Just as they did in 2016, mobile apps will continue to take over our lives in 2017.
The tail end of 2016 introduced us to some game changing technology. Apps such as Pokemon Go introduced us to augmented reality, Snapchat gave us wearable camera sunglasses, and we saw developers increase efforts to making homes smarter with cloud based products such as Amazon's Echo and Google’s Home.
So how will technology shape 2017? Let’s take a quick look at the key mobile app development trends we think are going to shape the technology year.
A cloudy forecast
With improving internet speeds, cloud based technologies are being pushed out to more apps. More and more people have a smartphone and a supplementary device now, whether a supporting tablet or laptop. With widespread acceptance of cloud technology, users are seeing a more unified ecosystem experience with access to their data across multiple systems and devices. With extensive use of cloud-based technologies, the synchronisation of information can be implemented seamlessly in your app no matter the device.
Content aware to your location
From knowing where you work to matching single people around you, more users are comfortable with apps tracking their location. Depending on the industry, tracking a user’s location could reveal a host of information that leads to a better overall user experience. Several key areas where location based services could be implemented and put to good use are indoor mapping, location specific payment portals, retail offers, security features, navigation, travel/tourism and more.
With the introduction of better hardware, expect to see an increase in location based apps in your phone.
The bridge to digital
Thanks to Pokemon Go, we can also add augmented reality (AR) to the list of trends to watch. As wearables mature into the market, AR based tools can be used more effectively and productively than ever before. Combined with artificial intelligence (AI), technology involving AR and AI could see a new age of apps where it intelligently helps you based on the environment.
One new app with potential is Blipped. Imagine QR code scanning but replace the QR code with any physical object. By pointing the camera at something, Blipped will intelligently identify the object and bring up a host of information about it. We may be on the verge of experiencing a new wave of technology evolve right in front of our eyes. The potential of AI powered AR could dramatically alter the ecommerce, tourism, and educational sectors.
Commerce on the go with mobile
2016 has seen an exponential growth in mobile commerce. People are now familiarising themselves with in-app mobile purchases, payment apps, and smartphone wallets. With these new patterns formed, businesses will invest more in taking m-commerce to wearables and beyond with the intention of expediting checkout processes. We anticipate m-commerce will continue to evolve through 2017 and play a major role in the app development space.
As we begin another year, we anticipate lots of tiny technology shifts in the web industry. With emphasis on intelligent information, the 2017 year could be the bridge to an AI powered app. The team at PixelForce are looking forward to another successful year with our clients.