The top IT trends to come out in 2021

We look back at the trends that have come to the forefront of IT in 2021.

We look at some of the top IT trends in 2021.

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Technology is rapidly changing and evolving every day, and 2021 has been no different. 2021 was probably one of the busiest years for new and emerging tech. In this podcast, we will break down some of the top trends and technology that have come out so far this year.

AI

First up, we will discuss Artificial Intelligence. Of course, AI isn’t anything new, but the continuous stream of new and exciting technologies that come out each year keeps it at the top of IT trending lists. 

It has been predicted that the AI market will grow to a US$190bn industry by 2025 with global spending on cognitive and AI systems reaching over US$57 billion in 2021. AI has played a vital role in assisting companies through Covid-19 as new ways of working and living have been created. As we move into the last few months of 2021, let’s look at how AI technology has become even more popular throughout the year.

• The adoption of IPA and RPA has increased amongst businesses to help in automating repetitive and specific tasks.
• AI has become widely used for cybersecurity and the protection of data. These AI systems can spot potential threats by tracking their movements and patterns.
• AI-powered IoT’s have become even more popular throughout 2021. People have grown to want their homes and lives to be smarter and tech-friendly. The use of home devices such as Google Nest, Smart locks, etc. has become the new norm. 
• AI-infused Chatbots have continued to learn throughout the year to create better customer service automation. These chatbots now provide the user with natural communication by copying various human conversations. 
• Many companies have transformed their digital workflows by using AI tools that help create a more effective workforce using digital workflow automation. 

Edge computing

Edge Computing supports data processing at a location closer to where the data is created. This will make devices faster by reducing the time it takes for data to be processed and received, help lower time delays and cuts costs related to data transmission. The Edge Computing industry has begun to increase due to more people using Internet of Things (IoT) devices. By 2022, the global edge computing market is expected to reach $6.72bn. IDC is projecting that worldwide spending on edge computing hardware, software and services will reach a whopping $250bn in 2024 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5% over the next few years. This new technology trend is predicted to continue growing and will assist in creating more jobs within the software engineering industry. 

2021 has been a great year for Edge Computing, and there are three key driving forces behind this:

• Covid-19 has been a major reason why Edge Computing has succeeded in the last year. There has been an increase in people needing and using mobile devices while consuming video and virtual reality content and the development of sensors as part of IoT. 
• The adoption of 5G has started to increase, and it is predicted that many businesses will start to implement private 5G services, which will fuel the fire of Edge Computing. Most, if not all, factories use robots and machine tools that require a local network such as 5G and a system like Edge Computing to conduct daily business with minimal to no time delays.
• Companies have started implementing AI and Machine Learning capabilities as close to their endpoint devices as possible. Edge computing helps these smart processes work at the speed and dependability that is needed. 

VR & AR

Another exciting trend from 2021 was the further integration of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

Originally, VR and AR were primarily used in a gaming environment; however, over the years, it has started to be used amongst various industries to train, entertain, educate, etc. 14 million AR and VR devices were sold in 2019. The global AR and VR market is expected to grow to $209.2 billion by 2022, which will create even more opportunities within this technology trend.

VR and AR have been integrated into almost every aspect of our lives in the past year, from virtual fitness and healthcare to working with colleagues and distance learning. VR and AR have also been used to enhance experiences such as museum visits, shopping trips and even training doctors to do surgery.

There have been various new experiences created with VR and AR throughout there year. Let’s take a look at some of the coolest ones:

• The 2021 BAFTAs showcased an avatar music performance from Liam Payne in real-time augmented reality technology, using 5G facilities. Viewers made use of 3D AR animation and watched the live performance through ‘The Round’ app found on smartphones. 
• As education was still affected by Covid-19 lockdowns, there was an increase in the use of AR technology to create a more immersive and interactive experience for students. For example, the SkyView app allows students to explore the universe using AR overlays of the night sky. With SkyView, anyone can point their mobile device upward to identify stars, constellations, planets, and even satellites.
• During the pandemic, the world of e-commerce increased massively. Now in 2021, VR is being used to create next-level e-commerce and retail shopping experiences. Sephora’s Virtual Artist app has created a personalized experience for its customers. This VR experience allows the customer to try different make-up looks online before making a purchase.

IoT

The internet of Things is the future as it has been instilled in our everyday lives. Everything is slowly getting to a stage where it is connected to the internet from home appliances, cars, and fitness devices. For businesses, the Internet of Things can assist in safety, predictive maintenance, speed up medical and improve customer services. As a result, the global spending on the Internet of Things (IoT) is forecast to reach 1.1 trillion US dollars in 2022.

There are a few new devices that have come out so far this year, so let’s go through some of the best and most interesting:

· First up, we have DiCE SMART, a hub that allows you to easily and immediately create an efficient and safe smart home. As a hub, DiCE SMART acts as a control centre capable of receiving your instructions and transmitting them to smart devices in the home. You can transmit your instructions directly to the hub, via gesture, or to Alexa. You give her the voice commands, and the connected devices perform the actions or provide the requested information. Likewise, if you are away from home, use the DiCEhome app: it is simple and fast.

· Next up, we have, Intelex HazardIQ which connects hazardous field environment monitoring to EHS management systems. The trailblazing technology removes delays in data gathering and allows gas alarm data to be easily analyzed and disseminated. As a result, it streamlines the workflow from alarm to incident reporting, and the risk of data inaccuracies is eliminated.

· Lastly, we have Mimic Go which helps in protecting your belongings. Whether in transit, at a cafe, at the gym, at work, or when traveling, Mimic GO can keep tabs on your valuable gear. Just place Mimic GO inside your bag or on your belongings. Use the free app to turn it on, and Mimic GO will send an instant notification to your app if your gear is shifted or moved so that you can respond right away. You can even set it to sound an alarm and deter anyone, and alert others.

5G

The final trend we will look at has been mentioned in all the other trends that we have talked about today. That trend is 5G. 5G was officially released in 2021, and many telecom companies have created 5G applications. 5G is expected to be up to 100 times faster than 4G LTE and reduce delays to nearly zero. The use of 5G is increasing, and there are some awesome examples of how it can be used. I am going to take you through some of these examples.

· 5G has been utilized for self-driving cars as it provides safety-related requirements that no other network can provide. One major benefit of 5G is that it allows for network slicing, which ensures that safety-relevant notifications for self-driving cars are not held up and are given priority status over additional infotainment services used simultaneously.

· The need for bandwidth at sporting events has become more important for the spectators to have a good experience. Due to the number of spectators at each sporting event, the usual networks cannot continuously work throughout the event. Therefore, 5G is expected to improve fan satisfaction while creating additional new experiences. An example of this is the German FA, and how it has planned for fans to view data insights in real-time using Augmented Reality.

· Sports broadcasting is the most developed use of 5G in 2021. By using 5G connected cameras, broadcasting teams have been able to eliminate the need for various cables, which has made it easier to cover sports that take place over a wide area. For example, in the UK, BT Sport is able to join football fans in the pub before the game, travel on the team bus, capture the game, and do post-match interviews using the same camera. 5G has also helped production by allowing video feeds to be delivered directly to a central hub which decreases costs and allows the production teams to work on various events simultaneously. 

READ MORE:

• SolarWinds IT Trends Report 2021: Building a Secure Future
• 4 key 2022 security trends predictions
• 5 cloud computing trends you need to consider
• Snow Software on cybersecurity trends and challenges in 2021

Over the next few weeks, we will go through these trends individually and in more detail, so keep an eye and ear out for our next episodes.

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