We reflect on what we've learned about the epidemic over the last year and forecast how those lessons may influence future technological developments as we optimistically look forward to 2022. With more hybrid work model alternatives and a focus on technology as a positive effect, we see a bright future ahead.
Gaming that is truly immersive
Last but not least, we expect the gaming experience to become increasingly more immersive, similar to other forms of entertainment. With better performance and affordability, more portable displays and operating systems are hitting their stride. Even with the help of organizations like GammaStack iGaming has become feasible for gamblers all over the world.
When played through a headset, recent developments in connectivity will enable high-fidelity, low-latency images for more realistic gameplay that can replicate actual movements. This is the latest industry to go cordless, but it won't be the last. Players will begin to experience gaming material within their environs as AR matures. Imagine playing tennis on a genuine court from the comfort of your own home.
Work-from-home has evolved into "work-from-anywhere."
We projected that the work-from-home trend would accelerate last year. We've spent the last few years focusing on mobility, user and customer experience, anticipating that the momentum around remote workforces would continue to grow. However, we will become smarter and more versatile in the future. As people and businesses continue to think beyond the box, we see remote work becoming hybrid and work-from-home becoming work-from-anywhere. According to Lenovo's research, 83 percent of IT executives believe that at least half of their work would be done outside of a traditional office in the future.
Allow your passwords to be forgotten.
We've come a long way from everyone using their favorite passwords to every app requiring periodic password updates - which no one remembers. A world free of innately vulnerable passwords, on the other hand, will paradoxically keep us safer and our data more secure in the not-too-distant future. After all, passwords need to be kept secret to be successful, but they also need to be shared to be used. They cannot be stolen via phishing or while in transit across the internet if there are no alphanumeric strings to memorize, keep safe, and recreate on a regular basis. Furthermore, there will be no potential for password exchange, reuse, or human error.
Technology for the greater good
As customers demand more environmentally friendly products and behaviors, we see technology as a wiser path ahead, assisting businesses in building a brighter future for their stakeholders – which includes the most important stakeholder of all: our planet.
Recyclable resources, such as plastics, fibers, and metals; self-decomposable materials, such as bioplastics; and renewable materials, such as bamboo, will become more readily available for product creation. Companies will be able to get closer to closing the product life cycle loop as a result of this. Recycling will become more widespread, as will supply chain optimization. Increased use of sustainable materials will reduce the use of chemicals in the manufacturing process, bringing firms closer to carbon neutrality. As we integrate services and solutions that help our clients offset the environmental impact of their technology and support them in achieving their own sustainability goals, the role of the IT provider will continue to evolve.
Monitors are now getting their due
Monitors are now being given the respect they deserve. In reality, the display will soon be equipped with all of the required functions to serve as the workplace and home's new central point (not to mention the home office).
Users will be able to multitask seamlessly using single and multi-display window controls thanks to cutting-edge technology and intuitive software solutions incorporated into a display. At the same time, monitors will allow IT managers and customer service agents to easily oversee remote assets.
With 5G or Wi-Fi 6, the future of displays — with higher resolution, new aspect ratios, and built-in tech to decrease eye strain — will be faster and wireless, decreasing desktop chaos and opening up new design options. This is especially crucial as the number of monitors individuals utilize grows. Monitors will also support devices other than PCs, such as cellphones and game consoles, and will enhance their functionality to them.
Fold and keep them in your hands.
Portable and foldable solutions will become increasingly common as we rely more on monitors as part of our work-from-anywhere setups, allowing us to set up shop nearly anywhere. OLED technology promises to make it simple to fold, bend, or roll a screen for portability and convenience.
While we've seen some potential applications of the technology in the previous year, as we predicted in 2021, we now expect the market to explode, with some experts projecting a 500% increase in the flexible display market over the next five years.
Mobile devices will continue to drive the trend, but as demand reduces the price point, we will see flexible screens appear on other devices. Expect more versatile display options for smartphones, tablets, PCs, and laptops, as well as new digital signage, public transportation, and smart home appliance applications.
Inputs become easier to understand
Everything was fresh and innovative when computers were developed, including operating systems, displays, mice, and other peripherals. Each one presented new possibilities and prospects that the majority of people had never considered before. Except for one thing: the keyboard is still the primary input mechanism, and it hasn't changed all that much.
Alternative input methods, on the other hand, are finally catching up with conventional approaches. With more touch-intuitive interfaces, pens with haptic feedback for more tactile experiences, and voice-to-text features becoming defining characteristics of the new "keyboard," we will soon see more than an evolution, but a transformation in computing inputs, not only in their form but also in their function.
Health is riches
We've been expecting the increased use of telehealth for the previous two years. That is correct. Because of the epidemic, the implementation of telehealth solutions has advanced at a breakneck pace. What was missing back then, and what is new now, is the rising acceptance of these options by both consumers and healthcare professionals. Patients and healthcare providers are no longer apprehensive to use telemedicine; instead, they are enthusiastic about it. As wearables, voice assistants, and improved connectivity become more common, we expect the healthcare sector to continue to shift toward a digital paradigm. Predictive models will enable preventive medicine, and proactive advice from wearable devices will lead to more cheap health insurance.
Ambient computing is all around us
As device manufacturers improve user inputs, the Internet of Things will continue to evolve. The user experience as we know it will be altered by natural language processing (NLP) and multi-lens enrichment. With one voice question, many devices will react in unison. As sensors develop, users will have additional options to interact with the device and complete old jobs in new ways, such as scrolling, selecting, or sending feedback to the gadget.
As the user interface evolves, our interactions with our devices will become more natural and safe. As usage grows, more "connected" endpoints will emerge, ranging from the connected automobile to the connected city and beyond.
Experiences that are bigger and better in terms of entertainment
When real-time rendering reaches the photorealism benchmark, we expect new sorts of interactive movies to emerge (which is currently happening). Users will have the option of becoming a part of the story and experiencing it firsthand. This is common in high-budget PC games, where the experience is cinematic and the user makes choices that affect the story. More passive-to-interactive entertainment will be offered in the near future.
Wearable screens will become more affordable as immersive content moves to the small screen, extending the PC and mobile phone experience. The displays will not only give a larger screen than a smartphone, but they will also allow people to view in solitude.
However, be patient. While we will make progress toward these capabilities over the next 12 months, it will be several years before we can reliably forecast that any of them will be available.
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