WASHINGTON: After a yr that made the phrases WFH (do business from home) and metaverse immediately recognisable for many individuals, there are a brand new set of technological tendencies headed this fashion for 2022.
Right here’s a collection of how know-how could change lives within the coming yr:
Meatless meat
Meat options have develop into frequent in an rising variety of US households, thanks partly to Past Meat and Not possible Meals plant-based merchandise that come far nearer to the feel and flavour of beef or pork.
Because the merchandise have improved and the costs edged downward, demand has been boosted by concern concerning the surroundings: elevating animals for meals is accountable for a whopping 14.5% of human-linked greenhouse gasoline emissions, based on UN knowledge.
The worldwide marketplace for plant-based meats is predicted to be price US$35bil (RM147.61bil) in 2027 – up from US$13.5bil (RM56.93bil) in 2020, thanks partly to enlargement past america, based on a report from Analysis and Markets.
“2022 would be the crowning yr of meals made out of plant-based proteins,” stated David Bchiri, president of US consulting agency Fabernovel. “The merchandise are mature and good. They’re going to develop into mainstream.”
‘Net 3.0’ and crypto
The Web’s first part was the creation of internet sites and blogs, which allowed the emergence of corporations like Yahoo, eBay or Amazon.
The subsequent iteration was Net 2.0, outlined by social media and person generated content material on websites like Fb and YouTube.
These platforms “get the cash and management it, they allow you to on their platform”, summarised Benedict Evans, an unbiased analyst specialising in Silicon Valley.
So, is Net 3.0 coming?
On this iteration, “customers, creators and builders would have stakes and votes” in a platform in a lot the way in which a cooperative works, Evans stated on his “One other Podcast”.
Such a revolutionary step could possibly be made potential by blockchain know-how, the place pc applications run on networks of 1000’s or tens of millions of computer systems.
To this point, blockchain has enabled the rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, and extra not too long ago, the distinctive digital objects comparable to drawings or animations referred to as NFTs.
“We discuss so much about decentralised finance, however I believe that in 2022 we are going to see extra localised use instances, which can enter on a regular basis life,” stated Bchiri of consulting agency Fabernovel.
As highly-volatile digital monies like bitcoin have hit document excessive values in 2021, an enormous vary of gamers have gotten into the sport together with variations launched by the cities of Miami and New York.
Ransomware, in all places
The spike towards document ransomware assaults and knowledge leaks in 2021 seems to be more likely to spill over into the approaching yr.
Cyber-extortion heists break right into a sufferer’s community to encrypt knowledge, then demand a ransom, usually paid through cryptocurrency in alternate to unlock it.
A confluence of things has fueled the pattern, together with the booming worth of cryptocurrencies, victims’ willingness to pay and the problem authorities have in catching attackers.
Cybersecurity firm SonicWall wrote in late October: “With 495 million ransomware assaults logged by the corporate this yr up to now, 2021 would be the costliest and harmful yr on document.”
“After I take into consideration 2022, the factor that’s prime of thoughts for me and for my colleagues continues to be ransomware. It’s just too profitable,” wrote Sandra Joyce, government vp and head of worldwide intelligence at cybersecurity agency Mandiant.
Huge Tech regulation?
It’s tough to say if 2022 is the yr Huge Tech will lastly be hit with important new guidelines, however a collection of regulatory and authorized threats launched in 2021 will provoke main battles.
In america, the Federal Commerce Fee’s anti-trust lawsuit towards Fb represents a real risk to the social media big, although a court docket has already dismissed the case as soon as.
Extra lawsuits and a federal investigation – and possibly even lastly new legal guidelines – are potential within the wake of the damning whistleblower leaks displaying Fb executives knew its websites may trigger hurt.
Some critics say the agency’s main push into realising the metaverse – a digital actuality model of the Web – is an effort to alter the topic after years of criticism.
Apple dodged a bullet in 2021 when a US federal court docket stated Fortnite maker Epic Video games failed to point out the iPhone big held an unlawful monopoly, however the agency was nonetheless ordered to loosen management over its App Retailer. Either side have appealed.
New laws could come sooner within the EU because it pushes by means of new legal guidelines, such because the Digital Companies Act which might create a lot stricter oversight of dangerous and unlawful content material on platforms like Fb. – AFP
