Tech Trends in Practice

***BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS - FINALIST 2021***

Discover how 25 powerful technology trends are transforming 21st century businesses

How will the latest technologies transform your business? Future Tech Trends in Practice will give you the knowledge of today’s most important technology trends, and how to take full advantage of them to grow your business. The book presents25 real-world technology trends along with their potential contributions to organisational success. You’ll learn how to integrate existing advancements and plan for those that are on the way.

In this book, best-selling author, strategic business advisor, and respected futurist Bernard Marr explains the role of technology in providing innovative businesses solutions for companies of varying sizes and across different industries. He covers wide-ranging trends and provides an overview of how companies are using these new and emerging technologies in practice.

You, too, can prepare your company for the potential and power of trending technology by examining these and other areas of innovation described in Future Tech Trends in Practice:

• Artificial intelligence, including machine and deep learning
• The Internet of Things and the rise of smart devices
• Self-driving cars and autonomous drones
• 3D printing and additive manufacturing
• Blockchain technology
• Genomics and gene editing
• Augmented, virtual and mixed reality

When you understand the technology trends that are driving success, now and into the future, you’ll be better positioned to address and solve problems within your organisation.

Introduction 1

1 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 3

2 Internet of Things and the Rise of Smart Devices 15

3 From Wearables to Augmented Humans 25

4 Big Data and Augmented Analytics 37

5 Intelligent Spaces and Smart Places 49

6 Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers 61

7 Cloud and Edge Computing 73

8 Digitally Extended Realities 83

9 Digital Twins 95

10 Natural Language Processing 105

11 Voice Interfaces and Chatbots 115

12 Computer Vision and Facial Recognition 127

13 Robots and Cobots 139

14 Autonomous Vehicles 151

15 5G and Faster, Smarter Networks 163

16 Genomics and Gene Editing 175

17 Machine Co-Creativity and Augmented Design 185

18 Digital Platforms 197

19 Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 207

20 Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience 219

21 Quantum Computing 229

22 Robotic Process Automation 239

23 Mass Personalization and Micro-Moments 249

24 3D and 4D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 261

25 Nanotechnology and Materials Science 273

26 A Few Final Words 283

About the Author 285

Acknowledgments 287

Index 289

BERNARD MARR is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist and strategic business and technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps organizations and their management teams prepare for a new industrial revolution fuelled by transformative technologies. Bernard is a regular contributor to the World Economic Forum, writes a weekly column for Forbes, and is a major social media influencer. He has written over 15 books and hundreds of high-profile reports and articles, including the bestsellers Artificial Intelligence in Practice, Big Data in Practice, and The Intelligence Revolution. He has worked with or advised many of the world's best-known organizations, including Microsoft, Google and the United Nations.

Renowned futurist Bernard Marr has written an unmissable guide to the 25 technologies that constitute the "Fourth Industrial Revolution." This unique book provides business leaders with short, digestible entries on the emerging tools poised to disrupt – perhaps even to reinvent – business as we know it. Marr covers everything from the high profile (AI, blockchain, big data) to lesser known but still unavoidable technologies (quantum computing, digital twins, natural language processing).

Perfect for the busy professional, Tech Trends in Practice provides a one-sentence definition of each technology before presenting the in-depth description, a look at current uses within industry and an incisive summary of the key challenges pertinent to the near- and medium-term future. With this book in hand, readers will discover how they can use existing and upcoming technology trends to address and solve specific problems within their companies.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN USE THE NEW TECH TOOLS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW TO IMPROVE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

The technologies emerging today – from machine learning and virtual reality to gene editing and quantum computing – are poised to completely and utterly transform the world of business and beyond. Are you familiar with the 25 tech trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution? Is your business prepared to take advantage of them for cost savings and improved performance?

Bernard Marr is a world-renowned futurist, influencer and thought leader in the field of technology. In Tech Trends in Practice, he distils his expertise for business leaders who need a concise guide to understanding the future of business and technology. As a practically oriented overview full of real-world examples and thorough referencing, this book offers indispensable knowledge for driving business growth and success. You'll discover how leading firms are revolutionizing commerce using technologies like AI, blockchain, drones, 3D printing, Internet of Things, 5G networks, facial recognition and more.

Whatever your industry, this book will allow you to see into your future and gain an understanding of how disruptive technologies can transform your enterprise.