2022 Tech That Will Change our Life and Predictions
2021 was an interesting one. Lots of tech we never saw coming and some that we already forgot about (Clubhouse) and some here to stay. SO what changes are ahead in 2022 and how big of an impact will they have on shaping our society? READ AHEAD.
WHAT IS THE “METAVERSE” AND WHY WE’RE LIKELY TO SEE IT ADVANCE SO MUCH IN 2022.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (virtual or otherwise), YOU’VE HEARD OF THE Metaverse. This is virtual and augmented reality in which people can live an alternative life, transact business and engage with our friends and family. Think Matrix meets SimCity. Imagine living through avatars in a separate parallel universe. Instead of meeting a potential employer in person or logging onto a Zoom call, job interviews could be conducted in the metaverse, which feels real.
So much money is going into the metaverse that it is going to happen. Every tech giant, consumer, entertainment and other companies is racing to build in the metaverse. It's predicted that the metaverse will be the next revolutionary transformative phase of the internet.
If I am being honest, for the last 2 years it hasn’t been too wonderful living in the real world, I would rather live in the metaverse.
WHAT WILL THE METAVERSE LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE? IS FACEBOOK AHEAD OF THE GAME?
Facebook has already doubled down on its role in the metaverse, even going as far to rebrand as “Meta.” Facebook announced plans for $10 billion in related investments in the next year.
Other forces are certainly at work here, like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and even Netflix announced plans to enter the metaverse in some form.
Mark Zuckerberg did say that the metaverse should be open and not built by just one company.
The game industry also arrived to the metaverse early. Fortnite creator Epic Games and Roblox have both proclaimed desires to turn fast-growing digital worlds into the early building blocks of a next-generation internet. Companies are looking at this as the next frontier as people can live, work and socialize together in a virtual world.
I KNOW ONE THING MANY SOCIAL MEDIA USERS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THE EFFORT INVOLVED IN KEEPING TRACK OF ALL THE PASSWORDS AND SECURITY UPDATES TO THEIR ACCOUNTS. SOME REPORTS SUGGEST THAT WE COULD BE ON OUR WAY TO A PASSWORDLESS WORLD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Everyone hates the old ways of authentication. Companies like Slack, PayPal and Microsoft are moving away from them. Microsoft and other comps let users skip the password and instead opt for a code from the an Authenticator app, a security key or a verification code sent via phone or email.
BUT Biometric authentication, IS the technology that will finally set us free from passwords. Think Facial authentication, Fingerprint authentication, Voice authentication, Retina or iris scans.
Studies found that consumers would be 44% more likely to sign up for a service if they could use biometrics and 35% more likely if a no-password option were available.
Even though a passwordless future will take a lot of work from a variety of players in the industry, we are starting to see passwordless become top of mind for the enterprise.
ELECTRIC CARS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO LURE IN MORE DRIVERS IN THE NEW YEAR. WHY IS THAT, AND ARE WE PREPARED FOR THAT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE?
I’m excited to say that 2022 is the year of the budget EV vehicle. In the past, there were only a handful of options available but come 2022 there will be over 100 different models to choose from. And with the influx of new models comes much more affordable options. For example, The Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck has a starting MSRP of $39,974. Nissan slashed the starting price of its Leaf EV to $28,375 meanwhile Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mini and Volkswagen are all releasing models with MSRP’s under $40k. So if you are on a budget and are looking for an EV vehicle, 2022 is going to be a fun year. As far as infrastructure goes, we are definitely not ready for a large influx of EV vehicles on our streets. America has only a fraction of the public fast chargers experts say it will need. So look for a focus in fast charging stations across the country as these new models roll out.
CRYPTOCURRENCY IS ANOTHER THING THAT WILL EXPAND IN 2022.
One large problem that the industry currently faces is that not many people totally understand what cryptocurrency is. But as this becomes more mainstream, there will be more government regulation on the horizon and information.
AND FINALLY, CELL PHONE CARRIERS SAY THEY WILL COMPLETELY DO AWAY WITH THEIR OLD 3G SERVICES IN 2022 AS THEY ADOPT THE FASTER 5G NETWORK.
Millions of people in the United States who use 3G phones and other 3G devices, will have to buy a new device if THEY want to text, make calls or even reach 911. The shutdown dates start in January 2022 and are spread out throughout the year. See below for your carrier:
Sprint’s 3G: Jan. 1, 2022
AT&T’s 3G: Feb. 22, 2022
Sprint’s LTE: June 30, 2022
Verizon’s 3G: Dec. 31, 2022
T-Mobile’s 2G and 3G: Not yet announced