Wearables. You’re likely to see operational improvements, including processing speed and battery life. Watches will continue to focus on health and fitness tracking. And, could this be the year that Google comes out with a Pixel wearable? Smart kitchens. Keep an eye out for things like temperature-controlled smart mugs, microwaves you can command with your voice, blenders that know the exact amount of ingredients to add, and improved food recognition in your connected fridge. Smarter light bulbs. Be on the lookout for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled lighting systems and expect additional improvements in bulb quality, programming options, and ease of integration. Public applications. Besides equipment in our homes, IoT functionality will show up more in stores, restaurants, and municipal locations.
Along with these innovations, expect accompanying security concerns. Many fear the privacy risks that accompany IoT devices, given their access to users’ homes, activities, and personal data. 5G is set to boost the speeds of mobile connections dramatically. But, exactly how fast consumers should expect these connections to go and when they can buy 5G devices might not be known until industry technical standards are set. However, just like when 4G was initially being developed, companies aren’t waiting to advertise their 5G efforts. Researchers will continue to test prototype versions of what might become part of standard 5G networks. While reports from these tests will tout maximum data rates of many gigabits per second (Gbps), consumers should be just as interested in the promise of improved signal coverage with 5G. Some vendors will undoubtedly start to retrofit this tech into their 4G installations, so look for “4.5G” and “pre-5G” products (and the confusing marketing claims that go along with these vaguely defined labels) to appear on the scene soon. IPv6 benefits everyone either directly or indirectly. With an expanded number of available IP address space to accommodate an almost unlimited number of devices, internet providers will find it easier to manage subscriber accounts. IPv6 adds other improvements as well that boost the efficiency and security of TCP/IP traffic management on the internet. Those who administer home networks must learn a new style of IP address notation. One key barrier to more general-purpose artificial intelligence has been limitations on the ability of AI systems to communicate and interact with the outside world. With the much faster wireless speeds available today, it’s possible to add sensors and network interfaces to AI systems that will enable impressive new applications. Watch for applications in the healthcare and manufacturing industries. Also, look for new ways to establish AI trustworthiness and security. The technology is still relatively new, so customers and providers have been experimenting to understand how best to use this innovation to increase productivity, enhance business agility, and improve security. But, now that it’s been available for a couple of years, SD-WAN will likely become the new norm.
