Featured article by Fred Anderson, Independent Technology Author
We now live in a world where there seems to be an app for everything. There’s not a day goes by that a smartphone user doesn’t open multiple apps on their handset, and what the apps are capable of is always accelerating at an impressive rate. In the past, we usually associated apps with games, which would cover anything from Sega’s Sonic The Hedgehog to mFortune’s Bingo. However, this quickly evolved into apps being developed for everything imaginable. In fact, in 2017 we downloaded 178 billion apps, and this is set to be 258 billion by 2022. 2018 was another huge year for mobile app development and there are no indications that 2019 will be any different. The predictions seem to be true with 2019 set to be even bigger, with some interesting trends to be aware of.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
Augmented reality and Virtual Reality, often referred to as AR and VR, are technologies which have been around a while now. AR made the breakthrough thanks to hit game Pokémon Go, while Virtual Reality has impressed in other sectors. Handsets are now being designed to deliver where AR and VR is concerned, with experiences such as those found in a mobile casino set to be enhanced when the technology is put to work. AR and VR has enjoyed steady growth so far and 2019 and beyond will see it come into the mainstream more thanks to apps in the pipeline.
On-demand Apps
Consumers are always on the lookout for technology that will simplify things in our everyday life, and on-demand apps plays an important part in that search. We can all book taxis and order food amongst other things on demand, which has made on-demand apps grow in popularity over the last few years. On-demand apps aren’t new to 2019 but due to the reliance consumers have on them and how efficient they can make daily life, there’s set to be an increase in these apps over the coming months. Experts have even tipped the trend to continue soaring for several more years.
Chatbots
The experience a customer or user receives through service and customer care must always be taken into consideration where businesses are concerned. This runs through to app developers too, so it’s no surprise to see chatbots begin to takeover in 2019. Chatbots offer real-time solutions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to customers and users whether they have a problem or a query. Chatbots also excel in other areas too such as customer engagement, meaning that app users are more likely to continue using an app for the long haul.
Wearable Technology
We have gotten used to wearable technology over the last few years, with a broad variety of smartwatches and fitness bands available for consumers. During 2018 we also saw that new sectors, such as health, is starting to reap the benefits and utilize on the potential of new technologies. Wearable technology and its associated apps are now beginning to prove their worth in multiple industries and the steady growth could snowball in 2019. We can expect to have more advanced wearable technology apps ready to hit the market in the near future, which most likely will have a major impact on various sectors.
