CES 2022: trends to watch

Electronic Specifier rounds up the technology trends to look out for in 2022.

5G and AI to underpin innovation in this decade

5G is set to be the technology connecting innovation throughout this decade. Expect to see 5G utilised within the following applications:

• Hospitals with 5G networks
• Remote patient surgery
• Factory automation
• Farming

AI is getting better and more capable, with more use cases and applications because of deeper AI innovation. These include:

• Natural language processing
• Robotic process automation
• AI moving into other sectors, including agriculture and food technology

Space tech

It is likely that there will be a surge in innovation relating to space tech, especially with it becoming a competitive sector as it is no longer the exclusive domain of governments. Tourism has made the headlines, but in 2022 we could see the commercial applications of space tech rolled out, including:

• Communications
• Medicine
• Manufacturing

Sustainable technology

It is likely that 2022 will bring innovation for sustainable technology, including alternative power sources, food tech, smart homes, and smart cities.

Transportation

A key sector for innovation in 2022 is transportation. There is likely to be lots of innovation in the smart mobility sector, specifically when it comes to LIDAR sensors.

Innovation in this sector could also bring solutions to real world problems, including supply chain issues, with self-driving cars.

Drones will also be a key area for innovation, although there is lots of policy and regulatory requirements that need to be worked out beforehand.

Digital health

Innovation has transformed the healthcare sector in the last two years. In 2022, patients will be encouraged and empowered to become a stakeholder in their health. This involves being more present in the process of diagnosis and treatment.

One example of this is telemedicine, meaning the distribution of healthcare services and information by telecommunication technologies. Arguably, this is more important than ever due to an ageing population and for healthcare professionals to monitor patients in real time with chronic diseases.

Mental wellness and health will be sector seeing innovation. The last two years of lockdowns, illness and staying home has opened people’s eyes to different kind of pandemic: depression. 2022 is likely to see an increase in solutions geared to treat it, including:

• Online counselling/therapy platforms
• Mindfulness/meditation apps
• Sleep monitoring
• Smart or connected health products/digital therapeutics
• Telemedicine/virtual care visits

How close is the metaverse?

Steve Koenig, Vice President, Market Research at Consumer Electronic Association, has defined the metaverse as: “The next-gen of the internet that will deliver increasingly immersive digital experiences and those immersive digital experiences over the next 20 years will become inextricably linked with our physical reality.”

Koenig argues that the metaverse is closer than we think, especially as there are already the necessary building blocks for it to operate, including AI, 5G haptics and volume metric audio.

He concluded that this will be a fun concept to watch unfold, and the metaverse is the ultimate goal and vision. Over the next two years, it is expected that businesses will spend more budget on their AR/VR initiatives. This could be in terms of:

• Virtual meetings or training sessions
• Simulations
• Remote collaborations
• Immersive design
• Marketing and sales

The year of innovation

2022 is set be a great year in terms of innovation for the consumer electronics industry. With R&D from different sectors, from space technology and transportation to digital health, it is exciting to think about what the year will bring, and what trends CES will be discussing in 2023.