2024: A Look Ahead
Can you believe it’s already 2024? Throughout 2023 I kept little notes of technology advances and announcements. I took some time to compile the notes into what I'm looking forward to from technology in 2024. Some ideas based in reality and just some wishful thinking.
Apple Vision Pro
This year Apple is releasing their first augmented reality headset, Apple Vision Pro. AR and VR headsets are not a new technology, but Apple is a unique player to enter the space.
Apple is not a gaming company (although they’ve tried) or a social media company (anyone remember Ping?). They are a hardware company that builds technology for daily life and work. This will be the first headset focused on day to day life.
The idea of putting on glasses/goggles paired with a wireless keyboard and having some kind of three screen iPad appear before is a new approach to AR. Having my entire office in a glasses case sounds pretty perfect.
Apple will be able to go beyond the novelty of gaming or watching movies on a headset, and focus on productivity tasks. It will be exciting to see how this technology evolves in 2024.
A Hardware Refresh
This idea may be more wishful thinking, but I want technology that is not just a slab of glass and plastic. Something not trying to do everything.
We used to think that one device that does everything would be the ultimate technology. A lot of that was based on how data used to be stored. You kept it on the device. So one device meant all your stuff in one place.
The internet and cloud storage has changed all that. The device is now agnostic to the storage. As long as the device can access the internet, you can store all your data in the cloud and access it anywhere. You don't need a central hardware hub.
I want hardware designed for specific reasons. Doing a couple things (or one thing) really well, and not everything ok. Technically possible is not a good enough reason to do something or add a feature to a device.
Designed by Nintendo
Along the same lines as a hardware refresh, Nintendo continues to have some of the best industrial design in modern technology. They are able to design unique, intuitive, and approachable technology.
Remember Designed by Porche? Porche Design would partner with known brands to create specific designs for products. I would like to see the same concept with Nintendo style product design.
This might be the most wishful thinking on this list, but even if companies just took design cues from Nintendo, I think some really great products and technologies could be created.
An Upcharge for AI
A trend I don't want to continue into 2024, but I'm sure will just pick up momentum, is every software integrating "AI Smarts to make my life easier."
AI does not need to be used in everything, and has already been implemented poorly in many things. It does not need to be everywhere and often makes products harder to use.
The term AI is losing meaning to me. It's becoming another marketing buzzword. Not an actual technology.
A Move Away from Social
Social media is no longer social, it's just information overload. I see people shifting more and more away from social media as a place to actually be social and keep up with friends and family (many already have).
This idea has been around for years, and many have already quit social media. I see this trend picking up in 2024 and maybe reaching a critical mass where social media companies actually have to rethink how they operate.
What are you looking forward to in 2024 for technology advances and changes. Let me know in the comments.