Top 5 technology trends to watch
1. The Internet of Things takes shape
If you have an Internet connection, you probably qualify to join the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. The IoT-- the next generation of the Internet -- enables dynamic data exchanges among people, devices, sensors, systems and services. While the IoT is still in its infancy, we are already beginning to see the implications. Boundaries between home and office are blurring and business models are increasingly dependent on the collection and analysis of data. By linking machines, things and people, consumers and businesses alike can control a myriad of devices from anywhere and access data from a growing number of devices to gain insights and make predictions.
Gartner forecasts that 6.4 billion “connected things” will be in use worldwide this year, up 30 per cent from 2015, reaching 20.8 billion by 2020. In India, more than 2.7 billion things are expected to be connected by 2020 as the government pushes its own IoT programme, according to an IoT policy draft from the Department of Electronics and Information Technology.
Expect significant progress with IoT in India this year as the number of Internet users and connected devices continue to rise at a rapid pace.
2. Bluetooth gets smarter
One unsung hero of IoT will be a technology that many of us use without much thought: Bluetooth. One of the key developments ramping up the IoT transformation is the development of a power-saving technology known as Bluetooth Smart or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
With BLE, products are able to function with so little power that batteries can potentially last for months or even years on a single charge. This evolutionary leap in power savings is exactly what’s needed to drive applications from smartphones and tablets to in-vehicle infotainment systems.
BLE one-ups the traditional Bluetooth standard by sipping power incrementally and going to sleep when not in use. This makes it particularly useful for small IoT devices that don’t have much space for batteries and aren’t in use 100 per cent of the time.
As IoT takes root this year in India, Bluetooth Smart will enable a variety of cool new applications in healthcare, personal fitness, security, home entertainment and other market segments.
3. Wearables get healthy
India was a bit slow to catch the wearable device craze sweeping much of the developed world, but it sure made up for lost ground in 2015. Many of the major wearables manufacturers, including Apple, Fitbit, Jawbone, and Mio Global, began selling their gadgets online and through retail outlets in India midway through the year. And several Indian startups, including Leaf Wearables and GOQii, attracted investment to propel their brands.
IDC predicts the worldwide wearable device market will reach a total of 111 million units shipped this year, up 44 per cent from the 80 million units shipped in 2015. Although India is still in the early stages of wearables adoption, shipment numbers to the subcontinent are expected to increase this year, beginning with fitness and health trackers, then expanding to smart watches.
4. Wireless charging emerges
Of the more than 11 million Indians who say they will access the Internet for the first time this year, about two-thirds anticipate doing so from smartphones. With smartphone use on the rise, demand for new ways of charging devices is keeping pace.
Wireless charging eliminates the need for cumbersome charging cords and hunting for electrical outlets in restaurants, bars, and airports. Instead, consumers simply place a wireless device down on a charging pad, which could be sitting on a table or embedded into a piece of furniture or the center console of a car. Until recently, the notion of making wireless charging available to the masses seemed unlikely because the three major wireless power standards bodies couldn’t agree on a single specification. But earlier this year, two groups – the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) –agreed to merge into a new combined organisation known as the AirFuel™ Alliance.
With the resolution around industry standardisation and continued innovation at the chip level supporting multiple standards, Technavio market research predicts the global wireless charging market to grow at an impressive CAGR of more than 33 per cent by 2020.
5. 5G Wi-Fi plays traffic cop for IoT gadgets
As the number of connected devices continues to ramp at a frenetic pace, there will be a myriad of gadgets competing for air waves. Fortunately, an updated version of a trusted wireless technology is emerging to help address potential congestion.
5G Wi-Fi, or 802.11ac technology, is gaining favour for its ability to boost bandwidth and data transfer reliability. Up to three times faster and six times more power efficient than its predecessor, 5G Wi-Fi can deliver eight times the capacity and broader coverage with fewer dead spots. And because it transmits data through the air at a higher rate, devices can get off channels faster, allowing other devices to transmit and receive. As a result, all of those new devices coming into the smart home won’t have to compete as much for bandwidth. Indian consumers should expect to see more inventive 5G Wi-Fi-enabled routers, gadgets and smart products emerging this year.
Predicting the future of innovation can be a dicey proposition. But these five connected technology trends – IoT, Bluetooth Smart, Wearables, Wireless Charging and 5G Wi-Fi – are sure to leave a mark on the Indian landscape as more citizens come online this year and beyond.
