Instagram, the iPad, Slack –  given the massive impact they have had on how we work and interact with each other, it’s hard to believe they were only introduced in the last decade. Without doubt they have shaped how we use technology today and continue to influence emerging technologies. Having looked at the latest trends and ideas coming out of this year’s CES, the following is our list of future technology predictions for 2020.

So, what future technology can we expect in 2020? As an experienced event management company, we know that technology never stands still, so are always on the lookout for tech that will help enhance our clients’ events and, more importantly put them ahead of the competition.

Emerging technologies – 8K TVs 

8K TVs started to gain traction over the last year, but to date sales haven’t been that great, partly because even if you have an 8K TV, there isn’t much 8K content to watch. Well, that’s about to change. Vimeo has just recently added support for HDR and 8K resolution videos and given Netflix and YouTube were very quick to produce 4K content, we should imagine they will be jumping on board soon.

Unsurprisingly, this year’s CES was full of 8K TVs from the likes of Samsung, LG and Sony. Samsung though have realised that better resolution may not be enough to convince people to upgrade to an 8K TV. It’s why their new boasts an infinity screen, which means 99% of the TV set is picture compared to 95% for most TVs. And it looks amazing!

But what could really push 8K TVs into the mainstream is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Broadcasters in Japan have been experimenting with 8K TV for some time and NHK has already launched the world’s first 8K television channel. Come July, they will be using it to broadcast the Olympics. Who wouldn’t want to watch the best sport has to offer on the best TV? 

5G and the future technology of IoT

‘2020 is the year of 5G’ according to Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon who believes 5G will go mainstream as the network becomes even more accessible to both businesses and consumers. And, he might be right. In 2019, most of the major network providers switched on their next generation networks, and with it enhanced connectivity, speeds and capacity. 

And it’s this holy trinity, which means 5G isn’t all about downloading videos faster, but also unlocking the potential of exciting new trends such as drones and the internet of things (IoT).  

With 5G, the sheer number of devices that can be connected to the network increases massively and they will all have an instant real-time connection to the internet and be able to share information. Smart cities, self-driving cars – the possibilities are endless. In fact, Gartner predicts that the automotive industry will become the largest market opportunity for 5G IoT solutions in the future. 

Artificial Intelligence – no longer just science fiction 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer something you just see in science fiction. As this year’s CES demonstrated, it’s here to stay and has a multiple of useful applications, great for both consumers and businesses alike. 

Some of the innovations seen at CES were: 

• A prosthetic arm that can learn how to play the piano
• A smart mirror that analyses the state of your skin and then recommends skin care products
• A vital signs monitor that analyses oxygen saturation, respiration rate, heart rate variability and mental stress. 

AI is starting to impact the future of virtually every industry and given it’s been the main driver behind IoT, robotics and big data, it looks like it’s going to be the technological innovator throughout the 2020s. 

Blockchain and future technology

Blockchain has just topped LinkedIn’s list of the most in-demand skills for 2020. Why is this significant? Because it means it’s no longer just about cryptocurrency, but about offering tangible business solutions across other sectors. 

With China already spending billions on innovation and blockchain research work and Amazon and Microsoft committing to building services around blockchain, if 2019 was about blockchain R&D, then 2020 could be about mainstream adoption. 

Smart contracts, improved data security, digital IDs – we fully expect that as blockchain matures it will become another piece of standard enterprise technology helping companies maximise their security and efficiency. 

Deepfake: an emerging technology that could see an increase in cyber-crime

With 5G, the IoT and blockchain all expected to go big this year, we should also be ready for the inevitable increase in cyber-attacks. Hackers and cyber-criminals have the resources and expertise to continue launching more targeted ransomware attacks and working out new ways to attack the cloud. 

More worryingly, is the potential abuse of deepfake technology. Using AI, videos can be easily doctored to produce realistic looking content and it’s already been used for fake news, hoaxes and financial fraud. While the results can be amusing, put it  in the hands of hackers, and the results could be devastating. 

E-bikes will be big in 2020

There has been a lot of talk about e-cars, but we think e-bikes are going to be the big thing this year. With more people worried about the environmental impact of cars, and improvements in lithium ion battery technology and power increasing the distance e-bikes can travel, they offer the perfect solution for eco-friendly commuters. In fact, because you can tailor the ride to suit you, and have as little or as much electric assistance as you want, they are suitable for everyone including the young, old and  those with mobility issues.  

Deloitte predicts that between 2020 and 2023, more than 130 million e-bikes will be sold globally and as prices become a bit more reasonable, and as part of our future technology predictions we have to agree. 

VR and AR to enter the workplace

We’ll be honest,  VR hasn’t had the uptake that we thought it would, but 2020 could be its year, especially in the workplace. VR is already used to train employees to overcome their fear of presenting by allowing them to talk to a virtual audience, and to help managers experience something from an employee’s perspective.  

More importantly, VR and AR are invaluable for placing employees in real-world scenarios that are too dangerous or too expensive to recreate. This includes helping the emergency services train for a wide-range of incidents in a risk-free environment, and enabling medical students to try out complex procedures on virtual patients. 

The amazing versatility of AR and VR will see its uptake across businesses of all sizes, so we wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the year it becomes more mainstream. 

future technology predictions

Our future technology predictions may not be 100% right, but one thing is for sure: 2020 is going to be a great year for future technology; and as an event agency who specialise in corporate event production, we are very excited at the prospect of incorporating just some of this tech into our clients’ events this year.