Another example! Netflix only started producing its own films and series in 2013. Today it is the largest streaming service with an application installed in almost every SmartTV. This demonstrates that technologies and trends are replacing each other with lightning speed. And the coronavirus pandemic has only further accelerated technological progress. In some areas, the changes are truly colossal. Today we want to take a look at the latest techno trends, and also try to predict what they’ll be in 2022.

So what are the current trends in IT technology and their prospects for the near future?

  1. Active implementation and use of artificial intelligence It wasn’t that long ago that artificial intelligence seemed to be something straight out of science fiction. Yet today it has become an integral part of our daily life in various areas.

Manufacturing: the implementation of AI into the operation of assembly lines, the automation of production processes and reduction of human input.Finance: use of artificial intelligence in the development of commercial applications, automation and execution of IT operations.Medicine: analysis of complex medical data, diagnosis of diseases and treatment. Currently the largest corporations are channeling huge budgets into the development of IT for medicine. Among them are IBM, Microsoft, Google, Intel and Medtronic.Education: learning foreign languages using AI (for example, the Parla app), as well as the creation of tailored educational paths for each student. So far, there’s little progress in this area, but it will happen.

Even in the dating industry, artificial intelligence is great at analyzing user accounts and finding them the perfect match. The Match service was practicing something similar back in 1995, but now everything has reached a sophisticated new level. 2. Virtualization and digitalization of offices and workspaces The pandemic has proven that employees do not need to be physically in the office in order to work effectively and fully communicate with colleagues, managers or clients. Modern technology allows you to perform almost all work tasks from home, and virtualization and digitalization tools expand the possibilities for this more every day. For example, telecoms equipment manufacturer Ericsson is already training future employees using virtual reality glasses. The first trial “course” showed excellent success. The teachers were in Tallinn and the students in Dallas, 8,000 kilometers away. 3. Augmented reality in social networks and commercial projects Remember how a few years ago the whole world was a fan of the AR game Pokemon Go? This was only the start of the introduction of augmented reality in smartphones, and later in social networks. Nowadays masks and filters on Instagram or Snapchat have become commonplace. They are used for more than just entertainment and self-expression. Many brands use AR masks as part of their advertising campaigns. This also includes the use of AR by many commercial platforms. For example, in June 2020, Gucci added virtual sneaker fitting functionality to its branded app. The program read different parts of the body and put the user right into the chosen pair of shoes. A similar feature was added by L’Oreal. True, in these cases the technology was used primarily to attract attention and increase interest. But IKEA has been effectively using augmented reality in its application for several years. A customer can choose a certain type of furniture and place it right into their room. On the phone screen, you can see how the furniture fits into the interior, what color suits best, and so on. Very straightforward. 4. Interactive streaming and random chats If 10-15 years ago fast unlimited Internet was the premise of only large cities in developed countries, now it is almost everywhere. And with 4G and 5G networks, you can forget about wires and modems. Not surprisingly, streaming and video broadcasting in all forms has become very popular today. This format is ideal for quickly finding information, communication and making new friends. And now there are a lot of interactive streaming formats:

Streaming of the Internet of things. This includes connected baby monitors, cameras for looking after pets and much more.Streams dedicated to specific events. For example, Elon Musk’s company SpaceX streams almost every rocket launch, and everyone can watch this in real time.Gaming streams. This phenomenon is far from new, but it is still rapidly developing in most countries.Social media streams. It’s likely that almost every Instagram user tried to launch their own video stream at least once. Other social networks are also not lagging behind. Facebook and YouTube have supported streaming for years. And even some random video chat sites have acquired this functionality. For example, chat with strangers on Bazoocam.

By the way, regarding streams and random chat sites … Many people see them as identical, but this is not entirely true. A video stream is a broadcast to which other users connect, but they cannot fully interact with the streamer. Chatrandom has a different communication format. You communicate with a stranger face-to-face via video link on equal terms. All popular random video chat services work according to this principle — Emeraldchat, Camsurf, CooMeet, Chatrandom, OmeTV and others. 5. Rapid development of cloud technologies Experts believe that by the end of 2021 the global market for public cloud infrastructure will increase by 35% and will amount to about $120 billion. And even more in 2022. Businesses and enterprises are already using cloud technologies and computations for workflow optimization. In the United States, large IT corporations have dramatically increased their profits this year by expanding their cloud infrastructure. Thus, Microsoft Azure shows an increase of 47%, and Google Cloud — 43%. This is probably just the beginning. Ordinary users are also increasingly using cloud technologies. These include iCloud from Apple, and Google Drive with a similar offering, plus DropBox and many others. Add to this cloud gaming, which is just gaining momentum. There are already leaders in this area: GeForce NOW, PLAYKEY, PS Now, Google Stadia and others. 6. Increasing demand for technical and software solutions The catalyst for this was the transition to a remote format of work and study. While before the pandemic an employer or a school/university would provide everything a person needed, now they have to independently equip a full-fledged work or study place. The demand for computers, laptops, networking equipment, etc. has grown. Not to mention professional software: office suites, 3D editors, etc. And if the situation with software is quite normal, then with hardware it is more complicated. Due to the coronavirus, many industries stopped or at least slowed down their work, so in 2022, the shortage of many components is likely to continue.

Keep your finger on the pulse of technology

Everything we mentioned above is just a fraction of the new IT trends that we see now and which can change our lives in the near future. Perhaps soon we’ll see completely new technologies that we can’t imagine now. Or maybe the world will soon unexpectedly return to its previous rhythm and the pace of development of the IT sector will slow down. Although the latter is harder to believe. A modern person can only keep their finger on the pulse, follow current tendencies and not miss the most interesting new opportunities. After all, most of all of the above is already available to everyone — cloud technologies, streaming services, random video chats, and much more. Take them and use them with pleasure!