Here’s what that means. Let’s say your family has smartphones, multiple computers and a game console. If they’re all being used to consume large amounts of data – for streaming video, for example – Wi-Fi 6 does a better job of providing bandwidth for all devices at the same time, rather than leaving one device occupy most.
Efficiency is especially important because more of our things connect to the Internet, from watches to television sets, bathroom scales and thermostats. On average, the number of devices connected to the Internet per person is expected to rise to around four in 2023, compared to two in 2018, according to a Cisco survey.
3. Technology that allows us to keep our hands to ourselves.
The past year has been a turning point for mobile payments. For security reasons, even fanatics who only pay money, such as traders in the farmers’ market and food trucks, have begun to accept mobile payments.
Overall, 67% of American retailers accept contactless payments, up from 40% in 2019, according to a Forrester survey. Among respondents, 19% said they made a digital payment at a store for the first time last May.
Hands-off technology does not end with mobile wallets. The so-called Ultra-Wide Band, a relatively new radio technology, may also find its momentum this year. The technology, which uses radio waves to detect objects with extreme precision, has not been widely used since its debut on smartphones, about two years ago. But the need for contactless experiences can change that, said Milanesi of Creative Strategies.
So, how can the ultra-wide band be used? Let’s say you have a smartphone and a coffee shop has a tablet, and both are equipped with radio technology. If you’re in front of the tablet, it can detect your phone and accept a payment from you (not the person behind you in the queue). The technology can also be used to allow employees to enter buildings and start cars without physical keys.
4. Technology that virtualizes work and self-care.
The pandemic made it clear that virtualized experiences, such as videoconferencing and Zoom yoga, are viable substitutes for the real thing, whether you accept or support them. In 2021, we expect more products to offer to digitize the way we work and stay healthy.