Automation Will Become An Asset-And Liability.
As noted in “The 4 tech trends that will shape 2017,” all of the knowledge and advancements made within the field of automation in 2016 will make 2017 the year that we begin fearing it. The time and energy spent on fueling machine learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence has led to greater efficacy in teaching computers how to complete tasks so that humans don’t have to. While this technological advancement will make life easier in some ways, it will likely cause a wide range of unwanted complications. For example, the rise of automation could make numerous jobs obsolete.
Many tech experts argue that 2016 was the year of underwhelming, overpriced smartphones. Replete with unnecessary, overly complicated features and unimpressive designs, the smartphones of 2016 were nothing to write home about. Some have even argued that PCs were more interesting than smartphones due to vendor commitment to innovation. While the lack of innovation within the smartphone sector is disappointing, it has benefited consumers. Specifically, second tier smartphone businesses have developed phones that look and perform like the leading models at a fraction of the cost. This trend will continue into 2017 as more and more cheap duplicates come with all of the great features and designs that the flagship models have. The cheaper models will ensure that consumers don’t have to break the bank to attain the tech-savvy smart phones that make communication fun or convenient.
Cloud Advancements Will Abound
Over the last several years, more and more business owners have experienced the convenience of cloud-based programs and applications that enable them and employees to complete projects from remote locations. As in previous years, 2017 will be marked by advancements in the cloud technology sector. At this point, it seems that the cloud-first strategy will become one of the most-used developments for the New Year. The cloud-first strategy comes with the following convenient benefits:
- Reduction in equipment and labor costs
- 30% reduction in hosting costs
- Streamlined global operations
- Substantial capacity increase
- Improved productivity and collaboration
The use of cloud-first strategies can be particularly beneficial for companies that can’t afford the cost of disaster recovery products and services. This is the case because the cloud-first strategy features a built-in backup plan that can be used when disaster strikes. The strategy also solves the issues generated by server outages that result from data center power failures.
Summing It All Up
Now that 2017 is in full effect, many people are wondering what tech trends will give shape and substance to the New Year. While numerous changes and updates will surface, automation development, the commodification of the smartphone, and the emergence of savvier cloud products and systems will likely be the most significant tech trends of 2017.
