The upcoming year 2017 looks to be a promising year when it comes to life-changing technologies, from speakers that double as virtual assistants powered by artificial intelligence to virtual and augmented reality platforms. Innovations that we used to only see in the movies are likely to be integral to our daily lives in the coming year.
So what's in store for the world of tech in 2017? For one, streaming videos on mobile phones will go mainstream. The Wall Street Journal forecasts that more and more people will watch video on their smartphones, particularly through social media platforms like Facebook Live, Twitter Live, Instagram Live, and Snapchat.
Speaking of mobile, smartphones are expected to up their game in 2017. Apple will reportedly launch its best smartphone yet for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and there are rumors certain brands will release phones without the home button and with curved OLED screens, the WSJ reports.
Speakers that work as virtual assistants, such as Amazon's widely popular Echo and Echo Dot, will also dominate the tech market. The Echo and Echo Dot topped Amazon.com's list of bestsellers this holiday season and based on the rate of pre-orders that the online retailer announced, the virtual assistant craze is likely to continue next year.
Aside from Amazon Echo's Alexa, other digital assistants like Siri and Cortana will be part of people's everyday lives in 2017. They are all linked to the Internet of Things, or the connection of what used to be ordinary devices like cameras and speakers to the internet, another technological trend that's expected to grow next year according to The Conversation.
Virtual and augmented reality devices, particularly for gaming, are also predicted to see greater success and ubiquity in 2017. Although there is a debate over whether VR gears would see a decline next year following their hype this year, The Conversation believes mobile phone-based VR platforms will save the day because of they are relatively affordable and easy to use.
Following the success of Pokemon Go, augmented reality is expected to get a boost in 2017, and not only in the gaming world. Devices powered by AR that will project graphics into our view such as Microsoft's HoloLens will be among the highlights of the year, the WSJ reports.
The coming year is also expected to pave the way for cars that offer robotic technology for assistance in driving and provide services like automatic steering. Along with this, the roads are likely to see more brands like Uber testing self-driving cars.
Do you agree that 2017 looks like an exciting year for tech? What other technology update do you wish to see next year? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
