Introduction

Technology never stands still. Every day brings announcements of new tools, platforms and initiatives — and to make sense of the technologies we already use, it helps to watch where the field is heading next.

Why study emerging trends?

New technologies appear almost daily, but they do not all share the same fate:

• Some fade away — they fail to attract users or solve a real problem, and disappear over time.
• Some prosper and persist — they keep gaining users and attention, and eventually become part of everyday life.

An emerging trend is a state-of-the-art technology that gains popularity and sets a new direction for how people use computing. Keeping an eye on such trends gives us a better understanding of the technologies that already exist and a clearer view of the developments happening around us.

What this chapter covers

This chapter surveys a set of emerging trends that are expected to make a large impact on the digital economy and on how people interact in digital societies:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) — including Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Immersive Experiences and Robotics
• Big Data and Data Analytics
• Internet of Things (IoT) — including the Web of Things, Sensors and Smart Cities
• Cloud Computing and its service models
• Grid Computing
• Blockchains

Each trend is introduced with what it is, how it works at a basic level, and where it is being applied.