5 Trends Driving the Future of Tech

Technology is constantly evolving, making 2017 and beyond an exciting time to be working in the field. But as technology begins to diverge into what we’ve only seen in sci-fi, the next waves of the future are promising to be unlike anything we’ve ever imagined, except perhaps in our wildest dreams.

For the techies of the future to survive and stand out from the crowd, they’ll need to stay on top of, and ahead of, technology and workplace trends, and develop the skills to outlast the present.

The ever-changing tech landscape will require more workers skilled in both specialized and general areas to continue driving the industry forward, progressive wave after wave. In IT alone, job growth is expected to be at 22% through 2020, and system analysts are expected to grow at the same rate. Fifty-nine percent of organizations foresee an increased need for data analysts over the next five years.

As you prepare for your future in the rapidly expanding field of technology, here are the top tech trends that you should know that are dominating 2017 and beyond.

1. Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and wearables

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and as VR and AR continue taking major steps forward, the line between truth and fiction is rapidly disappearing. From Pokemon Go’s more than 100 million downloads to Oculus Rift and other rising AR/VR stars, this field for savvy futurists isn’t going anywhere but up.

Tip for hopeful hires: Develop skills as a computer vision manager—the hottest job in the VR space. 

2. Machine learning and AI

AI is quickly taking over the tech world—and the world. From testing how social media can help diagnose depression, to virtual law assistants, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are set to change the world. Despite fears of the future, as raised by innovators such as Elon Musk, the facts indicate that techies who are adept at both the hardware side as well as creating applications will do well in the brave, new world.

Tip for hopeful hires: Dive deep into data to build up your machine learning aptitude.

3. Big data

While big data has been around for some time now, thanks to AI, it’s becoming more accessible than ever to sort through massive amounts of data and find patterns to create actionable insights. Consultancies, airlines, and ecommerce companies are already turning to big data to develop and translate algorithms to keep business moving as smooth as ever.

Tip for hopeful hires: Get a grasp on data analysis and machine learning.

4. Open source

Open sources are the operating systems of the future. They’re already powering massive projects, such as cryptocurrency, internet browsers, and Androids. Not only do they keep costs down, but increase security and comfort levels as well.

Tip for hopeful hires: Learn or improve upon open source.

5. Chatbots

This is the year of the chatbots. And while they’ve been up and running for some time, they’re getting a facelift and turning a little more human. From Facebook's foray into teaching chatbots how to negotiate, to Soul Machines that can emulate and read human emotions, technology aims to humanize chatbots beyond simply machine recognition.

Tip for hopeful hires: Simultaneously up your tech savvy as well as the skill to identify and understand target customers.

The tech landscape of today is already ahead of its time, and as the future progresses and opens new doors, savvy technologists must be ready to enter in. Build up your skills so you’re ready to answer the call.