn’t just about suggesting products, as Amazon has done for some time now. This is about changing the design of products, giving the customer a different experience, modifying support or creating something entirely new.
8. Blockchain: It’s not just for Bitcoin anymore. Just look at the investments made by major financial institutions in this space; even IBM is on the Blockchain bandwagon. This technology is not only legitimate, it is highly disruptive. Look for it to begin impacting not only banking, but health care, music, financial services, security and identity management, just to name a few.
9. Smart Earphones: Think about what you could do with tiny, wireless earbuds that fit snugly, provide more functionality than a FitBit and allow you to take calls hands-free, all while working to provide noise cancellation. This technology also has the ability to drastically impact the hearing aid market this year. Look for more choice in these multifunction devices by late 2016.
10. Apple: Let’s be honest: The company has disappointed even the most devoted fanboys over the past several years, with limited releases and few things to get excited about. That is now being reflected in the stock chart, as the company is behind on several fronts. This year’s announcements were disappointing, as was the Apple Watch product launch. Even the laptop line is confusing — I still don’t know what they are doing with the Mac Air line in light of the new Mac Book. After dropping the ball on several fronts, Apple is now extremely dependent on the iPhone. In 2016 I expect Apple to straighten out its confusing laptop line, deliver a second-generation watch, launch iPhone 7 with major advancements over the 6, and finally start delivering on some of its home automation toolkits. Apple still builds the best and most reliable hardware, but it simply has to be more innovative this year or risk losing the halo that surrounds many of its products. I am banking on some sort of surprise from these guys this year.
President and CEO of Liquid Networx, Don Douglas has worked in the technology field for more than 30 years. During his time at the helm of Liquid Networx, the company has grown dramatically, developed channels, brought many new products and services to the market, gained brand recognition and garnered numerous accolades from clients and partners. Douglas is a former member of the Channel Partners Advisory Board.
