Further to our recent exploration into potential upcoming trends, first in Web Development and succeeded by Cyber Security, this week, we’re going to take a look into what trends in Software Development we believe will grow in prominence this year (and beyond!).
A Software Developer, essentially, is the imagination behind each and every computer program there is. Think about your video games, mobile apps, web applications - these all have Software Developers, well, developing them!
It’s important to know that it is not simply building software; as a Software Developer you could be evaluating and recommending upgrades to existing software, you could be maintaining and monitoring systems, or you could even be in a more client-facing role.
Now we’ve discussed the basics of Software Development, let’s take a dive into why we’re all here: the trends in software that we believe we’ll begin to see more of this year.
Artificial Intelligence
It’s 2020 - at this stage, whether some of us like it or not, we’re all astutely aware of and will have had some sort of run-in with Artificial Intelligence, or AI. Most likely in the form of virtual assistants, streaming services (your personalised recommendations) or even just unlocking your phone using facial recognition
On top of our daily uses of AI, there are some real future-defining developments in the works with Artificial Intelligence. For example, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that autonomous cars are indeed coming, and though it will take a long time to fully develop them, this would undoubtedly change travel as we know it. This being said, it’s obviously going to be a while before we see enough self-driving cars for it to affect our lives; so, here’s some sectors that we think AI will become more prevalent in for the short-term:
- Customer Care: Smarter and faster chatbots, better and more realistic understanding of customer queries, and ultimately more satisfied customers!
- Medical: Faster and more accurate diagnosis, and advancements in potential disease cures.
- Manufacturing: Enhance real-time analysis and better use video to identify inconsistencies.
5G
Despite its adolescence, 5G has not been without its controversies and conspiracies - from masts being burned down, to strong doubts about its coverage capabilities.
Well, the fact of the matter is, 5G is here and is here to stay. As it becomes more widely available and, perhaps more important, more widely accepted, there’s no doubt that 5G will be integral to future technological advancements.
Not only does it have the potential to improve and optimise daily processes, such as traffic systems, but it could go on to do much more. Some of our favourite possibilities are its contribution to cloud computing, virtual reality (VR), and even better, powering smart cities!
IoT (Internet of Things)
For those that are unaware, the Internet of Things is essentially the “network” of all devices connected via the internet. On first thought, most people will think about mobile phones, computers and laptops, tablets and even smart TVs; but what about smart ovens? Portable speakers? Even some kettles!
There’s such a vast amount of smart devices, so much so that by the year 2024, it’s predicted that there will be over 22,000,000,000 (yes, that is 22 billion) devices connected to the internet. It’s clear that this will certainly be a trend that is only going to increase year-on-year.
Is your interest taken by all things software? If you feel like you want a career in Software Development, kickstart your journey now by finding out more information below!