Advances in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Highlight IHS Markit Top Seven Global Technology Predictions for 2017

From artificial intelligence to the Internet of Things (IoT), far-reaching innovations are unfolding in virtually every technology sector around the globe, continuing to change the way consumers, businesses and machines interact while also spurring the next revolution in tech market growth, according to a new white paper from IHS Markit, specialists in critical information, analytics and solutions for major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.

For the white paper, IHS Markit surveyed its leading technology experts, who represent various industry segments including advertising, automotive, connected networks, consumer devices, entertainment, displays, media, semiconductors, telecommunications and others. These analysts were asked to provide their informed predictions for the global technology market in the New Year.

Several technology experts from IHS Markit will be onsite at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 5-8, 2017 and available for commentary on a variety of tech topics.

The Top Seven Technology Trends for 2017, as identified in this IHS Markit report and listed in no particular order, are as follows:

Trend #1 Smart Manufacturing Accelerates With More Real-World Products

Companies use IoT to transform how products are made, how supply chains are managed and how customers can influence design.

Example: look for automation/operator tech firms to release their own Platforms-as-a Service (PaaS) offering in the cloud as they compete to offer and own IoT projects for the industrial market.

Trend #2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Gets Serious

Already, personified AI assistants from a handful of companies (Amazons Alexa, Apples Siri) have access to billions of users via smartphones and other devices.
However, even bigger, more profound changes are on their way as levels of human control are ceded directly to AI, such as in autonomous cars or robots.

Trend #3 The Rise of Virtual Worlds

After several years of hype, the operative reality behind virtual, augmented and mixed digital worlds is set to manifest more fully in 2017. The technology for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will advance significantly as Facebook, Google and Microsoft consolidate their existing technologies into more exhaustive strategies.

New versions of VR-capable game consoles featuring 4K video and high dynamic range (HDR) will also create the medium for high-quality VR content, even if availability will be limited for the next few years.

Trend #4 The Meta Cloud Era Arrives

Communication service providers plan to deliver a new wave of innovation, allowing for a single connection to the enterprise and acting as a gateway to multiple cloud service providers. IHS Markit refers to this as the meta cloud.
In 2017, new offerings will become available from traditional Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendors, coupled with expanded offers from the likes of IBM, Amazon and most notablyGoogle via its Tensor chip. Watch for the development and deployment of more specialized silicon in the next two years.

Trend #5 A Revolution in New Device Formats

The development of the consumer drone is the closest example of a product type evolved over the past few years that has quickly gone mass market. 3D printers and pens are heading the same way.

The next set of new devices may well materialize at the boundary of cheap 3D printing and inexpensive smartphone components to create completely novel device types and uses.

Trend #6 Solar Still the Largest Source of Renewable New Power

The next year, 2017, will see photovoltaic (PV) technology retainingand confirmingits position as the planets largest source of new renewable power.

More than a quarter of all PV capacity added worldwide in 2016 and 2017 will be in the form of solar panels. The growth of solar can be attributed to sharp drops in the cost of PV systems, combined with favorable country policies toward new renewable power.

Trend #7 Low-Power Technologies Extend Reach to Inaccessible IoT Devices

The first batch of low-power, wide-area networks (LPWAN) will go live around the world in 2017 as an alternative to short-range wireless standards such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. LPWAN technologies will connect hard-to-reach, IoT devices more efficiently and at a lower cost, dealing with challenges stemming from range limitation to poor signal strength. As a result, opportunities will open up for telecom providers to support low-bit-rate applications.

In turn, the increased availability and low cost of LPWAN technologies will drive connectivity for smart metering, smart building and precision agriculture, among many other applications.

To download the complimentary white paper, visit https://www.ihs.com/info/1216/7-Technology-Trends-2017.html. For more information about subscribing to technology information and analysis from IHS Markit, visit https://www.ihs.com/info/all/technology-contact.html or contact the sales department at IHS Markit in the Americas at +1 844 301 7334 or AmericasLeads@ihsmarkit.com; in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at +44 1344 328 300 or technology_emea@ihsmarkit.com; or Asia-Pacific (APAC) at +604 291 3600 or technology_APAC@ihsmarkit.com.

Source: IHS Markit