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Crackdown on Big Tech -

There were a number of developments towards the end of 2020 that suggest 2021 could be a difficult year for tech giants, such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple.

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Crackdown on Big Tech -

In October 2020, the US government filed charges against Google, accusing it of violating competition law. Facebook was also sued in December for illegally buying up rivals.

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Crackdown on Big Tech -

There is a general consensus that the power of Big Tech should be curbed; in December, the European Commission revealed draft legislation that would overhaul Big Tech regulation.

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Aircraft innovation -

Despite the terrible year that was 2020, key players in the aerospace industry have expressed their determination to focus on research and development.

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Aircraft innovation -

In 2021, Airbus hopes to sign a deal with a number of European companies to develop a large drone, the Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned aerial system.

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Aircraft innovation -

Rolls-Royce also hopes to put out the Spirit of Innovation, an electric aircraft that will hopefully fly at more than 300mph and therefore break the world speed record of an electric aircraft.

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No more checkouts -

Lots of retailers also suffered at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic over the course of 2020. With people confined to their homes, more and more shopping went online.

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No more checkouts -

For those retailers who managed to survive the disastrous year, physical stores may look a little different in 2021, thanks to technology that allows stores to operate with no checkout.

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No more checkouts -

Amazon already runs 20 ‘Go stores’ in the US and these are expected to arrive in the UK in 2021. Whether smaller retailers will choose to invest in such technology remains to be seen.

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Work from home technology -

Another major change to daily life in 2020 was the shift to working from home. Although for many this was compulsory during the pandemic, it is expected to continue once the pandemic is over.

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Work from home technology -

2020 was a great year for companies that provide work from home technology, and these companies will likely add more features to further improve the experience in 2021.

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Work from home technology -

The security element will likely become more prevalent, as people set up their permanent workstation in an environment where security is likely not as advanced as in the office.

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Driverless cars -

Driverless cars are expected to become more prevalent over the course of 2021. Currently Waymo are blazing the trail; they already have 300 cars operating in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Driverless cars -

Rivals Cruise and Lyft are also developing their autonomous cars. Both companies are testing in San Francisco, although Cruise is thought to be further ahead than Lyft.

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Driverless cars -

Interestingly, Uber decided to give up on its driverless cars in December 2020 and sold its autonomous vehicle division to Aurora Technologies, which is backed by Amazon.

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Drug development -

The COVID-19 pandemic brought major changes to the pharmaceutical industry, mainly in the context of drug development.

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Drug development -

Thanks to the introduction of online consultations and remote data collection, it became a lot quicker and easier to trial new drugs.

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Drug development -

We can expect to see the development of further vaccines and COVID-19 testing kits over the course of 2021.

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Contactless shipping and delivery -

It seems likely that the contactless delivery and shopping options offered by delivery services such as Uber Eats are here to stay.

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Contactless shipping and delivery -

Certain companies are also looking to remove the need for a delivery person altogether. Chinese company Meituan recently began using autonomous vehicles to deliver groceries.

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Contactless shipping and delivery -

US-based startups Manna, Starship Technologies, and Nuro are investigating the use of robotics and AI-based applications to offer delivery options.

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Telemedicine -

In 2020, it was a main concern of institutions to limit the exposure to COVID-19 of their workers and clients. In healthcare this meant the advancement of telehealth options.

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Telemedicine -

According to Inc., telehealth visits have increased by 50% with respect to pre-COVID-19 levels, and Forrester Research has estimated the number of visits in the US will be one billion in 2021.

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Telemedicine -

There are a number of companies already offering telehealth services, which include online consultations, AI avatar-based diagnostics, and autonomous medication delivery.

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Online education -

Just as the pandemic has forced many adults to work from home, so too has it forced many children to learn from home. According to Inc., school closures have affected 1.6 billion globally.

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Online education -

This has presented an opportunity to develop e-learning and explore the possibility of teaching via video conference. Apparently many institutions intend to continue with the method.

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Online education -

Main players in the online learning platform industry include Coursera, Age of Learning, and Outschool in the US, and iTutorGroup and Hujiang in China.

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Micromobility -

Although there was initially a dip in the use of e-scooters and e-bikes at the beginning of the pandemic, the market is already back to its pre-COVID-19 growth level.

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Micromobility -

Electric bikes are viewed by many as an eco-friendly, convenient, and now, in light of the pandemic, safe transportation method.

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Micromobility -

They are already very much on the rise and will continue to be so into 2021. Startups such as Bird, Lime, and Dott are leading the way in the industry.

Sources: (BBC) (Inc.)

See also: How to use technology mindfully

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