Technological progress has only accelerated and will continue to evolve to impact not only industries but ways of life. Some are highly disruptive and force abrupt change while others are more incremental but nonetheless beneficial. Here are some technologies on the cusp of transforming our world.
Edge Computing
Few technologies over the last decade have been as disruptive as cloud computing, an ongoing revolution. Perhaps it is ironic, or at least speaks to the volatile nature of innovation, that edge computing is taking computing by storm. In a way, edge computing is a response to the higher latency output of some cloud computing. It focuses on speed and dependability rather than scalability and efficiency.
Edge computing is a form of decentralized or distributed computing that brings resources like database processing and storage closer to the devices it is supplying with data. The physical proximity is intended to boost speed, security, and resource allocation to computing. Edge computing is set up within an IT architecture with a cloud computing foundation. You might have dozens, or theoretically hundreds, of edge nodes with LAN/WAN database configurations supplying devices receiving data from tens of miles away, instead of hundreds. The result is a higher performance network with less strain on broadband resources, benefitting users from individuals to enterprise companies.
5G
5G is the latest iteration of the global mobile network being rolled out in parts of North America and Asia. Like its predecessors, it will eventually become the global standard, driving device use everywhere. 5G will be the backbone of innovation as the primary mode for data transfer transmission. 5G combines the benefits of low- and high-frequency signals while also taking advantage of a lighter distributed infrastructure.
5G innovations build on 4G technology but unlike its predecessor, it is not limited by inefficiencies and solves considerable problems regarding consistent speeds, reliability, and maximum bandwidth. Robotics, next-generation video streaming, and more robust IoT will all be powered by 5G. Consumers are expected to benefit from the technology’s potentially smaller carbon footprint, ability to accelerate device performance, and its facilitation of continuous radio signaling. The result will be more accurate monitoring from technologies ranging from smart inventory management tools to glucose monitoring devices.
As-A-Service Computing
Software as a service (SaaS) is already everywhere, and it’s going to scale rapidly. Its advantages to businesses big and small are clear. With its rapid deployment, lower upfront cost and less ramp-up time overall, SaaS will be a primary driver of innovation. Pay-as-you-go or short-term subscriptions will be the norm and help make organizations more dynamic and responsive to market forces.
SaaS can be thought of as a more democratic form of computing. Its tendency towards widespread use requires vendors to make platforms increasingly accessible and lower cost. Powerful SaaS software is more cost-effective for smaller businesses, in part, because it’s deployed via cloud infrastructure and doesn’t require on-premise databases or internal IT management. SaaS vendors are therefore responsible for upkeep and reliability. Growth of SaaS companies is currently 19% per year by revenue and is in use by 79% of small businesses. These numbers are expected to grow.
Headless eCommerce Technology
In sticking with the theme of progressing information technology’s usability and delivery, eCommerce is also experiencing its own revolution. “Headless” technology puts more power to control customer experiences in the hands of business owners. Older eCommerce platforms required substantial changes to the backend of databases in order to modify what customers saw and experienced on the front end.
Powering headless technology are APIs that connect a growing number of applications and devices. APIs, which continue to grow more sophisticated, act as a messaging system that connects the frontend (what the customer sees) of content management systems (CMS) to the backend (what site administrators use).
NFT Everything
IP.com has previously covered the impact NFTs are having generally and within the intellectual property industry. New applications of NFTs are now popping up every day. This is more than an expansion of use cases. NFTs will grow and change in terms of the information they store and receive as well as the ways we interact with them. Currently, NFTs act as a secure portal to original and authentic information like one-of-a-kind art.
Soon, they will work with less human input, automatically sending and receiving messages from the underlying infrastructure called the blockchain. NFTs stand to be a core facet of Web 3.0, decentralized, self-validating internet infrastructure that promises to be more democratic in its ownership and use.