The year that has just put on the map the automation of tasks, jobs and aspects of our daily life. It has only been the beginning.
A year goes by a lot, especially in technology, a sector that advances at high speed and brings news every day. In media-tics we wanted to compile 10 significant advances that have left the year and that mark the beginning of what will bring 2017. Or at least we believe ... because the future is yet to come.
1) Autonomous vehicles
The launch of the Tesla Model S has revolutionized the automotive industry, but in fact it is only one more chapter of a long story that is still being written: in 2016 Google introduced Waymo, its totally autonomous car (not even has steering wheel and pedals), by the Streets of Pittsburgh or Singapore began to operate taxis without driver and in Spain the authorities began to put the batteries to adapt the legislation to the greatest revolution in the history of the transport ... the end of the humans behind the wheel.
2) Artificial Intelligence
So far they have been projects, almost dreams, of people like Zuckerberg (who this year has achieved his goal: to create a personal digital assistant, although he must compete with others). In 2016 we have seen what Watson is capable of, the digital brain of IBM, we have met the journalists of the future and we have allowed some machines to be part of our digital conversations. We have also let them enter our house and, why not, manage some things.
3) Robots
We still do not see them in the streets (or yes), but the truth is that the advances in robotics show a future in which we will live with machines with human aspect. Many will be our co-workers. Another, even our substitutes. Until then, we will continue to be astonished at what they are already capable of (and dreaming of what will come).
4) Blockchain
It is not new in 2016, but this year we have met the alleged creator of Bitcoin, the digital currency that has popularized this way of guaranteeing digital transactions. The importance of Blockchain has come from banks, who are already exploring how to use this technology to revolutionize the financial sector. In parallel, governments around the world are debating about the end of cash. Some have even eliminated it directly. Money is digital, but other industries as well.
5) Smartphones
We could not talk about technology without regard to mobiles, the most important device of the moment to convert the human being is a small robot. This year has come the iPhone 7 (although the most notable have been the AirPods, headphones without cables). We have also witnessed the end of the Google Nexus to give way to the Pixel, the new generation of mobile search engine. In parallel, surprising models from Asia have arrived worthy successors of the American success ... although Samsung has not suffered the same fate. By the way: we have also witnessed how some mobiles start to leave the phone as one more option, not as the essence of the device.
6) Pokémon
We had to do it: a video game had not revolutionized society in this way for a long time. Pokémon GO not only got Nintendo to decide to turn on the phones, but returned the childhood to half the planet, managed to revalue the company in less than a week and caused images worthy of being taken into account (although not as much as the one carried out by Zuckerberg at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona).
7) More (and better)
Internet is to technology what water to life, so the industry seeks to optimize the digital liquid. In 2016 we have seen drones and millimeter waves (perhaps the latter we have not been able to see it as such) to provide connection to areas of the planet that do not yet have. We have also seen projects using balloons. In parallel, the 5G looks like the future of connectivity, especially to accommodate the Internet of Things (IoT) in our lives.
8) Virtual Reality
The real world is over: in 2016 we have seen closer than ever how reality is digitized. In a short time, bringing these displays to work, have fun or buy will be common. Even to inform: some media are successfully testing the Virtual Reality to allow us to get inside the news. And this is only the beginning ...
9) Surfing the skie We knew them by the wars, but now they are also toys ... and the future of many industries. We are talking about drones, unmanned drones that already have as many sizes as uses, and that open the door to space exploration with mini-probes capable of reaching distances unimaginable until now or a new concept of mobility. Drones represent a challenge for air traffic and an opportunity for almost any industry. Look at the sky and think.
10) The new journalism
Because talking about journalism in the 21st century is talking about technology. In 2016 we have witnessed the closure of more headlines (well, and the opening of some), the profitability of some icons of the traditional press, the consolidation of new actors, the rise of ad blockers, the strengthening of advertising Digital ... and the progressive conquest of the sector by Google and, above all, Facebook, the largest means of communication on the planet (good and evil). In a convulsive year for world politics, with the victories of Brexit and Donald Trump, the media industry is asking about the uncertain future that is glimpsed for information. But journalism has given a lot to talk about this year, so we have prepared a special 2016 summary in the media.
