2021 Predictions in Technology

Days after the beginning of 2021 and it’s time to update my annual technology prediction. As you’ll see some are a bit redux, while others look at possibilities that would be amazing.

I’d note to my readers – thanks for taking time to read this rambling, and I look forward to your feedback and ideas for next year!.

 

2020 in review

Four of my five 2020 predictions came abouts to some level. Either my predictions where spot on, or they where not as futuristic as I thought.

1. 5G is now ubiquitous and most countries have rolled the capabilities out nationwide. In the USA all major providers have boasted the capability of 5G and in fact 5G made headlines as a cause for COVID-19 within some extremely paranoid.
2. So 5G is available, and a great marketing gimmick – unfortunately for me, it’s a fizzle and fails to really make a difference in connection speeds over 3G. I’ve noted many say similar – that 5G over 3G is a cool idea – if it actually provided more connection speed.
3. This year we saw several handset manufacturers produce foldable handsets. As well as a fold up TV. The solution is remarkable engineering. Also, the use of clear glass solar cells is now available to the wealthy. The marriage of the two – clear glass solar, in a foldable mobile unfortunately has not happened yet!
4. Carriers did fight back and won by overturning net Neutrality 2019 and continue to violate subscribers’ rights to open and free internet access. In 2020 the FCC continued to force roll backs of net neutrality. As a new US president is introduced to the country, hopes are that we will see net neutrality or a similar set of policies push back once and for all on ridiculous network controls.
5.  3d printing has evolved. However, expansion of the technology has been somewhat limited. Several sites provide schematics for printing the most interesting objects, but the real hope of print anything, is still a distant future.
6. And yes, my favorite. More Malware and cyberattacks. Can I say SolarWinds? And bunch of Ransomware attacks that made headlines.  The attacks maybe new, but the methods are similar as in past attacks. Most are spam based, a few flash based, and then there is malvertisement.

2021 predictions

Here’s my top 5 items that will make major moves in 2021

1. Back to malware, and cybercrime. I see that third party software and supply chain is the new IN for attackers. Solarwinds proved out that if you can compromise a broadly used product, you can eventually exploit the user base of that product. This is not a new attack vector, but it’s being perfected and refined. The real threat will continue to press our cyber security teams to learn more about all the tools and products used in their company, or an entirely different protection technique will need to be introduced to prevent the ability of these attacks from being successful, this is a big challenge. 
   
2. Micro Drones – Drones have become both a blessing and a curse of the airwave. As a drone owner, I see the potential of these little devices being applied in an amazing level of uses. Recently there have been
   
   drones putting out fires in a high-rise. The future of smaller and smarter autonomous drones is around the corner. This year drones will be the way everyone takes a selfie!
3. Fuzzy Reality – VR and augmented reality is coming closer to being a practical solution for remote work. Thanks for Corona Virus, this year will see innovation in augmentation, and VR that will make it simple to use for everyone. Oculus put out the Quest 2 this year with proves to be a compact light weight VR set – next step is getting the Microsoft HoloLens and Oculus form factor to be more compact and simpler to use and allow the technology to be blended in one set. 
   
   
   
4. Improved supply chain using long Haul self-driving trucks – Currently self-driving cars and trucks are a bit expensive, and a bit obscure. However, there are good signs that the need for a human to drive across the country to haul iPhone might be at and end. Thanks for a new 2020  bill on self-driving cars  is paving the way for more extensive use autonomous vehicles.  These trucks   can go for thousands of miles possibly powered by solar never exceeding speed limits or causing bottleneck on highways. Why not follow the same spoke and hub model used by shipping and trains for long haul trucks?
   
   
   
5.  Robots everywhere – Boston Dynamics has changed my perception on how fast we will see robots on the streets. The fact is they have managed to create two robots that have shattered all concepts on what a robot can do, and make the thing of movies REAL. Hands down, I want one of the robots to help around the house… and maybe they wont rule the world in the next 10 years.

There we go, let’s hope for 2021 being a bit better than 2020, and by December I look forward to my Robot to be delivered by an autonomous FedEx truck. Which I can take a quick selfie from my drone phone and let my robot roam the city in my new augmented VR headset as I’ll be hunkered down due to Covid-20 after a global cloud hack 😊.