9 tech trends that you have to keep an eye on in 2018

1. 5G Network
   Now that we are used to 4G internet, the successor is ahead: 5G can handle speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, making it possible to download an average movie in 3.6 seconds - instead of the 6 minutes on the 'old 'network. However, 5G has more advantages than just downloading video: it can handle more connections at the same time and is less affected by delays on the network, crucial for self-driving cars, for example.

Officially, the new high-speed standard will only be marketed in 2020, but until that time much is experimented with, allowing 8K video and VR images to be effortlessly mobile streamed later on. Streaming is not an unimportant reason for the speed increase: this year, US $ 19.5 billion in streaming services is being converted, an increase of 35%.

1. Artificial Intelligence
   As the researchers describe, Artificial Intelligence (in the form of machine learning, deep learning and neural networks) solves problems that we ourselves "do not want or can not solve". We will see the biggest disruption in self-driving cars, security, retail and speech technology.

Retailers will see the arrival of AI mainly in cost savings, more productivity and more sales. Around self-driving cars, graphic chip manufacturer Nvidia and chipmaker Intel are the main drivers behind the latest hardware and software. Nvidia founder Jen-Hsun Huang announced in Vegas not only new hardware for self-driving cars, but also new partnerships with Uber, the Chinese Baidu and Volkswagen, all of which will buy hardware at the company from Santa Clara.

An important development within artificial intelligence will be that AI will explain in the future why it makes certain decisions. How algorithms come to a conclusion is often a mystery even for its developers at the moment. According to the CTA researchers, responsible AI will be crucial in maintaining long-term confidence in this technology. Nvidia responds to this by using 'augmented navigation': in the future, cars will show the driver which objects they recognize and on which they are anticipated.

1. Voice technology
   In the short term, speech technology will benefit the most from the development of AI. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, Apple's Siri and soon also Samsung's Bixby storm the market as 'voice assistants'. This is reflected in the sales of the number of smart speakers, which is expected to peak in 2019.

However, speech technology is not limited to the telephones in the house: 'speech will play a role in every conceivable form of digital experience'. One example is Ford's new models, equipped with Amazon's digital assistant. As an entrepreneur, keep in mind how you can help your customers by connecting your service to one of the prominent speech platforms.

It is expected that smart speakers this year will deliver $ 3.8 billion in sales in the US alone.

1. Robots
   Robots are going to occupy a place in our house. They are movable wearables, so you will not have to walk to a static smart speaker, but you will have one that is approaching behind you autonomously. Thanks to built-in camera technology, the home robot simultaneously becomes a smart security camera and a permanent family photographer. As main researcher Steve Koenig sharply points out, the algorithm must be smart enough not to place snapshots of your bedroom directly on Facebook.

A special mention in Vegas was the Dutch startup Somnox: the smart robot cushion that makes people sleep better. According to the researchers, 'cuddling will also remain a trend in 2018'. Fine boost for the Delft startup, who wants to have his sleeping robot in the store in the summer.

1. Biometrics
   Do you use biometric services? Maybe without knowing it: the fingerprint scanner in your phone, the face recognition in the iPhone X, but also the software from Facebook to automatically recognize your friends in photos. There is more confidence in biometric security and it will be applied in more services. Nvidia showed a Volvo that recognizes that you are coming with groceries and is already opening the tailgate for you.

2. VR & AR
   Augmented Reality (AR) is fast becoming 'completely renew the mobile experience' and 'immersive advertising' is on the rise. Thanks to popular apps such as Ikea, where you can virtually furnish your home, consumers increasingly see the benefits. Business is also booming, partly due to the deployment of the ever-dead glass Google Glass.

Virtual Reality will achieve the mass, thanks to affordable hardware and the use of Facebook. The real innovation is coming up in the content next year, the researchers say: 'Creatives have been able to practice for a number of years creating for stories in VR. We're finally going to see great productions from that. "

It is expected that in 2018 VR and AR equipment in the US will generate $ 1.2 billion in sales.

1. Smart Cities
   With the help of the Internet of Things and Big Data analyzes, cities are becoming smarter, so that they can improve services and safety on the streets, reduce traffic congestion and tackle pollution more efficiently. A big difference between the US and Europe is that cities in the US mainly focus on traffic problems and Europe is mostly concerned with the environment and energy supplies.

2. eHealth
   Cake cut in the Netherlands, but hypermodern in other parts of the world: high-tech medical innovations. From sleep aids to trauma treatment with VR to smart meters and cancer control: in 2018 we will see a lot of this.

3. Sports innovation
   Technology will turn the popular sports upside down. From data analysis at player level (how about Challenger of the Year Scisports), to smart stadiums, measurable sponsor packages, but also the arrival of 'experiences' through VR / AR applications and the growth of Esports. As Nvidia founder Huang describes: 'I was one of the first gamers in the world, but soon everyone on the planet will play video games'. The Huang company has now produced more than 200 million graphics cards for the gaming industry.

In the coming days Sprout will continue to report on the most important technology trends at CES in Las Vegas. The entire presentation of the technology trends can be found here as Pdf.