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“The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life.”
-Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft

Technology is advancing continually at a rapid speed. Businesses that are not keeping up with the implementation of new technologies can miss out on staying ahead of their course. Embracing, dappling with new technologies and incorporating tech in business processes helps build stronger relationships, novel opportunities, and enhanced productivity.

Businesses or individuals, we are all standing on the brink of a technological revolution. One that will fundamentally alter how businesses function, how we live, work, and relate to one another. The instantaneous and influential technological transformations is set to improve human life and businesses. The changing nature of work during the pandemic taught businesses and individuals that transformative change isn’t as challenging to implement if the motivation is there. We will undoubtedly continue to harness this newfound openness to flexibility, agility, and innovative thinking as a society – the focus shifts from merely attempting to survive to thrive in a changing world.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at predictions for specific tech trends that are likely to significantly impact the world in 2022;

1. Connected and smart everything

Once made entirely with mechanical and electrical parts, devices of this era are now complex systems. These devices possess acute sensors, hardware, data storage, microprocessors, software, and connectivity in diverse ways to become connected and smart devices. Today, we come across connected and smart products and services everywhere. Devices like Flow Air pollution, a personal air quality tracker which informs the user in which area the air quality is bad and polluted and vice versa and

Bitdefender Box, a smart home cybersecurity hub that prevents various Internet-connected devices from malware, stolen passwords, identity theft, spying etc. are working by seamlessly establishing connections between multiple devices to make like better. Technological advancements concerning improvements in processing power, device miniaturization and ubiquitous wireless connectivity are ushering in a ‘connected and smart’ era. New smart devices have expanded capabilities than their old world counterparts and the data they generate is further used for a myriad of purposes, for instance, to deliver personalised experiences. Such connected, smart devices are forming a critical part of our day-to-day lives and are reshaping industry boundaries leading to the formation of entirely new industries.

2. Datafication of everything

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term for physical objects and devices that are connected to the internet. This can include anything from home appliances to wearable technology. But what if all the objects in our world could be connected? In 2022, the emerging tech trend will be datafication – or, the process of making everything in the world intelligent and interconnected through data. This will allow for a more efficient and smarter way of living, as well as better decision-making when it comes to business and governance. With the interconnectedness of physical objects and devices with embedded sensors, we’re now collecting data at an alarming rate. In fact, Statista estimates that by 2022, data creation will grow to more than 180 zettabytes by 2025, which is 118.8 zettabytes more than in 2020.1

This explosion of data is what we call the datafication of our world, and it opens up a universe of possibilities for businesses and individuals alike.

3. Extended Reality (XR)

The technology trend that is going to be most important in 2022 is Extended Reality (XR). This is a term that refers to a range of technologies that blur the line between the real world and the virtual world, including augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. Extended reality has already started to make its way into business and industry, with applications in areas like training, retail, manufacturing, and design. As technology continues to evolve, it will become more ubiquitous and integrated into our lives. Augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality are all terms used to describe different ways to immerse oneself in a digital world. While each technology is unique, they all have the potential to change how we consume information and interact with others.

4.  Digital trust

While there are plenty of emerging technologies that businesses need to be aware of and plan for, digital trust may end up being a critical trend for 2022. This is the idea that people will increasingly rely on technology to verify the trustworthiness of people and organizations, instead of trusting their gut. digital trust will become more and more important for businesses as they strive to build consumer trust. Digital trust is a critical factor in the widespread adoption of new technologies. As we increasingly rely on technology to conduct business, personal, and financial transactions, it is essential that we can trust the security of these systems. In 2022, digital trust will be enhanced by the use of quantum cryptography, which will make it virtually impossible to hack into or counterfeit data.

5. Pervasive computing

Pervasive computing is also known as ubiquitous computing. This is a field of research in the computer sciences that explores ways to make computers more accessible to users by bringing them closer to the user. In the 1970s, researchers at Xerox PARC coined the term ‘ubiquitous computing’ and developed a vision for it as a way of making computers easier for people to use. This involves the use of computers that are embedded in everyday objects/ intelligent tools, enabling them to be seamlessly integrated into our lives. Pervasive computing helps deliver seamless and natural user experiences and is targeted towards making life easier via use of tools to manage information easily. It has many potential applications, from health and home care to environment monitoring and intelligent transport systems. An example would be an ‘intelligent’ refrigerator which is ‘aware’ of its contents and is thereby able to plan a menu for the day from available food as well as ‘alert’ users on stale food/ products.

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